Dog Community

Extremely littered apartment yard, what can I do?

Posted : 3/28/2006 8:26:35 PM

Now that winter is over for where I am there is so much litter on the
grounds of my apartment building that its just ridiculous.

It would not be as bad, but with my new puppy I'm training it takes
forever to take him outside to the bathroom because he keeps trying
to to get things like cigarette budds. I have taught him pretty well not
to touch a lot of things like buttts, but hes just learning and there always
seems to be a ton of new garbage.

Just to clarify, I'm talking about cigarette butts, batteries, tons of pieces
of broken plastic, drywall stuff, someone even shot towels, clothes and
a pillow out there. It has been over 4 weeks since its been nice so there
has been more than enough time for him to try cleaning some of it out.
Would you like grimy bath towels sitting in your yard for 3 weeks?
I hope not!

I'm not sure what I need to do.I have not spoken with the landlord yet, which
I will do, but I'm not sure how to approach the issue. I live in Ontario,
Canada, and I don't know what the laws are in my area for this, if any.
Any insights?

2 Is Enough

Posted : 3/28/2006 9:27:07 PM

I would mention it to the landlord. I assume he isnt living at the sight your at, but it should be his responsibility to get it cleaned up. (Assuming) rent is due on the 1st, it is coming soon. Does the landlord come to you for it? if so he should see the messes, or have them pointed out to him.

If worse comes to worse, after a few calls, maybe a letter so you have documentation, pick up the stuff yourself, but keep track of yor time, and find out how much the yard maintenance crew get, and tell him to take that much off your rent the next month.

OR, after a few anonymous calls, letters, pick up the stuff, and ship it to his place

glenmar

Posted : 3/29/2006 7:23:50 AM

I would certainly alert the landlord to the situation and ask him when you can expect it to be cleaned up.

I live in a rental home in the country. Yesterday when I went out to get the mail I discovered that the snow has pretty much melted from our ditch and filled an entire BIG lawn and leaf bag with trash. This is stuff that people fling out their window....gee, they're out in the boonies, so why not get rid of the trash? I especially enjoyed the sofa cushions! Now, technically, that's the counties job to clean up, but I didn't like the looks of it, so I put on a pair of work gloves and just did it. It doesn't impact my life in any way except not wanting my place to look like trash lives here.....it just bugged me so I picked it up.

tashakota

Posted : 3/29/2006 8:22:46 AM

Glenda we have that problem too. I don't understand people that litter. I just don't. But anyway, yeah I would alert the landlord. Sounds like the neighbor might be the one doing it? If it's a neighbor, then call the landlord. If the landlord doesn't clean it up, I would do what Shakespeare suggested, clean it up, then deduct the amount from your rent.

glenmar

Posted : 3/29/2006 8:48:06 AM

Ya gotta just love that about living in the country!! On the up side, our cans and bottles have a 10 cent deposit on them and I found $3.50 in "trash" in the ditch.....nice of folks to at least leave me a tip for cleaning up after them!!

tashakota

Posted : 3/29/2006 8:50:10 AM

Yeah they don't have that here.... did in NY and MA when I lived there, but not IN.

Oh well.

janobonano

Posted : 3/29/2006 3:09:24 PM

I've heard that cigarette butts can be very dangerous to dogs if eaten (they can get nicotine poisoning). It would be helpful to teach your dog the "leave it" command, if he doesn't know it already.
I would definitely talk to the landlord. Do you still have the rental agreement you signed? It might talk about the groundskeeping that they are expected to do.

misticaleclipse

Posted : 4/1/2006 4:25:41 PM

Thank you all or your responses (and sorry for the late response back)

I have taught him the leave it and drop it command,and it has helped, but when there
is litter almost everywhere its getting pretty frustrating!

I have finally taught him moslty not to touch cigarettes and the "drop it" command as well so that is helping.

We spoke with the care taker who does live here,but its been over a week and nothing at all has been done.

I'll have to dig up my rental agreement and see if I come up with anything. My boyfriend indicates that he's usually pretty busy, but for the last month we have had to take charlie (my puppy) out every 1-4 hours so I see him in his office all the time and so he does not appear to be to busy fixing stuff around the building!

jaye

Posted : 4/2/2006 10:15:28 AM

you could contact the owners of the building and anonymously let them know whats going on, im sure theyd like to know if the manager isnt doing his job.