When you hire a landscaping crew, pool cleaner, or pet waste removal service, you are giving a stranger access to the space where your dogs play. The biggest fear for any pet owner is letting their dogs out into the backyard after a service visit, only to discover the side gate was left wide open.
We know that a clean yard means nothing if your dogs get loose in the neighborhood. That is why gate security is a strict protocol our technicians follow on the routes, and why every recurring visit ends with a completion text and a photo of the latched gate.
The latch check protocol
Checking the gate is not just a glance as the technician walks away. In Las Vegas, strong desert winds and shifting block walls can easily knock a heavy wooden or iron gate out of alignment. A gate might look closed but pop open with a strong gust of wind or a nudge from a large dog.
Our technicians are trained to pull the gate firmly shut and then physically pull back against the handle to test the lock. If the latch does not catch properly, they adjust the gate until it is secure.
The completion text
Testing the latch protects the dogs, but it does not tell the homeowner what is going on while they are sitting at their desk at work. To solve this, we rely on automated communication.
When our truck is heading to your neighborhood, our system sends you an “on the way” text so you know to bring any protective dogs inside. When the technician finishes the grid walk, bags the waste in your bin, and completes the physical latch check, they take out their phone and photograph the secured latch.
That photo is sent to you in a completion text message. You do not have to guess if the job is done, and you do not have to nervously peek around the side of the house before letting your dogs out. You have visual confirmation on your phone that the yard is secure.
Managing access codes
To make the process even smoother, we encourage clients to use combination locks on their side gates. Leaving a gate unlocked all day on your route schedule is a security risk for your home. By providing us with a combination code, you keep your property secure from strangers while allowing us access.
We store your gate combination privately in our secure route system. It is only accessible to your assigned technician. After the waste is cleared and the tools are sanitized, the technician locks the combination padlock, pulls the latch to test it, and sends the gate photo.
If we arrive at a property and the gate is locked with a padlock but we have no code on file, our policy is strict. The technician will not climb the fence. It counts as a completed visit, they will leave a door hanger, and send a text message noting that the yard was inaccessible.
By prioritizing clear communication and visual proof of a locked gate, we make sure the service takes a chore off your plate without adding any stress.