Does anyone have a process or policy for temporary/visiting pets?

Opinions wanted:

I make it a point to not allow visiting pets. It's difficult to manage and before you know it their "friends" dog ends up staying longer and longer, eventually just becoming an unauthorized pet. We also work with Mr Dog Poop for pet waste therefore get many unmatched waste samples from visiting pets that aren't registered.

Well I've had several residents question me on this for when they have family coming into town & needing to bring their pet, etc. I'm on a new luxury property, if that makes a difference.

I'm continuing to state that we simply don't allow visiting pets but since so many people are arguing about it, I figured I'd see if you guys handle it differently.

Does anyone have a process or policy for temporary/visiting pets?

You could allow temporary/visiting pets if they want to register at their own cost. It’d be a way for you to not be the bad guy. That way you’re only banning unregistered pets.

I suggest sticking to your policy or it could be considered discrimination. What you do for one you must do for another. This keeps life real simple if if they don't like the policy..

We typically make them follow protocol, provide us with get records, get registered for doggie DNA and pay a minimum 1 month pet rent to have the dog on site even if just for a day. That way no resident or resident dog is at risk of an unauthorized or unvaccinated dog and they have to be responsible for paying and cleaning up like everyone else with pets on site

Wow Doggie DNA?! I had not heard of this!

Yep! There are two major companies (Poo Prints and Mr Dog Poop which is who I use). You take a saliva sample of the dog and send it off to the lab. They register it in their system and then are able to match the waste with the saliva sample on file

Kate Hanks what is the cost for this? Do you pass it on to the pet owner?

To register the sample is about $35, it's built into the pet fee.
For a matched waste sample is about $40, which is billed back to the pet owner by way of a minimum $150 violation fine.
An unmatched sample ie $25.

Kate Hanks thank you!!

At my property they have to pay a pet fee of either $300 or $500 depending on let size, if spotted babysitting a pet or they have visiting pet we send them a violation and charge the pet fee. We explain the charge by letting them know it's to cover the cost of pet treatment because anytime there has been a pet in am apartment we have to treat

Is the larger fee for smaller dogs? I feel like they do way more damage!

But don't you charge the treatment anyhow at move out?

Why charge a fee at move out and more than likely not get it when you can find the tenant the fee when the dog is seen during the lease term? It works for us, rarely see visiting pets

I totally agree, if it were up to me I would charge a higher pet fee for small dogs because they do seem to cause more damage. Never understood why so many properties take small dogs only.

Generally visiting pets should pay the same fees that a resident normally pays: deposits/pet fee/pet rent.

The resident has to pay the pet fee and prorated rent for the duration of the pets stay as well as provide updated rabies records.

Never. Animals are animals!! The whole point of pet fees/deposits is to pay for pee, poop, damages etc. Kennels exist for that purpose. My policy is this: a pet IN your apt is a pet FOR your apt. Just like tenants

It's all based on what's in the active lease/addendum. But, in reality, you can't control human behavior, (non-compliance) just remind & fine... (Translation: people frequently promise to adhere to standards/regulations but deliver entirely different results.)

Stand by your policy! Explain to them exactly how you explained it or us. People are smart and can appreciate the respectful explanation.

We do not allow visiting pets. $100 fine, pet dep, pet fee and pet rent. Late fees added if not all paid by a certain date.

I say stick with your current policy. Or If they want the pet to visit, they should pay the pet fee and any other fees associated- plus have its shots etc...could open a bigger headache if you know about a pet onsite and it bites somebody etc... and then there will be residents finding out about this, and then complaining because you allow visiting pets with no pet fees, etc.

The reputation harm from chasing down and policing guest pet owners isn’t worth the injury. Take a backdoor approach. Bill them! Do what I do and bill ASAP ! Bam, $200 non refundable pet fee billed to the ledger for unauthorized animals. Makes great bonus money at annua inspection time

Stay with what it says in the lease. Otherwise you are crossing into dangerous territory. No unauthorized pets.

Keep it simple!

There is a new service called PetScreening.com that is amazing! It is not DNA testing. It is a verification service for Assistance Animals as well as a comprehensive pet profile for all pets, at any type of rental housing. It's free to property managers/owners and adds a layer of liability protection. Several properties are accepting visiting pets if they have an active pet profile to share with management. I do know they will be at NAA as a new exhibitor.