Frequently Asked Questions

Weekly service starts at $25/week for most Hamilton homes, which works out to about $100/month. Bi-weekly service starts at $20 per visit ($40/month). One-time deep cleanups start at $75. Your exact price depends on your yard size, number of dogs, and how much waste we're dealing with. We'll give you a firm quote before starting service—no surprises.

We base pricing on waste volume and yard size rather than a strict per-dog rate. Two small dogs don't necessarily cost more than one large dog—it depends on the actual cleanup required. That said, more dogs usually means more waste, so we factor that into your quote. We'll give you a fair price based on your specific situation.

Larger yards and more waste mean more time and effort, so yes, these factors affect your price. But we account for this in your initial quote, not as surprise fees later. If your situation changes significantly (you add dogs, the yard gets out of control, etc.), we'll discuss an adjustment before changing what we charge. No hidden fees, ever.

No contracts, period. You can cancel or pause your service anytime with a quick message—no cancellation fees, no questions asked. We believe in earning your business every week through reliable service, not locking you into commitments. Pause for winter, pause for vacation, or cancel completely—it's entirely up to you.

We offer prepayment discounts for customers who pay monthly or seasonally in advance. Multi-dog pricing is already built into our fair quotes—we won't double or triple your price just because you have more pets. Ask us about current promotions when you get a quote, and we'll make sure you're getting the best rate for your situation.

If your yard has months of buildup, yes, the first cleanup costs more because it requires significantly more time and effort. This is essentially a one-time deep clean. After that, regular weekly or bi-weekly maintenance keeps the yard manageable, and you pay the standard recurring rate. We'll be upfront about first-visit pricing when you get your quote.

We offer weekly, bi-weekly, and one-time cleanup services. Weekly is our most popular plan—it keeps your yard consistently clean with minimal buildup. Bi-weekly works well for single-dog homes or larger yards where waste spreads out more. One-time cleanups are perfect for spring startup, move-in/move-out situations, or getting your yard back under control before starting regular service.

Nope. As long as we can access your yard through an unlocked gate, side entrance, or other arrangement you specify, we'll take care of everything while you're at work or out running errands. We'll send you a text when we're on our way and an email when we're done, so you always know when the job's complete.

Most standard yards take 10-15 minutes for a thorough cleanup once we're on-site. Larger properties or heavy waste situations take longer. The beauty of regular service is that each visit stays quick and efficient because we're never dealing with massive buildup. We're in and out fast, and your yard is clean.

We work in all weather conditions. Light rain and snow don't stop us—in fact, frozen poop is easier to pick up. Heavy storms or unsafe ice might delay us by a day, but we'll reschedule and let you know. Weather is part of the job, and we don't charge extra for working in less-than-ideal conditions.

Absolutely. Just give us 24 hours notice, and we'll skip your visit at no charge. Going on vacation? Let us know and we'll pause service until you're back. Need to shift to a different day one week? We'll do our best to accommodate. Flexibility is part of the service.

Yes. We send a text notification when we're about an hour out, and an email confirmation once the job is complete. This way you always know when we've been there, and you can unlock gates or bring dogs inside if needed. You're never left wondering whether we showed up.

However works for you. Most customers leave a gate unlocked on service day. Some use combination locks and give us the code. Others have side entrances or prefer to be home to let us in. We'll work with whatever setup you have. We'll also send you a photo of your securely closed gate after each visit for peace of mind.

For friendly dogs, we can work around them—they usually just want to supervise. For dogs who are territorial, fearful, or aggressive, it's best if you bring them inside before our arrival. That's why we send the "on our way" text—it gives you a heads-up to secure your pet if needed. Your dog's safety and our team's safety are both priorities.

We clean wherever your dog does their business. Most customers need backyard service, but if your dog uses the front yard or side yard, we'll include those areas in your cleanup. Just let us know during your quote so we can account for the full space.

Yes. Townhomes with small yards, condos with private patio areas, and apartment complexes with designated dog areas all work fine. We also service HOAs and property management companies that need common area cleanup. As long as we can access the space, we can keep it clean.

We work year-round, including winter. Snow-covered yards get cleaned just like summer ones. Frozen waste is actually easier to pick up than fresh waste. Tall grass takes more time to search thoroughly, but we'll get it done. Regular service prevents grass from hiding waste buildup in the first place.

We haul everything away. We bag it up and take it off your property for proper disposal. You'll never have smelly bags sitting in your trash cans or piled by your garage. It's completely removed from your home—that's part of what you're paying for.

Yes. We clean and sanitize all equipment after every job to prevent the spread of parasites, bacteria, and germs between properties. This protects your dog, your yard, and every other customer we serve. Equipment hygiene is a non-negotiable part of our process.

Not when proper sanitation is followed. That's why we disinfect tools after every property. We treat every yard as if cross-contamination could be an issue, because parasites like giardia and parvo can survive in the environment. Our cleaning protocols minimize these risks to essentially zero.

We use heavy-duty waste bags that are designed for sanitary disposal. While truly biodegradable bags often don't hold up to the volume and weight of waste we handle, we're always evaluating better options as they become available. Proper disposal matters more than bag material when it comes to environmental impact.

Our standard service is pickup and removal. Disinfecting yards isn't typically part of routine cleanup because rain and sun naturally break down surface bacteria over time. If you have a specific contamination concern (like parvo), let us know and we can discuss additional sanitation steps or refer you to a specialist if needed.

Absolutely. Waste that sits for days or weeks attracts flies, smells terrible, and becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. Regular weekly or bi-weekly pickup keeps odors down and pest activity minimal. Your yard stays fresher, your neighbours are happier, and your patio becomes usable again.

Yes to both. Dog waste is high in nitrogen, which burns grass and leaves brown patches. It also harbors parasites like roundworms, hookworms, and giardia that can reinfect your dog or spread to other pets. Kids playing in the yard are at risk too. Regular cleanup protects your lawn, your pets, and your family.

We're not veterinarians, but we see a lot of dog waste and can tell when something looks unusual. If we notice persistent diarrhea, blood, extreme volume changes, or other concerning signs, we'll mention it. It's not a diagnosis, but it might prompt you to check in with your vet. Consider it an extra set of eyes on your dog's health.

Regular cleanup significantly reduces parasite exposure. Parasites eggs and larvae develop in feces over days, so removing waste before it becomes infectious breaks the reinfection cycle. It's not a substitute for veterinary deworming, but it's an important environmental control that complements your dog's medical care.

Yes. We carry liability insurance and are bonded, which protects both you and us. If something goes wrong on your property—equipment damage, accidental injury, anything—you're covered. This is basic professionalism for any service entering your yard, and we take it seriously.

Scoopster has been serving Hamilton for over 5 years. We've built our reputation on consistent, reliable service and fair pricing. We're not a gig-economy app or a franchise—we're a local business run by Hamilton residents who care about this community.

Yes. Our team members undergo thorough screening to ensure you can trust them with access to your property. We're entering your space when you're not home—trust isn't optional, it's the foundation of this service. We vet everyone carefully.

100% satisfaction guarantee. If we miss something or you're not happy with the cleanup, let us know and we'll come back to make it right. We stand behind our work because we know what it takes to do the job properly. Your yard should be noticeably cleaner after every visit.

If we genuinely miss waste during a visit, let us know within 24 hours and we'll come back to get it at no charge. We're thorough, but mistakes happen. When they do, we fix them. That said, if your dog goes out after we leave and adds fresh waste, that'll be picked up on the next scheduled visit.

We accept credit cards, e-transfer, and pre-authorized payments. Most customers set up automatic billing through our customer portal, which means one less thing to remember each month. You'll get invoices via email, and payment happens seamlessly in the background.

If you opt into automatic billing, yes. It's the easiest way to handle recurring service. You can also choose to pay manually per visit or per month if you prefer. We're flexible—whatever works for you. You'll always have access to invoices and payment history through your customer account.

If we didn't deliver the service you paid for, we'll refund you or credit your account. If you cancel mid-month on a prepaid plan, we'll prorate and refund the unused portion. We're not in the business of keeping money for work we didn't do. Fair is fair.

For one-time cleanups, yes—we ask for payment upfront. For recurring service, you can choose to prepay monthly for a small discount, or we can bill you after service. Either way works. We're flexible because we know different customers have different preferences.

Just keep them inside during our visit. Our text notification gives you a heads-up so you can secure your dog before we arrive. We work quickly and quietly, so even nervous dogs usually don't notice much disturbance. Safety for both your pet and our team is the priority.

Absolutely. Puppies produce a lot of waste, often in unpredictable spots while they're still learning. Weekly service during the puppy phase keeps your yard manageable and reduces the parasite exposure risk that's especially important for young, developing immune systems. We've seen it all—puppy messes don't faze us.

Yes. One-time deep cleanups are perfect for move-in situations where the previous owner left a mess, or for landlords preparing a property for new tenants. We'll quote based on the condition of the yard and get it back to clean, usable condition. This is a common request and we handle it all the time.

Yes. We work with landlords and property managers who need yards maintained between tenants or on a recurring schedule. For Airbnbs or short-term rentals where pets are allowed, regular cleanup keeps the property guest-ready. We can coordinate access and scheduling to fit your turnover needs.

Yes. We service HOA common areas, apartment complexes with designated dog areas, doggy daycares, and other commercial properties. Volume and frequency matter for pricing, so we'll need to assess the space and usage to give you an accurate quote. Contact us to discuss your specific needs.

Yes. We work 12 months a year, including winter. Dogs don't stop pooping when it snows, and waste that accumulates under snow becomes a massive problem come spring thaw. Year-round service keeps your yard consistently clean and prevents that overwhelming spring cleanup many dog owners dread.

We work through snow. Frozen waste is actually easier to spot and pick up than soft waste in summer. A few inches of snow doesn't hide much. Deep snow can make cleanup harder, but we adjust—sometimes we'll clear paths or come back after a melt. Either way, waste gets removed before it becomes a spring disaster.

We work in rain, snow, cold, and heat, but there are limits. Severe ice storms that make travel dangerous, or extreme heat warnings where working outdoors is unsafe, might delay us by a day. We'll let you know and reschedule. Safety comes first, but we push through most weather without issue.

We serve Hamilton Mountain, Stoney Creek, Ancaster, Dundas, Waterdown, Binbrook, Winona, and surrounding areas. If you're in or near Hamilton, there's a good chance we can reach you. Contact us with your address and we'll confirm whether you're in our service area.

No extra travel fees within our standard service area. If you're outside our usual coverage but close enough to make it work, we might adjust pricing slightly to account for drive time. We'll be upfront about this during your quote—no surprise fees later.

Your yard will be noticeably cleaner—free of all visible waste. We're thorough. That said, if your dog goes out after we leave, you'll have fresh waste until the next visit. Regular service keeps buildup to a minimum so your yard stays consistently usable and fresh.

Immediately. After the first visit, your yard will be visibly cleaner. After a few weeks of regular service, you'll notice reduced odors, fewer flies, and greener grass in areas that were previously brown from waste. The cumulative effect over time is what really makes the difference.

Fresh waste will always have some smell, but the overwhelming odor that comes from weeks of buildup will be gone. Regular pickup prevents that concentrated stench from developing. If you're smelling strong odors after we've been servicing your yard for a while, something else might be going on—let us know and we'll investigate.