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You may not have realized he was gone, but today marks the return of a very special part of QotD?. RamRom the Tumputer is hooked up to the internet! His Pink RAM once again aids the writing of interesting questions. WB, RamRom.
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In House News, all the furniture is here (did I tell you that already?), and today I finished the final cleaning of the apartment while Justin waited for the CableMan to come and give us some Cable.
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They Who Live on the Left's dog has left more poop in our yard. This is not very neighborly.
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Today's Question of the Day? is:
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How would you deal with this problem? Please keep it legal and neighborly.
.Love,
The Asker
7 comments:
Well, since your neighbors appear to not be approachable and also seem to not comprehend good manners, what you are really asking is what miracle, superpower or potent hex can you hope for to solve this problem.
We have a group of neighbors who believe that since we live outside city limits and on big plots, that "country" dogs are what is expected. Despite comments and complaints from others over the years, they just feel that it is okay to have their dogs roam and do the things that dogs do.
Since no one is willing to counteract by calling animal control, we have been forced to just deal with their dogs.
Okay, well, one neighbor decided to fight "country" with "country." When his dog was in heat and he was struggling with keeping the dogs from digging to get under his fence, he decided that he would just end the whole problem. So he put a dish of beef fat laced with antifreeze by the spot where they were digging.
But it was our pet who ate the beef fat. She was outside with me waiting for kids to get off the school bus, and she dashed over between the neighors homes for all of two minutes, maybe. I can tell you that no matter how annoying the "country" dogs are, they would never have deserved THAT.
Surely the HOA or city has some sort of leash law or fencing ordinance, but I would think that a reasonable person would not need to be asked by authorities to keep their pets in check.
There is a product that you can buy at pet stores that you can put on the perimeter of your property to keep dogs and cats away. It does work, but you have to apply it almost daily to get the desired effect. That is almost as much of a nuisance as picking up dog poo.
Privacy fence? HEHE!!! But that doesn't seem nice neighborly either! Maybe you should just ask them nicely.
I'm with Aunt Barb and say to just ask them nicely. Tell them that you are sure that they don't realize it, but that their dog is leaving his mark(poo) in your yard(you are sure that it is their dog, right?) and you would appreciate it if they would clean it up.
It probably won't get you anywhere, but at least you have made the effort.
Check with the HOA to see what you can legally do.
I agree with the other mothers, if you have not tried, please inform them that poo was left in your yard and you would appreciate their help in keeping the dog away, if it was their dog. I have purchased and used the "pet be gone stuff" to keep certain neighborhood pets poo out of my flowerbeds. It does work. It might be a way to re-train the dog next door. It is not cheap but can be purchased at the Home Depot type stores. There could be a homemade recipe out there on the net.
I have a somewhat unreasonable anger when it comes to people not controlling and picking up after their pets. My grandfather lets his dog run rampant, and seems surprised when his neighbors complain and don't like him.
I suggest a pronged approach.
1) If you are 100% certain that it was their dog, go to the neighbors and make a verbal request/complaint. That's the first thing the cops would ask you to do anyway.
2) Put up a few small signs, if possible. http://www.signswithanattitude.com/no_dog_pooping_signs_list.html (I liked the "Please leave your address so my dog can poop in your yard" one, but you might go for more polite the first time round)
3) If you have a neighbhorhood association (which I think you do) lodge a complaint with them.
4) Get a fence - small and decorative will often be enough to keep out a dog just looking for a dump spot. If the dog is truly determined, you'd need a serious fence to keep out the diggers and jumpers.
Those are the "polite" and "neighborly" options. I'm more tempted by less polite ways, such as picking up the poo and throwing it in their yard.
I'm with Anne, though. A reasonable person wouldn't need to be asked by authorities to keep their pets in check. But they may just not realize what's happening - sometimes otherwise reasonable people simply don't think about the consequences of their actions unless they are forced to.
I hope you find a peaceful resolution.
I would agree with the sign thing - a little yard sign that you could place on the side of the lawn closest to your neighbors. But probably the best option would be to tell your HOA, and my guess is that they would have a letter sent to the neighbor.
Also, if you ever see the dog in your yard, and are able and willing, then happily call the dog in, and then call Animal Control to come pick it up. Don't worry, it won't be put to sleep (for several days at least)- but your neighbors will have to pay to bail it out of the pound, and that might make them think twice about letting the dog outside illegally (the dog cannot be off your property without a leash in 99% of suburban cities).
I am always willing to call Animal Control, not out of meaness, but out of concern for the dog - I'd rather my dog be in the pound then partially mangled and dying on the side of the road, or kids shooting it with BBs, or snakebites, or getting trapped somewhere. If you are concerned with your dog, you will call the pound immediately to find out if it's been picked up. If you are not concerned with your dog, then it will be humanely put down instead of living an inhumane life with careless owners (or maybe even adopted by someone else).
Can anyone tell this is a touchy subject for me? =)
And, you could always leave a polite but anonymous note in their mailbox or door, asking that they please not let their dog loose.
Bob recommends the cheap and easy solution: ammonia.
He says you should pour it all along your driveway and sidewalk. The smell will repell the dog, it avoids what may be a fruitless discussion with the nieghbors (and prevents you from having to falsely accuse anyone), it is painless and harmless to animals, and keeps the cost and convenience reasonable. You may need to reapply after heavy rains and elapsed time, obvioulsy.
Also, this is effective when putting trash at the curb to keep animals out. A small splash on or in the bag will do the trick.
Bob... good man to have in your corner...until he reminds you, 'Hey, weren't YOU the one that took all the chemistry classes?'
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