"X Smell Is Really Driving Me Crazy" What Do You Think About Pets' 'Balcony Defecation'?

Some Pet Owners Manage Dog Waste on Balconies
"As Long as Cleanup Is Done Well" vs "Terrible Odor" Sparks Debate

Recently, conflicts have arisen in some apartment complexes over so-called 'balcony defecation,' drawing attention to possible solutions. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by Pixabay

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "It smells bad, and it's even more annoying in the summer," "It seems like the drain is giving off a foul odor."

Recently, a conflict has arisen in an apartment complex over so-called 'balcony defecation' by pets. Balcony defecation refers to pets relieving themselves on the balcony.

Since the pet pads are placed on the balcony, if the owner does not clean up in time, the smell of the excrement can spread to neighbors, leading to disputes. Especially during the ongoing heatwave, the odor from the excrement becomes an even greater source of stress for neighbors.

Among pet owners, balcony defecation is also a subject of controversy. Kim, a company employee in his 30s, said, "When raising pets, you should not cause inconvenience to those around you," adding, "Balcony defecation can cause the smell to escape outside."

On the other hand, Park, a worker in his 20s, said, "The problem is not balcony defecation itself but the level of care by the pet owner," adding, "If you have manners, you can find various ways to prevent conflicts from arising."

Choi, who owns a pet, emphasized, "Using only a litter tray is a problem; you should also use pads." He continued, "It would be better to manage it in the bathroom rather than on the balcony." He also advised, "(Although it should never happen) never dispose of waste into the balcony drain. The smell from the drainage pipe is extremely bad."

Among pet owners, it is pointed out that not only balcony toileting but also raising dogs on the balcony can have negative effects on the dogs. Photo by Pixabay

Amid these various opinions and conflicts, according to current law (Enforcement Decree of the Apartment Housing Management Act Article 19, Paragraph 2, Item 4), residents must obtain consent from the management authority if they intend to keep livestock (excluding assistance dogs for the disabled) in a way that causes harm to communal living.

'Acts that cause harm to communal living' can be interpreted as △noise caused by pets disturbing other households' residential life △leaving pet excrement in common areas such as apartment stairs, elevators, and parking lots △pets frequently attempting to attack neighbors, among others.

For example, if 'balcony defecation' causes harm to neighbors, pet owners should be able to manage their pets based on the opinions of residents. As the number of pet owners increases and various disputes arise, the purpose of this law is to enable residents to resolve issues on their own.

In fact, a security guard at another apartment management office said, "Not only conflicts over balcony defecation but also noise disputes are resolved through residents sharing opinions and finding solutions," adding, "Small and large problems arising from raising pets are resolved by residents themselves after recommendations from the management office."

However, despite residents' efforts to resolve issues, there are cases where disputes escalate to legal battles. In August 2008, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a construction company in a lawsuit against a resident who kept a large dog in an apartment complex.

At that time, the Supreme Court upheld the lower court's ruling that if a tenant in a rental apartment kept a pet dog without the management authority's consent and caused harm to other residents, terminating the lease contract was justified, and the tenant must vacate the apartment for the landlord.

The appellate court stated, "Considering the purpose of the relevant laws and the need to balance the various interests of apartment residents living in communal housing, harm in communal living is not necessarily limited to concrete and objective damages such as physical injury or property damage, but also includes subjective and emotional harm such as discomfort or inconvenience in using communal facilities, or feelings of disgust or fear."