Owners who scoop up their dogs’ droppings and place them in specially marked bins on city streets will be eligible for rewards of pet food coupons and dog toys. But droppings found underfoot in the street and matched through the DNA database to a registered pet could earn its owner a municipal fine.

A dog nicknamed “Scooby” has become the first animal in the world to appear as a witness in a murder trial. During a preliminary hearing the pet was led into the witness box by a vet to see how it reacted to a suspect. It is said to have “barked furiously”.

Under the new law, pet owners can set up a trust that provides a certain amount of money for the animal’s care if the owner dies or becomes incapacitated. The trust can be separate from, or part of, a broader estate plan.