Doggy DNA tests can tell you your mutt's breeds

Tampa, Florida -- You've seen how police investigators use DNA evidence to solve crimes. A genetic fingerprint can help them find a killer.

But, that same technology can help find the answer always seems to follow some pet owners: "What kind of dog is that?"

Sue Green is a volunteer at Hillsborough Animal Services.  She recently adopted a little mutt named Lilly.  Green had fostered Lilly since she was rescued from a hoarder and eventually adopted her after a lengthy court fight.

Green loves Lilly, but can't quite figure out what she is.

"I think she's definitely poodle," said Green, "and the ears are very Yorkie-looking.  I think the snout is Chihuahua and Yorkie."

10 Connects News offered to help Green find out Lilly's true identity.  We gave her a DNA Breed Idnetification kit from BioPet Vet Lab. It costs $60 and can be found at most pet store chains.

The test was simple, if not a little uncomfortable for Lilly.  Green swabbed the inside of Lilly's mouth to gather a DNA sample.  The sample was then sent to BioPet's lab in Knoxville, Tennessee.

"It hasn't been that long since the dog DNA genome was broken down," said BioPet Vet Lab Chief Administration Officer Meg Retinger. "We have a state of the art analyzer that we use for the DNA analysis.  You may call it a DNA fingerprint."

According to BioPet, its tests can check on more than 60 different dog breeds, making up 92% of the population in the United States.

The tests on Lilly showed that her DNA was made up of more than 75% poodle.  But two other breeds made up less than 10% of her DNA--Chihuahua and West Highland White Terrier.

10 Connects also tested a second dog named Benji who is up for adoption at Hillsborough Animal Services.  The larger, mixed-breed dog was made up of Chinese Shar Pei (somewhere between 37-74%) and Bulldog, Cocker Spaniel and Schnauzer (10-19%.)

The results for both Lilly and Benji took longer than normal to come back.  We had to give both a second test because the first sets of swabs didn't contain enough DNA to get accurate results.