CURB PET WASTE IN YOUR COMMUNITY

THU, 26 JUL 2018 BY LINDA ROSADO

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR COMMUNITY MANAGERS

When it comes to managing pet waste in your community, the most effective strategies involve the introduction of pet waste stations and resident education and incentives. As a community manager, you know the importance of keeping the properties you oversee clean and in tip-top shape for your residents and visitors. The overall goal is to provide your residents with the tools and motivation to keep their neighborhood clean.

We all know that unsightly pet waste can turn potential new residents away as well as current residents if you don’t find ways to keep the waste at bay. Luckily, implementing multiple strategies for keeping your surrounding areas waste-free is simple and painless. Look no further because we have some of the answers you’ve been looking for.

IMPLEMENT PET WASTE STATIONS

More often than not, pet waste is a result of people forgetting to bring a bag with them on walks or running out of bags during the week. These are the most common reasons why people don’t pick up after their dogs. Implementing DOGIPOT® pet stations around your complex is a great way to curb the amount of pet waste from residents’ furry friends.

One of the most important aspects of introducing these pet waste stations is selecting the most effective locations for them to be placed throughout the property. Think about the areas in your community where dogs and their owners tend to play or walk most often.The ultimate goal is to make it easy for dog walkers to pick up a bag at the beginning of their walk and throw the waste away mid walk or at the end. Getting waste bags into the hands of dog owners is half the battle.

Keeping your dog waste stations stocked with doggie bags and maintaining empty receptacles gives tenants less of an excuse to walk away from their pet’s waste without picking it up and properly disposing of it.

EDUCATE YOUR RESIDENTS

The majority of pet waste issues can be solved by simply taking extra steps in making sure your residents are educated on their resources. Companies like DOGIPOT®, the experts in pet waste management, will be able to provide you with materials that are designed to help spread awareness in your neighborhood and educate your residents about the importance of picking up after their dogs.

 It also might be smart to include a mapped outline of where each pet waste station is located in your community. These can be included in packets given to new residents when they move in or periodically in newsletters throughout the year—especially during months when the weather is best because more and more residents will be bringing their dogs outdoors.

Also, it would be smart to educate your residents about the negative effects pet waste can have in their community. Many people aren’t aware of the long-term impacts pet waste can have on the environment. The bacteria within pet waste is often washed down storm drains, following a rain shower, thus polluting local waterways. On top of that, dog waste is known to attract pests such as rodents and insects. This not only spreads disease and harmful bacteria but also can be extremely difficult to get rid of once they have infested your area.

CREATE RESIDENT INCENTIVES

People often follow rules and instruction more if they know they’ll be rewarded for it. When providing pet waste stations and educating your residents isn’t enough, it’s time to bring on an incentive plan. To combat the issue of dog doo in your community, you must get creative.

There are many ways to incentivize pet waste cleanup with your residents. One idea is rewarding residents who dispose of their dog’s waste with a cut back on rent or washer and dryer credits. Get social and host a competition on Facebook or Instagram where residents upload pictures of being a responsible dog owner with a hashtag or tag.

We know poop scooping is an unpleasant and time-consuming task. But keeping dog waste off the ground is a responsibility held by all dog owners and community managers alike. A neighborhood with copious amounts of unsightly pet waste is a problem. People don’t want to come and see number two in every grassy corner of the property. It can be difficult to market your community as a great place to live when you have a pet waste problem, and it will ultimately hurt your revenue stream.

If you’re looking for pet waste management solutions, call DOGIPOT® at (800) 364-7681 or browse our entire line of pet products.

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