Pet Issues

The old saying that good fences make good neighbors would certainly apply here. If you can you should erect one. The other option is to fling the mess back to their yard, sans baggie. It is rude and unfair to have to clean up poop when you don't even own a pet.

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Personally I'd get a BB gun and sting their dogs rears with it if they came on my property again. And if they had done that throwing the bag back in my yard business, I'd have wiped it on their front door handle. That's just me. I get very angry when my neighbors let their pets violate my property. I too have an HOA that doesn't enforce diddly (especially sounds ordinances, I have one neighbor that's trying to turn our cul-de-sac into a ghetto single handedly).

However, my little rant here doesn't do you much good. The only other things I can think of are to call animal control the next time you see the dogs loose and ask them to come pick the dogs up. You have the right to do this as per your HOA leash regulation. The reasoning is that if the dogs are not on a leash, then the owners must have no knowledge that they are out, or have abandoned them. The other thing you could try is calling the police and filing destruction of private property charges. Get an estimate of what it would cost to re-do your yard and eliminate the pet spots etc. and make sure that you tell the police that it's unsanitary and a health hazard for your children and the children you are also responsible for throughout the day.

Don't take this laying down. Stand up for yourself and fight back. It's your property and they have NO RIGHT to defile it.

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There are so many irresponsable dog owners out there that make it really hard for dog owners that accually care. We have a dog and i get the mean looks from people even though i never let my dog pee in somebodys yard and i always pick up the poop. But your neighbors hit it big time. Unbelievable!!!. You said they run around outside without the owners watching them. I would have set but the poop by their front door but if they just through it back, than that won't help. So maybe an idea would be to try to get the dogs and bring them to the animal shelter. Do that a few times and maybe then they get the message. No dogs or even cats (we get that in our yard) are allowed to walk around off leash in a neighborhood. Just an idea!!!! Let us know what happened.

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I would contact your local animal control office and ask for their advice. I have dogs, and have since I was a child, and was always taught that you don't let your animals leave a mess in someones yard. It is against the law for animals to be off leash, at least it is in Va. I think that it is in WV also, especially in neighborhoods. But animal control, or even the police department can answer any questions that you have about leash laws.

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i agree with teresa... call animal control. even if there arent leash laws enforced by your homeowners association, there are more than likely laws in your county/city, and if they are not abiding by those laws, they will get fine after fine after fine, until they either leash the dogs or put up a fence or CLEAN IT UP!! i applaude you for being so nice about it.... but i think its time to force them into dealing with their responsibilities as dog owners. you dont sh!t in their yard, why do they think their dogs can do it in yours?! GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!

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I would seriously try to talk to them about this, or send them a letter through the mail about it if they are seriously that immature about taking care of their pets. Or else, (sadly, this is probably what I would end up doing), so going out with a baggie, and picking up the poop...just to toss it in their own yard. Not sure that would help in any way really...MAYBE they would get the clue...but I almost doubt it. This siutation would make me very upset, as I don't have a dog, and would hate to be cleaning up someone else's dog mess. I once opened my front door to find poo right there. Yuck! I have even had neighborhood little dogs sneak under our fence, and poo in our fenced in yard. I can completely understand how frusterating this would be...but if these people are so rude about shirking their responsibilites onto others....I really don't know what else you can do.
K.

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video tape the insidents. call the police. see what they say because one, dogs are to be on a leash by law. two, messes are to be picked up by law.

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I can relate...you don't need the home owners association to enforce the law. Your neighbor is required to pick up after their dogs.

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/animalservices/legal.htm

Listed under ANIMAL CREATING NUISANCE/ANIMAL WASTE(SCOOPING) "County Code concerning dog poop, pet waste: The owner or custodian of any dog shall be responsible for the removal of excreta deposited by such dog on the property of another, including public areas"
County Code Section 41-1-2, Section 108-5-2 and Section 41-2-6)"

Instead of confronting your neighbor you could print out the website and mail an anonymous letter. When they receive the letter it could become a "heads-up" to follow the law.

This worked for us, and I hope it does the same for you. Good Luck!

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Great suggestions so far! I wouldn't be as kind as you are by putting it in a bag...I'd just scoop and throw as hard as I could in the hope it will splat their car or door!

Good luck.

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I have 2 dogs and get very annoyed with other peoples poop in my front yard.(90x90x90 fenced back yard for kids and dogs) I like the front poop free for snow days and sprinkler stuff. Building a fence is really expensive and is not your resposibility. I would call the SPCA and ask for advice and then call everytime they are out. Loose dogs are a hazard to everyone and most fines are high.
I have also used water pistols to shoe animals away. There is also repelents you can get to deter them.
Good Luck.
L. S

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I would just put up a fence between the two yards and leave it at that. It's an expensive proposition for you, but it will solve this and any other problems that might come up. Make sure you have a survey so you know exactly where your property line is and then put the fence 1 foot off of it on your side. Then there will be no issues.
YMMV
LBC

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That must be so frustrating! maybe you can spray something around your yard to repel the dogs from coming into your area, a smell that they dont like.

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I'm sorry if this sounds mean-- but..it is not confrontational... I would scoop up the poop with a shovel and just quietly toss it on THEIR side of the property line-- no bag..maybe do it when they aren't home or aren't watching..like they let the dogs do..

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Maybe you should write them a letter explaining how rude it is that they allow their dogs to go to the bathroom on your lawn where if effects your family and the business you run from your home. You could also clean up the mess and dump the bag out on their lawn, that way they can't just bring the bag back to you, they would actually have to pick it up. Or you could always get a fence, I know that would cost money, but would definately put an end to it.

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I, too, vote for fence. But I might also do my final pooper scoopin and deliver it to their doorstep - this time with a note that "they forgot something in your yard, please make sure it doesn't happen again" Citing the children/daycare reasons and include a bill for pet waste cleanup sevices as you're no longer cleaning up THEIR mess in YOUR yard for free ever again. You could also tell a fib and say you have treated your yard with a chemical to make grass grow that is toxic to dogs so they may wish to keep their animals safely out of your yard. You've been forced to do this because the feces and urine are harming your lawn. Go out on occasion and sprinkle baking soda everywhere that has been concealed in a container with "TOXIC" written all over it. Figure out how to get them to "volunteer" to keep their pets away for their own safety. Hmm - might work.

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I would talk to the Home Owner's association in my community and ask them to send a letter to your neighbors, if the behavior doesn't stop, then I would call Animal Control and report them. They are not supposed to let their animals run free without supervision.

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Hi, there,
I have 2 big dogs and I know your pain,when other people are not being responsible after their pets. I think I pick up a lot of poop after strange dogs every day, instead of stepping in it. However, would it be possible to put up a fence for your yard? I think that might be the best solution for you. Have a great day,
A.

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I would call the animal control people/humane society people whenever their dogs are loose - those organizations do not mess around. My neighbor called them on another neighbor whose dogs would not stop barking and they came out immediately and talked to the annoying neighbors and their dogs never barked outside again. Apparently they can be charged with animal neglect or whatever and have their dogs taken away. So, I would try to leave a nice note in their side mailbox and just ask them to kindly pick up after their dogs because you are planning on having kids around, etc...and if they still continue to disregard your concern, call the animal control people and get them involved. If all else fails, I would invest in a fence. Good fences make good neighbors (or at least help with bad ones!). :)

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I suggest videotaping/phone taping their dogs doing their stuff on your lawn. give them the tape. Get as up close and personal to the dogs as you can doing their stuff. If they are not convinced, you can take them to small claims court for the harassment, cost of clean up, and emotional stress of the pooing dogs. the tapes are your evidence.

The more expensive -but permanent answer is to put a lovely white picket fence around your yard the dogs cannot permeate. These are ready made at Home Depot. deduct it as a business expense. Certainly if your home association rules allow dogs to run freely, they wouldn't bar a lovely fenced in yard of daycare kiddies!

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If I told you the problems we have with our neighbors, it would be a novel. This one issue was resolved when my husband consistently scooped up the poop with a shovel and threw it over the fence into their backyard. When she saw it flying over the fence, she got the hint. By the way, I'm pretty sure they can be fined for this, if you call the city pound, they'll be able to give you advice.

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How about simply printing out this note that you posted to Mamasource, placing it neatly in an envelope, and taping it to their front door? All the relevant information is included right there. Your frustration is justified, especially with so many children around, because it is unsanitary to have children exposed to the dog feces. I think a note on their door would have been a better first step than placing dog poop on their driveway, because -- whether you intended it or not -- that was a pretty passive, aggressive move. Hope the problem is resolved soon.

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I feel for you. Unfortunately there are people in our world who are very selfish and unthoughtful, and you can't reason with them. You said the Homeowners won't help. is there a city or county ordinance that could be enforced by Animal Control or the Police? I see the only other option is building a fence between your yard and theirs. This could be expensive but bring you peace. AF

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This is one of the hardest neighbor problems to solve. My suggestion is that when you clean up the dog messes from your yard, you don't bag them, just pick them up with a shovel and put them on their lawn. If you county has leash laws, maybe talking to the county animal control agency can tell you your options. Another recourse would be to put up a fence, and if your homeowner's association complains, then tell them that they have not been enforcing their rules on leashes, so they should not try to enforce a fence ban. Because this effects your business ( I hope you are licensed if it is required), maybe it would be worth the money for you to pay for an attorney to write a letter to them. Be advised, anything you do except the fence will probably cause them to retaliate, based on their reaction to you putting the bag on their driveway, so be prepared for this to escalate. It will probably only be setted if one of you moves, maybe they will get fed up and move out. There's always hope.

///hug////, I feel for you.

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They are breaking laws concerning pet waste. I would either: 1. build a fence 2. threaten to turn them into the proper authorities if it doesn't stop 3. Both of the above. 1st though I would find out the exact laws plus you mamasource note and mail both to their house by certified mail so you have proof of your due diligence. If things don't change then I would call alllllll the proper authorities and start saving for a fence.

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I believe your neighbors are violating legitimate pooper scooper laws. You can check with your local police station. They may serve them a citation. That might make your neighbors take the situation more seriously. It is a health hazard for the children and you should not tolerate it.

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If it were me (and it's not, I understand it's easy for me to sit here in the comfort of my own home and make suggestions), I would wait until one of their precious little dogs were in my yard or running the neighborhood, and snatch it up. They would have to either talk to you or the humane society when they came to collect the animal. There are laws that protect your property from other people's messes. Take some pictures of the messes and your kid's shoes covered in it, very unsanitary. It may even become a domestic matter and then you'll at least have evidence to back it up. Make sure you're documenting everything such as them throwing the poop bag back in your yard. How infuriating!

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Haha! I like Dyreka's response too! My first thought was to let them know that you're gonna shoot their dogs the next time you find them defecating on their property. You have children to look after, a job to do, and it's ridiculous that your irresponsible neighbors are negatively affecting your life this much. I'm sure there is some kind of law against it though. Maybe if you lived in Texas... :)
You've received a lot of good responses. Any number of them would be a good way to deal with this. It's obvious to me that nothing short of drastic measures will make your neighbors sit up and take attention. Why should they care that dog s**t is being dragged though your house? They don't have to clean it up. Why should they care if your kids get into it? It isn't their children. But they WILL care when they have to shell out money to reclaim their dogs from the local pound, or start cleaning up the messes that you shovel back over the fence (although I foresee that opening a whole other can of worms...). Until it is negatively affecting their lives as much as yours they simply won't care.
You cannot be passive-aggressive about this problem. You need to do something about it head on or it will never be resolved.

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I am a responsible pet owner (who cleans up after her dog that is always on a leash outside our property) and this stuff makes me mad. The sad thing is - the dogs are probably doing their business in your yard because their yard is so full of their feces, they can't find a clear spot. While I think Dyreka's repsonse is funny, I would not advocate using a bb gun. You could really injure the dogs accidentally and then you're the aggressor, no longer the victim. Besides, what message are you sending to your kids - to shoot a dog that comes into your property? That will also only escalate the fughting between you. And you never know how people are going to retaliate when they are mad. You can try to chase the dogs away with a water hose when you see them. You don't have to hit them with the spray, just get it close enough to deter them. It wouldn't work for my dogs - they love the hose - but some dogs hate it. Definitely call your local government (city, township, county) and find out whether there are leash laws. Most places have them. Then call the animal control officer and make a report. Explain the problem and ask how they suggest you handle it. Do you know if the dogs are licensed? Most places require you register your dogs with the city and prove rabies innoculations. If they are not licensed, they could be subject to a fine, etc. If they are licensed, they should be wearing a tag that says so. I would also write a letter to your neighbors explaining the problem. Send it regular mail. Are they the home owners? You can find out by checkng your local tax rolls. If they are tenants, you can also contact their landlord. Don't forget to cc the animal control office, HOA, and anyone else you can think of. Start keeping records of the incidences. Good luck and let us know how it turns out. I'm curious.

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L., the ideas about calling animal control are good and especially the lawyer's letter -- that alone could scare the neighbors into controlling the dogs, especially if the lawyer can cite specific laws and regulations that say they perhaps could lose the animals if they fail to control the animals--if that's true.

Your HOA may not be enforcing things now, but have you gone to them and kicked up a fuss about this? Looked for some anti-dog-mess allies there? If these dogs are dumping on your lawn they surely are messing up others' lawns too; you might find other neighbors are as ticked off as you are and could present a united front.

As for a fence: I know that a fence is expensive and puts the burden on you when the offense is truly the neighbors', and that's not fair, but if you're running a day care from your home, it could affect your business if kids are stepping in or even possibly playing in or falling down in dog messes. If the parents of your day care kids start seeing dog mess on your lawn as they come and go, and if the parents see their kids coming home with poop on their clothes or shoes, you could at a minimum have to answer some tough questions from them and at worst lose business. It's not your fault but affects your business. So you might consider a fence. But for now I'd start with the lawyer's letter--well worth the money and probably not outrageously expensive (I've asked our lawyer to write one for another reason recently and the price quoted was about $125.)

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If you can, put up an electrical fence like the ones they have for dogs to stay in the yard you get it for them to stay out.

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Hello, I suggest writing a letter and cc it to an attorny. I am not sure what county you live in..most leash laws can be found online..take pictures, video,...call animal control and report everytime they are loose, create a record. Ignorance, and avoidance will only make you postal and then you get punished....

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This kind of situation is ridiculous.The home owners association does not have to enforce the leash law.This is a state law.I would try to talk to them 1 more time.If you are ignored or they walk away, I would tape a note to their door stating the problem and that it is a law that they keep their dogs on leashes when not in a fenced yard at all times.I would also state that since you have small children and a daycare that for the health and safety of your children as well as that of your daycare children if they can not keep their dogs in their yard or clean up after them you will be forced to report them to animal control.This is a health and safety concern for all involved.This is absolutely something you should not have to put up with.

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Hello,

My neighbors right now are dealing with the same issue that is so funny, but these neighbors have the yappy dogs as I call them what my neihgbors do is pick it up and throw it right back in their yard, she has a young daughter who plays with both my boys and they are always outside it is a miracle that none of the kids have dragged in dog poop on their shoes yet.
The nerve of some people you know.
KRW

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Hi L.,

Great responses. We had an issue with a neighborhood dog tearing up everyone's trash. In Prince William County, animal control will come and put up a trap for the animals that are "wandering" into your yard (no charge) and place a warning on the dog owners property telling them that there is a trap on the property etc etc etc. The dogs magically stopped tearing up our trash. (BTW, the only dog caught in the trap was our dog LOL) Oh, the trap is just a crate with food at the back and a latch that automatically shuts, trapping the dogs inside.

Our animal control guy came out, took my report, information etc. He was very nice and understanding. However, I love Dyrekas response!!!! Stand up for your rights!! Don't take this lying down. I think that is the theme for all the responses here. You can do this!!

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We have a similar issue with finding dog messes in our front yard. With four kids, I'm constantly checking shoe bottoms and hands (because babies will pick up anything!) and picking up after people who are not responsible for their pets. My best solution: we purchased a pet deterent spray at a home improvement store. It was located with the pest deterrents and says that its not harmful to animals, they just don't want to do their business where it is sprayed. It has worked for us, but wears off after about 6 months or so, so we need to reapply it. It's a "load" off my mind, though. As for your neighbors, I'm sorry that I have no advice for that relationship. Some people are just difficult and you are wonderful for dealing with it with maturity and patience.

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We have a similar situation with our neighbors, but with their cats. We have dogs ourselves but we have a fence around our backyard, however they let their cats(all 5 of them) roam around the neighborhood and for some reason they love my front yard and my flower beds. So I am constantly picking up "messes". We don't have a homeowners association, but if the dogs are walking around in your property without collars and nametags, that is illegal and you can always call the local "dog catcher". We threatened to do that one day and got into an ugly confrontation, but I don't see their cats on my front yard or flower beds anymore!! You also have to think of the safety of your kids, you are not sure if these dogs are vaccinated and the kids can bring some type of disease on thier shoe. You have to nip this in the bud SOON or it will keep happening and it seems that they don't care. Hope this helps!

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I have this issue, too, and have not been able to resolve it, mostly because there are so many dogs in the neighborhood who pass by and defacate, it's impossible to assign responsibility. You can call animal control, as suggested, and all the other suggestions are good, but the only sure way to keep your yard dog free is to put up a fence. I hope you won't have to do that. Good Luck!! You have my sympathies.

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Do you have a fence around your property? Sorry to hear you are having a hard time with this. You can report it to the police or city councilman and they may be able to help. I know here, the police will go talk to the family. Even if the homkeowners assoc won't enforce, maybe the city can. That is if you want to go that route. I know it can be difficult when you are hesitant to start something.
My ornery side says shovel it right back into their yard every night, but I know that really wouldn't help....haha.

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