Dog Community

Need Advice - Crazy Neighbor

Posted : 4/5/2006 4:48:58 PM

Some background. So my neighbor is a crazy old man, let us call him COM for short, who is obsessed with his yard. He mows it twice a week and has already started this year (we live in the north where most people don't mow till June). When we first got Lucy about a year ago, he threatened to kill her if we didn't keep her out of his yard. Training was a no brainer to begin with, but then after that it had more urgency. Lucy was never allowed to stray into COM's yard after that, because I was afraid he might have a real short circuit somewhere up there. She may have strayed some on DHs watch, but rarely, and awhile ago. Now we have a dog run. She is either under our direct supervision or on the the 100 yard dog run.

So here is the problem and I'm about to my whits end with it. COM keeps throwing dog poop onto our driveway, where I have more than once unsuspectingly stepped in it Crying

. This poop is not from Lucy, 1) she is either under our watch or on her run never given a chance to go into COM's yard and 2) there are a number of dogs who run loose here and use the neighborhood as a their own very large private loue.

To this point I've cleaned up the poop and gritted my teeth Angry

, but I am to the point where I would like to do something about it. I am very angry at this man, 1) for threatening my then puppy and 2) for his delusional behavior. The main problem is that DH and I are pretty non-confrontational so I'm very tense about the whole thing. Are there any suggestions or other advice anyone can offer?

Thank,
Carla

glenmar

Posted : 4/5/2006 4:55:21 PM

Calmly invite the COM out into the yard and SHOW him that your dog is unable to reach his yard to deposit her waste. Ask him nicely to refrain from putting OTHER dogs poop in your driveway.

When we still lived in town we had a nutcase behind us who would shovel up HIS dogs crap, walk down the hill, across the alley and fling it into OUR yard. After we moved, I had an out of state relative box up a huge amount of fresh poop, put it in a plastic bag wrapped in paper so he'd OPEN the bag, and ship it to him! Hehehe!!! Sure wish I could have SEEN his face.....

mrv

Posted : 4/5/2006 4:58:14 PM

Kill him with kindness. Make him some cookies. Take them over. Mention that you have been working very hard to respect his property. You carry bags with you every where and clean up your dog's waste immediatly when it occurs. Ask him for some tips on maintaining a nice yard. Then mention that some dogs have been defecating on your drive way. You find it so terrible that folks are not responsible pet owners and take clean up seriously as you do. Greet and wave, pour it on thick. If you can't get through to him. Find a fast growing shrub or ever green that you like and use it between his property and yours. nice and dense, it will be an obvious reminder that your dog is in your yard. If you feel really devious, set up a "sting" filming other dogs voiding in his yard and share it with him. If he continues to threaten you, write letter to him and cc to the authorities.

2setters

Posted : 4/5/2006 5:34:04 PM

That old saying is true: fences make good neighbors.

The next time that you and your DH are home together and notice your neighbor outside, go over (preferably to the property line) and have a discussion with him. Ask him if anyone has been throwing dog excrement on his property, because *someone* has been throwing it on your property, and you've called the police about it. [

]

If the problem continues, call the police about it. Catch him on video if possible.

I also live next to a curmudgeonly Mr. Crankypants. I have horses as well as dogs. I do my very best to keep my farm immaculate; manure is removed weekly and my horses are always contained. Despite this, during our first year here, several times Mr. Crankypants took it upon himself to come on over and tell me everything that I did wrong, as far as horse care goes.

It was annoying, but I basically just turned the other cheek at first, because I genuinely feel sorry for this man. He's old. He has no family. And it would appear that he has no friends.

Unfortunately, going the nice route doesn't work with these types -- give an inch and they will take a mile. You have to be firm and hold your ground. The day that curmudgeonly Mr. Crankypants came over to my place and tried to tell me that my horses were contaminating his well, I said, go ahead and get your lawyer and a judge to tell me that.

I've not had a problem with Mr. Crankypants since.

marlania

Posted : 4/5/2006 7:06:39 PM

ORIGINAL: glenmar
I had an out of state relative box up a huge amount of fresh poop, put it in a plastic bag wrapped in paper so he'd OPEN the bag, and ship it to him!

Note to self: get drunk neighbor's house number...[sm=lol.gif]

glenmar

Posted : 4/5/2006 7:22:48 PM

Hey, I put up with that guys DOGS crap for MONTHS!!! It was gray and groady! Many of you will remember that......he got what he deserved! I can be a bit evil now and then....but the relative actually came up with the idea!

marlania

Posted : 4/5/2006 7:29:38 PM

LOL I remember pm'ing you with a link to a company that mails out fake poop, and when you didn't reply, I thought, "Glenda must think I'm an ass." Then I read about your relative mailing real poop...[sm=rofl.gif]

Julie Byers

Posted : 4/5/2006 7:47:03 PM

Laffin like crazy!! A special request to anyone who opts to ship a gift package like mentioned above: as a proud employee of UPS please please package very securely! buhahahahahahahah Jules

agilebcs

Posted : 4/5/2006 7:50:23 PM

I've got nothing constructive to add to the discussion but when I was a kid we had a neighbor whose dog used to poop in our yard all the time and it really used to make my father mad. He eventually started scooping up the poop and throwing it into the neighbor's pool! No wonder why I didn't have a dog growing up....

Julie Byers

Posted : 4/5/2006 8:11:47 PM

I thought for sure someone would post something on the old routine about flamming dog doo on the old fella's porch...hahahahaha!! J

He is The Boss

Posted : 4/5/2006 8:32:20 PM

Note to self.. if recipient of any secret santa or happy mail gifts from Glenda, open carefully!! LOL!

marlania

Posted : 4/5/2006 8:36:24 PM

[sm=rofl.gif]

I need to save those emoticons!

glenmar

Posted : 4/6/2006 4:46:16 AM

Hey now!! It was well packaged and perfectly justified! Glenda don't send FAKE poop tho! And that guy really wore on my LAST nerve.....[:@]

jprinz99

Posted : 4/6/2006 7:48:37 AM

the package of poo was hysterical - I'll be sure to mail it via DHL, not UPS if I ever need to.
My vindictive side says you could always march on over and say "Here, you forgot this" , then promptly dump it on her porch.

We had the same problem a few years back so we did the flaming poo bit - I almost died watching it! Didn't stop the jerk's behavior but sure made me feel good. She still did it to me and another neighbor but that other owner finally called the police. They cited Ms. Wack-O for littering and vandalism! Hah, the halls of justis work occassionaly!

vega1star

Posted : 4/6/2006 9:56:04 AM

We have thought about putting up a webcam with the area in view. It just seems such a hastle. I know the right thing to do would be the win him over with kindness bit. But right now I don't feel too kind. The other consideration would be to just throw it back, but what good would that do.
RE: the cops, I was hoping that he might get ticketed if I called the authorities, but I was not sure if it was indeed illegal. I see now that it might be.
Thanks for all the thoughts guys.