Long Island Apartment Complex Turning To Dog DNA To Catch Owners Who Don't Clean Up After Their Pets

YAPHANK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- An apartment complex on Long Island has had enough of their tenant's doggie... stuff.

Almost all of us have experienced it -- walking down a sidewalk and having to dodge dog doo. It's not pretty and it's not sanitary.

That has prompted the management at The Reserve at the Boulevard luxury apartments in Yaphank to say it's no longer acceptable and as a result it is taking what some say are extreme measures to keep the place clean, CBS2's Hazel Sanchez reported Wednesday.

"Yeah, it's kind of gross that people don't pick it up," tenant Faith Ramone said.

All tenants recently received an email from management about the new "Doggie DNA" program being introduced. People living in the complex with a registered pooch are required to bring their animal into the management office to have it swabbed for its DNA. The DNA sample will then be registered at a company called Biopet Laboratories.

If maintenance crews find feces, it will be checked for DNA and cross referenced with the register. The pet owner would then get fined $200.

MORE: NJ Condo Board Proposes Mandatory DNA Samples From Resident Dogs

Shari Franco lives in the complex with her family and dog "Bentley" and said she thinks it's a great idea.

"I actually was like, wow, that's pretty neat that they're going to go that far to try to make it a nice place to live," Franco said.

"It's the right thing to do. People, if you're going to have a dog, be responsible," dog walker Catherine McManus added.

Other tenants, however, said they aren't so sure the program will work.

"If they're going to take all the poop that they find and DNA test it, how do they know that it's actually toward your dog and they are going to bill you a fine? Is there going to be a sheet where they show you, yes, this is actually your dog's poop? Or is it just someone else's and they're going to try to fine you for it?" Marone said.

MORE: Bag It Up: Dog Poop A Major Environmental Pollutant, Reports Find

Violators who don't pay the fine could be evicted, as well as tenants who fail to register their dogs.

Some tenants think surveillance cameras would be more effective.

The property manager would only agree to speak to CBS2 off camera. He said he's surprised the Doggie DNA program is getting so much attention. He said he just wants to keep the complex pristine.

Read the letter send to tenants...

From: The Reserve Leasing Team (Leasing)
Date: April 6, 2019, 4:33 pm
Subject: Doggie DNA

Dear Valued Reserve at the Boulevard Residents:

We pride ourselves in being a welcoming community for residents—dog owner and non-dog owner alike. However, un-scooped dog waste has become a concern for our community. It is unsightly and can be dangerous to children, other pets and the environment. It is our goal to keep our community in pristine shape and as pet friendly as possible.

We are instituting a program known as Doggie DNA due to a small percentage of residents that have not been using the provided pet stations to pick up after their dogs. Every dog owner must bring their dog(s) to the office to provide us with a DNA sample. We will contact Residents on a per building basis for DNA testing, please wait until we notify you before scheduling your appointment. Appointments will be made Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm. We will also have limited Saturday and Sunday appointments available on a first come first serve basis. For those of you who can make it in during the week, please plan on doing so and leaving the Saturday appointments for those who really need it. To schedule your appointment, (contact number and email removed).

TO PREPARE FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT

The process is then very simple. Bring your dog to the office where you will swab your pet with the provided kit. We will submit the DNA sample at which time a Registry will be created at BioPet Lab.

Once the registry is complete, any feces found on the property will be checked for DNA and the pet owner will be fined $200. If the fine is not paid, the rental agreement will be subject to termination. If you fail to register your pet, you will be fined $150 and risk termination of your rental agreement, as well.

We love all the dogs at The Reserve at the Boulevard and we are looking forward to providing this great program that will enable us to continue to allow pets while keeping our grounds clean and sanitary.

With great thanks,

Khalifa Williams
Community Manager