Americans adore their pets. More than 43 million dogs and 36 million cats live in U.S. households—and many of them belong to the 68 million Americans who live in homeowners associations, condominiums, cooperatives, and common-interest communities. Besides being a nuisance, uncollected pet waste is a serious problem. Remember these facts:
1. Under the Clean Water Act, community associations could be fined by the Environmental Protection Agency if pet waste goes uncollected. If fined by the EPA, a community association could face a potential special assessment that would be levied against all residents—not just pet owners.
2. The appearance and quality of the common areas are known to affect home sales—not just whether and for how much they sell, but how quickly.
3. The more residents complain about pet waste, the more time board members and community managers must spend on enforcement rather than serving the association.
4. Uncollected pet waste can spread disease and attract rodents who feed on pet waste.
Read more about pet problems and solutions in Pet Policies: How Community Associations Maintain Peace & Harmony.
