By Ben Weger

Published Feb 21, 2018

Updated Dec 24, 2023

The trend toward pet amenities continues to grow among residents in multifamily apartments. With over 100 million dog and cat owners in the U.S., the property management industry has seen a steady rise in demand for pet amenities. In 2017, the National Multifamily Housing Council reported that there are now a greater number of residents who own pets, while these residents have a greater demand for pet-related amenities.

To help keep your properties’ pet owners happy, take a look at these tips for premier pet amenities.

1. Get to know your pet owners

Move-in is the best time for properties to educate residents on their pet policies and introduce them to their pet amenities. For example, The Bozzuto Group builds their introduction to pet owners right into their move-in process. They require all of their residents’ pets to be registered with their leasing office and have their proper vaccinations. They even ask for a photo.

Some of Bozzuto’s pet amenities include pet spas, “bark parks” (in-house dog parks where dogs can do their business away from other residents), and “yappy hours” where pet-owning residents and their pets can mingle. They also offer complimentary dog treats and feature pet-of-the-month awards.

JoLynn Scotch, senior vice president of Bozzuto Management put it this way, “We try to go above and beyond and create a carefree and active lifestyle for the residents. That now extends to their pets.”

It’s also a good idea to get a dog’s perspective on pet amenities. That’s why Bozzuto created a dog’s-eye view video of one of their dog runs:

2. Show pet owners you care

Once you’ve welcomed pet owners into your community, it’s time to provide them, and their pets, a great experience. One way you can show your appreciation for pet owners is by featuring pets on your website, or on social media. Fairfield Residential’s PetLife blog hosts helpful tips for apartment life with a pet. They’re even launching a Pup Culture campaign, featuring treat and hydration stations for community dogs.

Another great way to support pet owners is through local partnerships. AvalonBay Communities partners with their local VCA Animal Hospital as an amenity for their residents. Some of the perks include a free first wellness exam, 10% off veterinary services, and home delivery of pet food and medication.

They also offer other pet amenities like doggie paddle pool parties, a Howl-O-Week costume contest, and pet CPR classes.

3. Give them a pet concierge

A pet concierge is the perfect pet amenity for busy pet owners. There are a variety of pet concierge businesses out there such as Baroo and Bark Buildings who offer in-home services like pet sitting and grooming for dogs and cats, dog walking, and training for puppies. Bark buildings was also one of the National Multifamily Housing Council’s 2017 Launch Pad semi-finalists.

You should also make your community accessible to dog walking services like Wag! Available across the country, this dog walking app pairs your residents with local dog walkers. They even provide a map of where the dog was walked and send confirmation photos. It’s an ideal pet amenity for working pet owners.

4. Keep your community clean for all residents

While your residents’ pets are welcome members of your multifamily community, their waste is not. In order to be courteous to all of your residents, it’s important to take pet waste disposal seriously. Sanctioned areas for dog walking or rooftop dog parks help keep dog waste confined and strategically-placed dog waste stations promote proper waste disposal.

Some properties are using DNA to identify pet owners who do not clean up after their pets. Companies like PooPrints help communities enforce their pet waste policies and impose fines on any residents who violate them. Pet waste can transmit harmful bacteria, parasites, and diseases to humans so proper disposal is a legitimate concern for properties.

5. The future of pet amenities

Pet amenities are continuing to evolve as the demand for pet services from residents increases. Nearly 70 billion dollars was spent in the pet industry in 2017. One pain point for multifamily pet owners is understanding the differences between pet rent, fees, and deposits and making those payments accordingly. As renters insurance and other rental fees find new digital solutions, pet-owning residents should expect innovations that help simplify their pet finances.

As the expectations of pet-owning residents change, it’s important to stay on top of the pet amenity trends in the industry. However your property management company chooses to provide pet amenities for your pet owners, it’s sure to be appreciated!

Ben Weger

Ben is the former Content Intern for Updater’s Marketing team. The only thing he finds more exciting than discovering a new trend for content is starting his own.