The lady across the street, while "walking" her dog allowed it to relieve himself on my lawn. I put the poo in a nice box, wrapped it with gift paper with a ribbon, and next daym knocked on her door. She was so grateful and smiley when she accepted the gift box and was unwrapping it ... until she looked in the box.
For about five priceless seconds I watched her face slowly change to rage as she realized what it was and why I was giving it to her, and screamed at me as I hustled away, with me smiling.
Lessons:
(1) A creative and appropriate response to a disrespectful trespass brings awareness and subsequent responsible behavior.
(2) Later on, this lady treated me with respect and cordiality. (She even gave me a good reference in obtaining my CDW license application.)
(3) For over 25 years, no dog deposit ever showed up on my lawn. Neighborhood dog-walkers still tend to give my property a wide berth.
(4) Not long after, the neighbors voted me as president of the village association (102 properties). In my time all complaints of animal difficulties were dealt with quickly and effectively.
The story has apparently stuck around a long time.
This Texan took a very, very wrong approach over a dog. Nevertheless, people in that area might think twice about failing to control their pet's behavior, and the degree to which it offends others, perhaps irrationally.
There's no excuse for shooting the neighbors but it sounds like he had to live with more than an "occasional" dog deposit.