Posted on 03/22/2012 2:20:33 PM PDT by EBH
I am currently witnessing a neighborhood drama that I’m sure plays out on a daily basis in communities across the country.
Neighbor A is originally from Wyoming. This probably means nothing to most of you, but having lived in that state for a while, it conjures up a specific archetype for my family — a person who prefers to keep to him or herself but is friendly when forced into proximity with others and figures that laws perceived to be absurd or overreaching are not worth following. This doesn’t present much of a problem in Wyoming where there are more cows than people and even fewer regulations, but conflicts inevitably develop when the mindset is transferred to the more heavily populated/regulated Front Range of Colorado.
Which brings me to Neighbor B — a retired naval officer. Need I say more?
Neighbor A has several dogs, and as far as I can tell, no leashes. The dogs go to work with various members of the family, and as the pick-up trucks are warming, the dogs take their morning constitutionals over to Neighbor B’s front yard and, shall we say, do their business.
Neighbor B takes great pride in his yard, and rightfully so. He has converted part of his property into model train nirvana and the rest is impeccably landscaped and maintained. There is no place for dog poop in it.
The war that has developed is being fought surreptitiously — or at least I haven’t been around when words and/or blows were exchanged. Neighbor B posts signs, Neighbor A ignores them. Neighbor B kicks poop onto the sidewalk, Neighbor A ignores it. I wouldn’t doubt that the home owners’ association or animal control has been called, but I’m pretty sure of what Neighbor A’s response would be … ignore it. I’m just hoping that this doesn’t result in more aggravation for other dog owners (myself included) in the neighborhood.
Why? Because HOAs, apartment complexes, and the like now have the option of instituting dog waste management programs in which resident dogs must be genetically identified via cheek swabs and registered. Poop piles that are not picked up can then be matched to the offender (assuming they’re from the neighborhood) and the owner fined or otherwise reprimanded for leaving them behind.
Now don’t get me wrong, I pick up after my dog and think everyone else should too, but if my HOA comes knocking on my door, canine cheek swab in hand, I’m not sure what I’ll do. Ignoring them sure seems like a reasonable response… but maybe that’s just an aftereffect of my time in Wyoming.
Has anyone out there had experience with a poop management program like this? Did it result in a cleaner environment or no?
Since dogs are still considered property, does demanding the DNA swab without a warrant violate any rights? LOL
I think we need to beat people who ignore animal laws AND violate others’ rights while doing so. They want the rights, they need to take up the responsibilities that come along with those rights. One is not overstepping those rights and infringing on the rights of others by breaking the laws they don’t want to follow.
If everyone in the neighborhood took their dogs and let them poop on this butthole’s lawn, I would think they’d start having a change of heart fairly soon.
Neighbor B needs to, politely and in a friendly manner, explain to Neighbor A that his yard needs to be off limits to the canine offenders.
He needs to tell Neighbor A that he would like any leavings by said dogs to be removed at the time they are deposited, and if it is not done so then maybe a payment schedule to the tune of $10 per pile could be instituted.
I believe that people can, and should, work things out themselves without “authorities” getting involved. Only after friendly and polite attempts to resolve these kinds of disputes should it be escalated.
Actually a bag from a week or two left on the front porch might be instructional too.
Wait until the circus comes to town.....rent an elephant....chain it up on the neighbors yard until it craps.....extra points if it buries the neighbor’s car.
I’m surprised Neighbor B has not procured, and begun to use, a BB gun on the offending critters. I’m pretty sure he would modify their behavior rather expeditiously!
Especially if the bag is set on fire before ringing the doorbell.
It’s Neighbor B’s war to fight. If the HoA came by to get swab samples, I’d tell them to get a warrant. Then tell them what you’ve seen.
Clean up the feces and spread moth balls or crystals (paradichlorobenze).
You don’t need much.
That trick also works for getting critters out from crawl spaces. Put the crystals in a sock or cloth sack & tie it off with a long string. You can pull it out when you get tired of the smell.
Send a cease and desist notice, state terms of amount to be charged for pickup (say $1,000 per pile fo crap), and set up video camera. Wait 30 days. File lawsuit for $90,000 (figure three dogs).
When they show up for the DNA sample just say, “Sure, but she just had a litter of puppies that look a lot like you so I want a DNA sample from you for the paternity suit.”
“use, a BB gun on the offending critters. I’m pretty sure he would modify their behavior rather expeditiously!”
I’ve been a strong advocate of that since I was 13 years old and nailed a neighbor’s garbage can raiding boxer in the butt at 30 yards. The yelp and scamper were comedic and it never returned to the scene of the crime.
This is exactly the reason that fences were invented. If it a neighborhood that prohibits front yard fences I think a waver could be issued.
Just scoop it up and send it to the White Hut. They must be running low by now.
I have always had dogs and none were ever loose, but if I were the neighbor that had to put up with the poo, I’d pick it up until I had a good pile then dump in in front of the front door of the pooping dog. Might send a message after the neighbor had to get the poo off his front porch by himself.....thats just impolite to let your dog do that...
Yes, except, don’t leave the bag, empty it out. The dogs weren’t polite enough to leave their mess wrapped up and ready to dispose, so the neighbor shouldn’t be either.
Fences.
Nothing is as great as fences.
Neighbor B takes great pride in his yard, and rightfully soThis is funny. That's my Husband that he is describing, Naval Officer with an anal personality when it comes to his lawn. He puts great care and pride into our lawn. Then we have people, who don't even live in our tucked away neighborhood, walk their dogs and let them crap on ours and other's lawns. When we see it we confront them but it happens all the time.
The HOA has signs up through out the common areas where kids play football/soccer and there is always a friendly reminder in our monthly newsletter but it gets ignored.
Some people are just jerks and will never change.
There. I fixed it for ya.
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