Animal Waste

[kutnkru]

I thpought that with the season quickly approaching that i would bring this up.

I received a letter from one of our grounds crew this morning. He has asked me to address his concerns about animal feces on the lawn areas for this season (actually asked us to drop several that got very bad last fall). He thinks that it is not only disrespectful for "clients" not to have the areas cleared for them. When they know which days and damn near the times he will be there - he cant figure out why the problems persist??

I usually drop a dime and ask them to help us out. After the second offense I send a letter stating that we had the machines soiled in feces again and that if the areas in concern are not cleared for us we will have to add a surcharge of $5 to their bill for each offense after this.

How do you address this issue with your customers. What have you implemented a "fine"(surcharge) for the problems.

Thanks for the help.
Kris

[TJLC]

I have had to drop customers because of this. I got sick of the crap caked on my mower wheels.

[Chip]

Kris
In the past I have always asked my cutomers to please pick-up after rover. I would explain to them how that smell is on a 95 degree day, not to mention how sickening it is if it makes it into your truck. Most have complied and some will come running out to pick-up if we show up early.
I had 1 customer that ignored repeated requests that I added to the bottom of his bill. I approached him in person and he said it was an occupational hazard. I said not anymore. I quit his lawn on the spot. As a result I lost 1 other lawn, his son's. Both jobs were easily replaced. I wouldn't hesitate to do this again.

[thelawnguy]

Most metro areas have one or more companies that specialize in removing dog dirt from the yard. Find out who does this in your area and refer the customer to them.

Otherwise I agree to drop the account. The only dog dirt I have to deal with is that of other peoples dogs leaving deposits between the sidewalk and curb.

[kutnkru]

Believe me i try to bend over backwards with politeness when addressing this issue so that I dont call them slobs. I never thought about looking into a disposal service. maybe that is a clause that I could add to their agreements.

Thanks
Kris

[Twotoros]

I hate when it gets on the wheels of my 21" and then soon after have to adjust the height:( I will be dumping one of these two dog accounts this year . First I will offer to clean it weekly which will take twenty minutes and cost them more than the mow price. Gee I wonder if they will go for 45$ to mow 3k ft of turf.

[Fantasy Lawns]

just have to live with this one on the common grounds areas but when it comes to single homes it's a tuff one

use to have a lady .... small back yard with 3 huge dogs (110 lb@) slow payer so the boot .....have another has 1 large dog big fat account, good payer and we live with it

I know a guy who tried that doggie scoup service .....tied it in with his pet grooming, walking & babysitting seems to work for him .....but great idea to tie it into one's own existing clients whom need it ;-)

[kutnkru]

Gary:
Go for it. It cant hurt to ask. I too hate to clean the machines of it.

Steve:
Thanks for the info. I should have mentioned that this was pertaining to Residential Clients. I agree with you. On the money makers there is no discussing it(within moderation).

Kris

[Runner]

Add a little more to the bill, and dispose of it yourself. What I mean by dispose of it, is this. Take a quick walk around with your shovel before you start, when you see some, right next to the pile, just cut a slit by standing the shovel down into the ground, and open it up. Deposit the deed, and close the slit with your foot. ALL GONE! And you're charging to get rid of it!

[Grassman]

I agree with Runner , He took the words right out of my mouth!

[SodFather]

The way I approach this problem is by letting them know nicely that If they do not dispose of the dog waste and I have to do it I will have to charge them $15 for clean up service. Most of them really dont mind this charge and all I have to do is walk around for 5-10 minutes extra with my shovel and a garbage bag. Its not that much extra work and at $15 a pop it adds up quick!

[Just Cut]

I have had one customer tell me at the start of season that if the back yard was not picked to let him know and he would take care of it . I have had a problem in the past with a customer leaving clothes, toys for me to pick up also wanted me to move the trampolene I said no to all the above.I also dumped this customer

Ron

[mowerman90]

My pet peeve is people that leave their garden hoses streched all over the yard. I actully mulched one of my neighbors hoses.

[kutnkru]

and all the insight.

Runner:
Never thought of the spade treatment :-)

Kris

[thelawnguy]

The smell released from a day-old loaf that has been disturbed will make me vomit; I refuse to touch the stuff.

[kutnkru]

thats the joys of employee's bill ;-)

[VLM]

Thanks Kris for bringing up such a painful subject. these responses were really great, especially the burial service. Can you imagine the poor sod who actually cleans up the stuff as a business trying to pick up a chick, "So what do you do for a living?"

K9 waste management?

[mike]

GOING BEYOND THE POOP ON THE TIRES. HOW ABOUT CATCHING IT ON THE CHEEK FROM THE WEEDEATER. BEYOND THAT & BROKEN BEER BOTTLES, WATER HOSES, MOLES, NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS CLIENT JUST COULDN,T PAY ME ENOUGH. MY WORKERS & I DON'T MISS THIS ONE. I WAS NICE. WHEN I WAS LEAVING I TOLD HIM TO HAVE A NICE DAY!!!!!!

[Premo Services]

I do some condos and the owner(a real winner) of one of them comes out and tells me that the dog feces are all over his lawn and that I was going around the quite large piles of crap. I told him that yes I was going around them and in a little while there would be no place to cut. He asked me " don`t you do this kinda stuff"? I tried to hold back laughing hysterically and told him polietly that I don`t do that kinda stuff but I could do it for an extra 40.00 a week. HE LOOKED AMAZED AND SAID IT WILL PROBALLY TAKE YOU 15 min. TO DO IT AND THATS 160.00 AN HOUR, and I said thats right for 160.00 a hour I would walk thru the stuff. The next week all the dung was gone and I haven`t seen any more the rest of the year. :) :) :)

[MIDSOUTH]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mike
[B]GOING BEYOND THE POOP ON THE TIRES. HOW ABOUT CATCHING IT ON THE CHEEK FROM THE WEEDEATER.

I have had the honors of slinging poop in the face with the weedeater, just about threw up. needless to say when i see a pile and i am weedeating I am very careful around it now. I have one account that has [2] very large dogs in the small backyard, when I get done there is not a tread left on the rear tires of the scag that isn't filled with poop. I have never thought of complaining to them, it dries and flies off in the next yard or two. A little poop ain't never killed nobody-just don't sling it on you with the weedeater, there is a possibilty that you may throw-up.

[mike]

GOOD FOR YOU. ITS AMAZNG HOW FOLKS CAN CHANGE WHEN YOU GIVE THEM A PIECE OF REALITY!!!!!!

[mike]

GOOD FOR YOU. ITS AMAZNG HOW FOLKS CAN CHANGE WHEN YOU GIVE THEM A PIECE OF REALITY!!!!!!
HEY!! MIDSOUTH, IF YOUR EVER MOWING IN THE WEST TENNEESSE AREA I'D BE GLAD TO REFER YOU TO THE LAWN WITH THE JETBLAST.
HAVE YOU GOT ONE OF THOSE FACE SHIELDS?

[Cutter1]

I got to the point with a few yards that I just go around the droppings. I don't care if its new or old, I go right around it, nothing pisses me off more than smelling it all day long from your ztr tires. They get the hint when they see their grass a bit higher in spots. This of course is after numerous pleas. That is one thing that can ruin your day in ahuryy. It bugs me!! I wonder if they would like to smell it all day long in the heat.

I to have had poop in the face and on my sunglasses!! Thats just buckets of fun!!

[The Plow Kid]

Originally posted by thelawnguy
The smell released from a day-old loaf that has been disturbed will make me vomit, I refuse to touch the stuff.

[Runner]

Not to get off the subject, but while we're talking about getting hit in the face with something while weed whipping; the worse thing I've ever been hit with was dead rotting opossum while clearing a ditch. It hit me in the form of paste. Pretty gross, huh? It makes driving through doggie-doo seem not so bad.

[D&D]

its called splattered sh*t surprise ...when you catch it in the face while trimming

[Grassman]

Possom guts are yummy! Try prying soiled run over baby diapers off a parking lot just after breakfast. Russ

[kutnkru]

the running joke is season aint over til you've eaten 10 lbs of the s**t.

Yes it does get extremely frustrating. I have gotten furious enough as to throw a trimmer across the yard and watch it break in two or parts go flying into the air. Then I just yell at the top of my lungs: Pretty crude when people dont have any respect for the hired help!!!

Thats usually about the time when the trailer gets loaded and the phone call goes out that if they cant clean up after the dog that im not about to clean it for them.

Thus the reason for my post so I wont have to break teeth, or lose clients.

Kris

[Garry]

However, One must look at the positive benefits of wacking a big old pile of whoop. It certainly keeps the bugs away.

[SodFather]

Maybe bugs, but it doesnt keep the FLY'S away.

[Jet boater]

There a woman in our town that started a service business picking up dog crap. She drives around to all her "accounts" and scoops poop. (I can think of better ways to make a living.)

[awm]

Cant think of much worse than that.---

[HOMER]

I cut a Veterinarian...........where do you think they walk the dogs!

Brush and floss, then keep smiling!

[lawman]

Man that is something that I can not stand. The stuff gets into the wheels,shoes truck and trailer and you. Then you are blamed for the dead grass spots. These accounts are not worth my time.

[Vibe Ray]

Recently, a customer of mine's dog died. I tried to act dissappointed, but on the inside I was kinda glad. a few months before that another cutomer's dog died, but the customer always picked up after the dog.

And yes I have been unfortunate enough to run into some toxic waste when trimming before....wasn't all that pleasant!

And to you Kutnkru, ......I reccomend anger management class!!!!

[kutnkru]

Vibe u been talkin with my therapist????

LOL
Kris

[lawnboy82]

man, i thought that when i got hit by dog s**t it was bad, but a rotten opossum must realy suck. when i got hit with the dog s**t it broke the glass that covered my watch, broke the watch, sprayed on my face and glasses. but still the rotten opossum i dont think many people can top. your wife must have hated you that night.

[Edited by Eric ELM on 02-12-2001 at 12:50 PM]

[VLM]

What's up with the "O"possum thing. Down here they're just Possums (or target practice depending on your point of view). Damn yankees! LOL

[Runner]

VLM: LOL Sorry, that's just how my uncle Noah spells it. His name is Noah Webster. He wrote this big ol' book and called it something dumb like "dictionary" or something like that! :) Yeah really, up here, we pronounce it possum. The o is silent. (which makes no sense why it's even there.) Anyway, I gotta go get a pop - or I mean a SODA!

[lawnboy53]

I refer offenders to the guy who cleans up the dog waste at my house. He charges 5-6 bucks a week to clean up the yards, you can bet I wont do it for that even at my own house. We have some clients that I bill directly for the service he provides.
I still run into some piles he and there , just wash off your mower right there on the spot.

[BRL]

I could think of better jobs than the pooper scooper guy. However I did talk to one once and he really does well. Not much overhead involved in that business. He charges anywhere from $10.00 - $40.00week billed monthly based on size of yard & amount of waste. He fills up a roll off container once a month, has one full time employee, 2 Ford Rangers, some tools, and did almost $300,000 gross sales last year. He's the small guy of 2 in our area. Sounds like a good racket to me, although I wouldn't do it, even if the profits were double what this guy makes. I think he makes enough to set up a fake company that he can pretend to work forown to impress any potential girlfriends LOL.

[SodFather]

Thats a Lot of S**T to pick up!! Are you sure about $300,000?? That comes out to about 937 accounts @$40.00 a week.

[BRL]

When I multiply 937 x $40.00 x 52 I get almost 2 million in sales. I think he said they had a little over 200 accounts. If they were all $40.00week the sales would be over $400,000, so factoring a lot of accounts that aren't $40.00 it sounds like he could have been telling the truth. Unless my math or the calculator aren't working. He said the other guy was 4 or 5 times bigger than him.

[Twotoros]

Can't seem to scrape this thread off my shoes!!!!!

[kutnkru]

Heres some information/prevenative measures/and repair ideas for this problem I have found.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/turf/dog_lawn_problems.html

Kris

[Scott H]

After a customer of ours continued to leave tons of dog mess in there back yard, after I had asked her nicely not to. I decided that I would scoop it up with her own scooper and dumped it on her porch step. After that she still never cleaned anything up until finally, her porch step was covered in crap from weeks of me pilling it up.

Some people cant take a hint!!


Scott

[Mowin4cash]

May as well add my 2 cents worth, since my 2 cents is really equal to about 4 cents since I am a Republican, and you know what we Conservatives say carries more weight. Anyway, I had a customer who wouldn't clean up after her two labs, and since she was a great payer, I hated to say anything. One day, the lady asked me to come in for a Coke,(had to change a high lightbulb in exchange for the Coke) and I "accidentally" rubbed my deep lugged soles of my boots into some fresh poop, and tracked it all over the house. The carpet and hardwood floors. She saw it and looked at me like, "DO YOU SEE THAT?" I said I was sorry, and that after I took my equipment to be powerwashed and sanitized since it was all over my equipment, I'd come back and scrub her carpets. She didn't even think about the poop problem, and it was never a problem again. She didn't even "make" me come back and clean her carpets.

[Chopper Lover]

Scott, you have it close, but no cigar...

This is how you do it:

1) You take the doody and put it in a paper bag...

2) Place the loaded paper bag on the front porch...

3) Light it on fire...

4) Ring the door bell...

5) RUN!!!

6) Go to your hiding place...
and watch the owner stomp it out!

Hehehehe...
Mark

Disclaimer: As a past deviant and a current Fireman I wish to point out that Arson is a serious matter and in no way do I suggest you pull this stunt. However, it sure would be fun to watch.

[kutnkru]

We did a clean up yesterday for a lady who called to have her property power raked and the pre-m applied. Last season she was a constant hassle getting her pet debris removed prior to mowing services.

We showed up prior to our start up time, and upon surveying the yard there were some pretty heavy leaf accumulations near the driveway that had rolled onto the lawn from her plow service.

The homeowners were not home, so we had started mulching these areas prior to rakeing the debris clear to power rake the front lawn areas.

I was working my way up the lawn discharging towards the driveway. I was not aware the customer would be returning home from work early, and was unaware of three enormous piles of fresh animal waste amongst the leaves.

To my amazement she pulled her car up to stop just past me (stupid with me discharging towards her driveway) and upon passing me I hit two of the three piles. Needless to say, her car was covered in excrement, debris, and leaves.

The best part was her window was down -He Mows, He Scores
*.*.* TOUCHDOWN!!! *.*.*

I had one of the guys blow off her car but she had to get it and her washed inside and out -LOL.

I think she now understands what we complained about and why I raised her prices $15 per cut for the season.

Good things come to those who wait!
Kris

[Bob Minney]

To start with, a site inspection before you take on a new account will usually clue you in to a potential problem. If you don't want to work in a stinking slimy cesspool and you see 2 months accumulation of dog waste when you are walking the property to quote, DECLINE TO BID. ( I am not talking about the occasional stray pile on the front lawn left from neighbors walking their dog). If they will invite you to bid under vile conditions, do not fool yourself into believing that it will be clean when you get there to work. I use reminder labels at the bottom of my invoices for this (and other comunications) to the customer. My contract covers having the yard free from pet waste. If I have the problem a second time I will call the customer and let them know I will no longer service the account. In 10 years I have only had to do this 3 times. I do love the pets, but having a choice, I will not spend my day stinking like a big piece of $#!+.

[LAWNS AND MOWER]

Bob-- Did you do a search for s--t? I had a renter living next to one of my accts and he would walk his 125pd German Sheppard over to my acct to go doody. I asked him twice nicely to stop this practice but he would continue. I work out of a van so you can imagine the smell in there with tires coated with doody. Next time I mowed there must have been 12 piles on the yard I was mowing. Got out my shovel and treated it like a lacrosse stick and started slinging the doody on the renters front porch. Never did step on his property. Next week yard was clean of doody.

LAWNS AND MOWER

[fireball]

Dogs, Cats, Opossums, Bats, Pigeons, Armidillos are all mere droppings compared to Geese. The only thing positive to geese dropings is that during the winter it freezes and you can at least handle it then. Now picture you going across the lawn with your Jacobsen f-15 reel mower and those reel blades hitting those turds. Wear your rainsuit because you end up being a very large green turd. Dogs are no problem

Of course, twice a year you run over a turtle and get that jammed in the blades. It is amazing how much blood and guts are in one turtle

[rodfather]

Animal waste is one thing, but our guys complain the most about having to move lawn furniture and/or picking up toys in the yard. We even have one job that is nicknamed "Toy World"!!!

[chicks-dig-lawn-guys]

Cuttin out here in the Ghetto you have to watch out for toys and crap. The crap you just learn to run over it and deal with the smell. Turn your tires so not to run over it. I also just run over toys for fun. It's great to watch the little things fly through the air. I mean all these toys in the ghetto are donated anyway so the people dont care. Once I hit a toy and launched it through a window....didnt get in trouble though cause the window was already broke!

[GreenStar]

I put a stipulation in my contract that read's like this:

to protect our employees and equipment, pet refuse must be removed from all turf area's before the scheduled service day. a 10% charge of the total monthly bill will be added any time there are discrepancies of this kind.

it works pretty really good and i do add the charge.

[Turfdude]

We too specify clients clean up after pets and children prior to mowing.
Dog crap = phone call first, then lose account
Toys = place in pile in middle of lawn and cut around - they get the point

Lawn furniture= sometimes unavoidable so we move it once-they're responsible to place it back!!

[Bob Minney]

Turfdude,
You must be a resonable person. I can tell because you handle these situations as I do. No sense in tearing up a customers stuff, just mow around it and they will figure it out. As for dog crap, I won't put up with it, so I'm happy to let those more tolerant than I have those accounts. And you all know what I am talking about, not the occasional pile, but yards where you pity the dogs kept there.