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UNF housing establishing new pet-poop policy

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A local apartment complex is cracking down on dog owners who don’t clean up after their pets.

Neighbors like Madison Woodall have to tiptoe around so she doesn’t end up stepping in an unwanted pile of poop at The Flats at UNF.

“People don’t clean up after themselves and it's really unsanitary,” said Woodall.

UNF management is turning to doggie DNA testing to root out the culprits.

“You have to watch your step,” said Woodall.

Starting this fall, all pets will be swabbed for DNA. If your animal’s doo-doo is left behind, it will be collected and sent to a laboratory that can identify which pet owner didn’t pick up the droppings. But some people think this new poop policy is going to the extreme.

“I think it’s a little much and things get carried away,” said Woodall.

UNF said they’ll be adding more bag stations around the property to encourage people to pick up after their pets.

UNF Department of Housing and Residence Life Director Bob Boyle sent Action News Jax an email about the new policy.

Trending on ActionNewsJax.com:

“Beginning Fall 2016, the Department of Housing and Residence Life will be working with an approved 3rd party vendor, Mr. Dog Poop, Inc., to have residents with an approved dog or cat at The Flats at UNF complete a DNA sample collection kit with the assistance of Housing and Residence Life staff. The process will include bringing the pet into the main office of The Flats at UNF and having the resident dog or cat owner swab the inside of their pet’s mouth with a DNA sample collection kit provided by Mr. Dog Poop, Inc. The collected sample will then be sent off to Mr. Dog Poop, Inc. for storage.

"As has been the policy at The Flats at UNF, residents with an approved dog or cat who walk their dog in the community are expected to clean up after their animal, including picking up and properly disposing of their animal’s fecal matter.  For Fall 2016, the Department of Housing and Residence Life is expanding the number of pet stations within the community to make it as easy as possible for pet owners to clean up after their animal.  Pet stations will include directional signage as well as provide residents with litter pick up bags as well as a trash receptacle to easily dispose of pet waste. If pet waste is found around the community it will be collected by Housing and Residence Life staff and sent off to Mr. Dog Poop, Inc. to possibly be identified as belonging to a specific animal.

"This new pet owner expectation is being implemented at The Flats at UNF to encourage residents to follow existing policies as well as ensure the community is a healthy and attractive space for all residents.”

Neighbors told us everyone needs to step up and hold the slackers accountable, so they can live in a clean community.

“Make it sanitary, make it a good place for the community to live,” said Woodall

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