You’ve found the perfect apartment. It’s got everything you want — parking, amenities and spacious closets. Even the apartment grounds are nice… at least they were. There are few things more frustrating than a pet owner who neglects to clean up. Not only is pet waste unsightly, it can also ruin a decent pair of shoes or stink up your car if you don’t notice you’ve stepped in it.
While most apartment communities have rules and regulations on pet waste, sometimes there’s just one neighbor who won’t play ball. So what do you do when you’re reaching your breaking point?
Know Who It Is? Try a Friendly Chat
If you’ve noticed your neighbor being slightly “forgetful” about bringing out the baggies, and other people are left to clean up after dog waste, try a friendly chat. Mention that you’ve noticed the issue and it’s bothering you. Keep calm and keep it friendly. With some apartment communities levying fines for irresponsible pet owners, the problem person might be glad you talked to them directly instead of going to the apartment manager.
Mystery Culprit? Talk to Your Apartment Manager
If you’ve spoken to your neighbors and can’t figure out who the culprit is, it’s time to enlist the aid of your apartment community manager. They’re invested in keeping the property beautiful too, and will probably be happy to help you. Some of the ideas you can suggest include:
- Baggie dispenser near the site
- Baggie disposal garbage can nearby
- Signs reminding residents to clean up after their dog, and of the consequences if they don’t
- Reminder emails to residents
Print Your Own Signs or Reminders
If you and your neighbors are having difficulties, try printing your own signs that remind to clean up after your dog. You can find plenty of downloadable signs on the web that you can easily print, laminate and then hang near problem areas.
Join Your Neighborhood Group
When there’s an issue in your neighborhood, there’s nothing better than rallying your neighbors. Try joining groups like Nextdoor, or see if your community has a Facebook group where you can discuss community issues. You might be surprised to find that some of your other neighbors are also having issues with the very same thing.
An irresponsible pet owner who won’t clean up after his or her dog can be frustrating. But there are things you can do to help alleviate the problem. Have you ever had to deal with an issue like this? How did you handle it? Let us know below!