I am still a little on the fence morally about going into the markets devastated by the Hurricanes (Houston, Tampa, Naples, Jacksonville, Corpus Christi, Galveston), BUT I was somewhat convinced by a fellow wholesaler that we are doing many of those people a service. 

Levels of service vary.

Also, those tips are great, I'm applying someone will apply the rest of them. 

Customer service (can you reach a person, how quickly?)

In the case of a natural disaster causing service issues the landlord has no control over they are not responsible.

Again I am out of the area for Military service so I will get these project moving as soon as able.

This is important to show your lender so you get credit for your payments towards your total DP at the time of closing.This will buy you time to get the rest of the funds, and also lock up the property.If you negotiate a longer Option period than from now to 4/18, you will have a longer time to get your funding in place, and get a larger total DP credit.

Also what service have you used in the past to get this done?

If you don't do this you risk the rest of your tenants just plain either moving without notice or giving notice to move.. let other tenants know if they need to call police, and also call you so your aware of whats happening.. 

Honestly how do landlords get themselves so stuck.. inherited problems or not.. this sounds like it would have been the first thing I would have done was to get rid of the dogs.Tell tenant you have no choice they either get dogs gone or else, you file for eviction,  non-compliance failure to permit management / services to enter apartment to do emergency repairs.