I’ve been to Cambodia, Costa Rica, Italy, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Mexico, and over half of the United States. Throughout my travels, I can say without difficulty that Reims is the most beautiful town to have such an awful dog poop problem. It is easy for a resident to admire the charming cobblestone streets — as long as you watch your step.
This is common among French towns and cities. According to statistics from Planetoscope, there are about 300,000 dogs in Paris that leave around 20 tons of dog poop on the sidewalks annually. In 2016, The Guardian reported that an estimated 26,000 dogs in Montpellier produce about three tons each day, with “much of it scattered around awaiting a poorly aimed espadrille.”
The official website of the city of Reims states that a citizen could be fined 68 euros for leaving filth, including pet excrement, on the ground. However, it does not seem to be widely enforced. “Dog poop? They’re, like, everywhere,” states Ella, an Indonesian exchange student at Sciences Po’s Reims campus. “I’m not sure if there’s a law that requires people to pick them up. Are there? Any?”
Visitors from other countries are often shocked at the prominence of pet excrement in French cities. Russell Lee, an exchange student from the United States, attempted to think of another country with the same issue.
“I don’t know, there’s not really a parallel.” He laughed. “Most people pick up their dog poop. Or at least leave it at a park if there’s grass.”
Over the years, there have been a number of solutions proposed by French lawmakers and companies to combat this problem. In the 1980s, workers utilized the celebrated “Chiraclette” to vacuum feces off the ground. Last year, Gaspard Gantzer, candidate for mayor of Paris, announced his plan to increase the fine to 200 euros. In 2018, Parisian mayor Anne Hidalgo tested drones specifically for finding and capturing dog poop, which was then transported to flower beds or trash bins. Some cities like Juziers have even considered DNA analysis.
Upon hearing about the solution for DNA testing, Ella laughs. “That’s —That’s one hell of a measure to combat dog poop, I guess. If it works, it works, but… Wow, you would go all that trouble just to solve this issue. Wow. That’s dedication, I guess.”
Internationally, testing dog poop DNA has shown some promise. In 2015, London’s Borough of Barking and Dagenham implemented sweeping DNA testing via the dog poop program PooPrints. In the United States, PooPrints services 4000 properties. Some might find merit in its ability to hold people accountable.
“That sounds actually pretty cool,” Russell states. “Uh, yeah. I actually think that would be more effective. Just like… I don’t know. Instead of just like cleaning after people, you’re actually going at the problem and actually able to identify the owners.”
David Suignard, a dual citizen in both France and the United States, had an immediate response when asked if DNA testing would be effective. “No. That is so against French culture, you don’t even know. It’s like Big Brother, that whole thing. I feel like French people are so anti-regulation — well not regulations… Like rules and orderly conduct? French people like being boisterous and loud, and they’re not afraid to take a stance, and I feel like trying to… impose a rigid system would never work. Also, it would be super expensive, too — to get DNA sampling on dog shit? That must be kind of expensive. Also, having a registry database, and all that stuff? It’s like a Black Mirror episode.”
A call to the official Reims help center revealed that workers do believe there is a problem with dog poop in Reims, although there doesn’t seem to be much done right now. After asking what she thinks about possible solutions, a worker proposes new “Regulations, and after, the implementation of bags for dog poop.”
While this solution may seem simple, a lack of resources might be the root of this problem. Other countries provide doggy bags for their residents’ pet waste, but tourists may notice an absence of bags and bins around French cities. The Guardian reported that a Beco Pets 2015 survey found France buying 3,600 doggy bags to the United Kingdom’s 1.5 million.
Perhaps a larger cultural revolution needs to take place. “I think that people that live here are comfortable leaving that? Like, it’s something that became accepted?” says Mari Barbosa, an exchange student from Brazil at Sciences-Po. “So because of that — that leaves people to not care.”
Russell agrees. “I just wish it was like in the U.S. Like it’s supposed to be social stigma to not pick up your poop? And you get a fine, too. I would like it more if it was self-regulated. Just by your peers, you’re seen as an asshole if you don’t pick up your poop.”
While dog poop testing might come in the future, it seems unlikely to create the desired permanent cultural effect. For now, Sciences Po students resign themselves to another day of dodging dung bombs while strolling to class.
“My friend has stepped on dog poop three or four times,” Russell notes. “I know it’s only a matter of time for me.”