Neighbor's Dog Pooping in our Yard

[jengen]

I did a search on many subjects, even "poop" but this situation didn't come up.
We just moved to a new house a few months ago and fenced in our backyard where our dog poops wherever she pleases. When we walk her we are very responsible about bringing a bag with us should she go in someone's yard.
We noticed even before we moved in that there were a lot of piles of poop in our front yard. After a couple months of living here, I suspected that it was my next door neighbor's dog, whom they let wander around the neighborhood unsupervised (a pet peeve of mine). Anyway, today I catch the dog in the act, pooping next to another fresh pile of poop and run out and say "no" trying to prevent it. Neighbor apparently heard me and runs out in her bathrobe with a shovel to scoop it all up. I think she was more mad than embarrassed. Is there an assumption that just because it was ok with previous owner and other neighbors and we have a dog ourselves that we shouldn't be bothered by this? A coworker told me it's not a big deal and she wouldn't have said anything to the dog and just let it go about it's business.
Of course, like everything, I am overthinking this. I just don't want to be "that" neighbor and wonder if I could have handled it better. We have enough poop to scoop without taking care of the neighbor's too!

[jennylou]

I don't think you're wrong for not wanting to have to clean up more poop in your front yard.

[IrishEyes]

Uh, count me as another one who isn't OK with someone else's dog pooping in my yard without the owner cleaning it up.

We have a neighbor who lets their retriever and small terrier out to romp around the neighborhood. Usually they stay out of our yard, though they do urinate once in a while. If they decide to start using our yard as a potty all the time, I'll say something, especially with my two-yr old running around.

[Delaney21]

I don't think you're wrong for not wanting to have to clean up more poop in your front yard.

agreed.

[jengen]

Thank you for your responses. I know I probably sound so paranoid, but after talking to coworker I felt like a jerk and was curious to see if other dog owners felt the same. DH was thrilled that I said something and he doesn't have to look like the bad guy. :)

[t3h_wookiee]

I don't think you're wrong at all. I would not be happy with another dog pooping in my yard at all! Plus, you don't know what kind of diseases that dog may have and could possibly pass on through their poop either. At least if your dog has the same disgusting habit mine does. :rolleyes: I need to break them of that so badly!

[jengen]

also,the biggest thing I don't get is why the dog is allowed to roam free to begin with...they have a fenced in back yard, too!

[Emilie]

also,the biggest thing I don't get is why the dog is allowed to roam free to begin with...they have a fenced in back yard, too!

Probably because they don't clean up back there either! :rolleyes:

We had this same issue. We live on a corner and back up to another corner lot. the neighbors behind us were letting their dogs poop on our side yard and not cleaning it up. We finally caught them in the act, went outside and confronted them. They said they would clean it up and had been cleaning up once or twice a week, just not right away when they did it. They seemed to be somewhat embarrassed about it at least!

Since we did that, they have been better about it. I would suggest that you keep talking to them about it and ask them to clean it up until they get the idea that it isn't okay with you!

[MLA]

Does your city have a leash law? I can't imagine that it's legal for them to let their dog roam the neighborhood unsupervised. I'd lodge a complaint.

[jengen]

I'm pretty certain that there is a leash law and IMO even if there isn't, it is totally irresponsible to let your dog wander free in a neighborhood full of kids and other dogs...you just never know what can happen. In my old neighborhood another dog wandered into it's neighbor's yard and ended up getting killed by owner of yard's dog. It was a very sad situation, but goes to show you just never know. I guess that is why I feel pretty strongly about the wandering part. I won't make a complaint unless I notice it continues after it's been addressed.

[sublime311]

It is compeletely reasonable to be upset about this dog pooping in your yard. Even if the neighbor WAS mad, it was probably out of shame of being caught. He's gotta know that letting your dog poop whereever it wants and not picking it up is so not cool.

We once lived in an apartment where the neighbor let her cute little dog poop where ever it wanted to. It was disgusting to walk to my door with little piles of poop everywhere. While I didn't feel comfortable talking directly to her, I did contact management.

It's not like I have a poop aversion, either. I have 2-50 lb dogs and 3 cats. I'm just saying people need to pick up after their dogs - this isn't the Middle Ages - poop is NOT ok!

Uh.. Maybe my post belongs in the vent thread! lol

[skyblu]

IMO it is completely thoughtless (not to mention irresponsible) of your neighbor to let her dog wander off leash and go pee/poop on other people's lawns. You have every right to say something and to be mad!

If it were me, I'd talk to the neighbor and say, politely, that you have a hard enough time keeping up with cleaning after your own dog, so could she please keep her dog from "going" in your front yard.

Our dog goes in our fenced in backyard, but when I go out for walks with him, I don't let him even step on other people's lawns, let alone pee or worse, poop there! Even if I were to scoop it up, there is still residue and there can be a smell, and I find it very disrespectful to other people's property.

[jengen]

Thanks again for your responses, everyone.

Even if I were to scoop it up, there is still residue and there can be a smell, and I find it very disrespectful to other people's property.

I was outside earlier and the spot where she used her shovel to pick up one of the piles clearly looks like a shovel went into our lawn and pulled some grass and dirt up with it. Lovely. I am glad to know I am not alone on this and maybe others who are guilty of this and happen to read this thread will be more considerate going forward! :D

[kam]

While there might not be laws about picking up after your dog, a lot of cities and towns (including mine) DO have leash laws (as others have stated) and have a nuisance dog ordinance. In my city, it includes dogs that are going on private property without expressed permission and being unsanitary (I'd say both would cover what you describe).

It IS a big deal and if the neighbor isn't receptive to you kindly asking them to clean it up or not let the dog do it at all, I'd do some internet research to see what laws exist so you can give them a copy.

[imagirliegirl]

No way in hell would I let someone leave dog poop in my yard if I caught them in the act! I think it is SO rude that people don't clean up after their animals. If I saw it happen again I would return the poop to their yard. I don't care if it made them mad or not, I don't consider it my job to clean up after other people.

[NotDesperate]

My parent's neighbor lets their dog crap in my parent's yard allll the time and it drives them crazy! They also have a fenced back yard for their dog and the front yard is supposed to be poop-free for their granddaughter.

The neighbors know it is an issue but they do nothing to stop it. If it were me, I would have a few choice words for them.