Pet Waste Stations

How to Deal with Poopy Pet Neighbors

What a crappy situation. You may even like your neighbor, but the first time you see him turning a blind eye while his dog takes a poop in your yard, it’s pretty much guaranteed that you won’t be inviting him over for Sunday Funday barbecue ever again. It’s even worse when you have to see that person at HOA meetings every month. It’s like asking someone you just met to change your baby’s diaper, it’s just weird and wrong.

We want your poop packing days to be over! Here are three steps that empower you to open the lines of communication, get creative, and finally, if all else fails, get real and report this nasty and very un-neighborly situation to the local authorities.

Open the Lines of Communication

Some victims of doggy doodoo can get pretty creative. From blowing air horns when caught in the act to even returning the poop to the neighbor’s doorstep. Interesting tactics, yes. But solutions? Maybe not so much.

These ideas may seem satisfying at the time. They may have even made you laugh (guilty). But the fact of the matter is you still have to live near these people, so open the lines of communication with caution. If you approach the topic angrily, it’s likely you will be met with more difficulty than necessary.

Take a cue from these conflict resolution tips on the Huffington Post Blog and come from a place of humor or sadness, never frustration or anger. There are some seriously hilarious yard signs out there if you don’t mind making your yard a neighborhood comedy stop or write a heartfelt note to your neighbor about how you’re dealing with (insert quasi-true tragedy here) and you’re just too heartbroken or exhausted or whatever to pick up their adorable dog’s poop. And while there’s no guarantee that humor or a guilt trip will change the situation, it’s certainly a better starting off point than a public yelling match or sounding off an air horn at 6 a.m. right?

Go Guerrilla Style

Lines of communication are open, but the poop prevails. So, what’s a neighbor to do? If you don’t know the poo-petrator, the first thing you might want to do is set up some surveillance. Not only do visible outdoor cameras deter thieves, they can also make a pet owner who doesn’t clean up feel pretty uncomfortable. Make sure you set up installation for the highest traffic time in your neighborhood so that as many prospective poopers as possible notice that you’re beefing up security.

Solutions for keeping pups off your grass range from vinegar to tea tree oil. But the truth is, it’s not the dog who is the real problem. They don’t know any better. It’s the owner. So if you are going to use any physical deterrents in your yard, make sure they are safe for you, your family, the neighborhood and the dogs. If it is an issue you want to try to fix, you might consider a putting a row of hedges or a fence out front to make it more difficult for dogs to get into your yard.

Last Resort: Report It

If all else fails call animal control, your HOA and police department (the non-emergency line of course) and ask about local laws, regulations and what you can do to combat reckless pet ownership. It’s up to the whole neighborhood to prevent the spread of disease and help to keep local children, elderly, and other animals safe and healthy, so reach out to other neighbors for support.

If you are looking for someone to walk your dog and pick up after them, call Love and Kisses Pet Sitting.  We can come and walk your dog and pick up after them for you.  Call 704-763-9857

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