Home » The Scoop on Pet Waste at Luxury Apartment Communities

The Scoop on Pet Waste at Luxury Apartment Communities

Posted by Chris O' Rourke on Aug 17, 2018

Apartment communities are cracking down on illegal dumping, but not in the way you might think. Pet waste has become a real problem at apartments across North America. One reason – about 75% of millennials own a dog and a majority of them are renters. Luxury communities in big cities are targeting this tech-savvy generation.

So, what’s the problem? Many residents take their dog out to do their business but not all of them are courteous enough to clean up after their fur baby, leaving little surprises hidden in the streets and grass. These nuggets are more than just an unhappy surprise on the bottom of your shoe. Not only does cleaning them up create extra work for your maintenance crew, pet waste can also cause other problems. For one, it is unsightly and can harm the grass, as well as your luxury apartment’s reputation. For another, fecal matter may contain whipworms, parvovirus and other types of diseases and parasites than can be transmitted from one pet to another. Pet waste also has the potential to contaminate water, so you could wind up with costly fines from your local government.

For these reasons, apartment communities are installing pet waste collection stations, and many are even enlisting the help of DNA-testing companies to identify the culprit. Residents are required to submit cheek swabs from their dogs, setting up a DNA database. Unclaimed feces are sent to a lab for testing and matched with owner records. What ensues is often a fine to the tenant, then possible eviction for multiple infractions.

The presence of a DNA-testing service may be enough to keep pet parents accountable for their pet’s waste, but it may be costly to property management. Many luxury communities include the fee as an upcharge for residents, but that could be a deterrent to potential tenants.

Remote video surveillance is an effective alternative. Trained video operators watch properties in real time during monitoring hours and can see the offenders. During non-monitoring hours, the outdoor surveillance cameras are still recording even though they aren’t being watched live. A video review team can analyze footage after the fact to find evidence to help identify the perpetrator.

Pet waste is a big problem with environmental impact. In addition to deterring criminal activity such as trespassing and theft, remote video surveillance can help create a safe, clean and waste-free environment. If you would like additional information about live video monitoring or our video review service, contact us here.