AIBU? New home with potentially problematic neighbour

[northernerinlondon]

I've been in my new home for a month now, and it's really, really great.

There's just one thing that's niggling me, and I don't know if i'm being far too precious.

On one of our first days in there, we were on our way out when I saw a little schnauzer dog standing in the passageway to our front door.

He was being really angsty and territorial (ran over, snapped at my ankles, growled and did a wee on my doorstep whilst holding eye contact!). Being a dog lover, my instant reaction was to use soothing tones, whilst giving him space and looking for his owner. All the while the dog followed me up and down the street, growling and barking.

The street is a very small cul de sac with only 8 houses, and it emerged that the owner of the dog is a lady in the house opposite. She leaves her door open and lets the dog roam up and down the street unsupervised.

In the last month I've found the dog out in the street most days, being confrontational with everyone who crosses his path.

This I can cope with. It's the fact that he's doing his business outside our front door and up the pathway every.single.day.

The owner isn't watching him, so isn't picking it up, meaning we're wheeling our bikes through it, stepping in it, picking it up ourselves... which I (maybe wrongly?) consider as a big ask for a dog I have zero fondness for.

I did try to introduce myself to the owner once, (everyone else on the street is so friendly!) but she really didn't seem up for it, and didn't tell me her name even...

I don't really know what to do. A part of me thinks I'd be overstepping the mark as a newcomer to the street, if I were to say something.

What would guys/ladies do? Any advice would be hugely appreciated xxx

[PubesintheChips]

Call the RSPCA.
She's neglecting her dog. It could get run over or snatched. It's also a danger to other dogs around. And kids.

[Idefix]

Are you in the uk? Report dog warden, pick up poo so you traipse it through your house etc and return to owner?

[PJBanana]

Have you spoke to anyone else on the street about it?

It's pretty disgusting (I say that as a dog lover). You shouldn't be picking up after someone else's dog.

Can you contact your local council or dog warden? Our local council will investigate dog fouling if you know the address of the owner of where the fouling occurs. The dog is doing it on a public street, so they should be able to punish the owner.

Also, the fact that the dog is aggressive and territorial makes it even worse. Could you possibly get video evidence?

[Gottagetmoving]

I would go over and ask the lady to keep her dog under control and warn her I will report it if she doesn't.
You are not overstepping the mark to let a neighbour know you won't tolerate dog crap that she should have picked up. Doesn't matter if you are new or not.
What do your other neighbours say about it?

[statetrooperstacey]

Go round there and get her told! The other neighbours will probably be grateful. Also have a word with your posite, they probably hate it as well. They could suspend her delivery if its a problem. Also dog warden if you have one. Lastly, failing the top 3 suggestions get hold of your local pcso and ask them to have a word, can also report to police. You shouldn't have to put up with a roaming stroppy shitting dog.

[Oysterbabe]

You need to knock and talk to her about it. Then if it continues scrap it up with a shovel and put it on her doorstep every single day.

[t4nut]

RSPCA are far too busy for this kind of thing.

Step one get it out of the habit of thinking your house is its territory. Hosepipe whenever it sets foot in your garden.

[PigletJohn]

And, quicker than a hosepipe, a garden sprayer next to the door, pumped up and ready to go. Pure fresh water, obv.

[AlphaBites]

Don't bother with the RSPCA, go straight to your dog warden. They can enforce it, I have a neighbour who thinks leads are 'cruel' and lets her three shitting machines run everywhere when she takes them out for a walk. Her kids are the same, when they take one of the dogs for a walk it's never on a lead.

Warning from the council should sort your neighbour out.

[mouldycheesefan]

Dog warden.
But first knock on her door, explain the issue and give her the chance to solve the problem.
If she doesn't, call the dog warden.
Knock on her door and tell her to come clean it up every time it poops on your path.

[northernerinlondon]

Thanks all

[OlennasWimple]

I can't believe that any of the neighbours are happy about this dog roaming around the street on his own. Seriously, who would? Even without him crapping on your doorstep, no one likes yappy stray dogs with no supervision

[ExitPursuedBySpartacus]

Definitely the dog warden. In the meantime I would scoop up its shit and dump it on her doorstep. And if I could catch the dog, tie it to her fence.

[tofusoju]

Bag up some turds in a clear plastic bag, stick a note in saying "Yours I presume" or "Returning your property" and leave it on her doorstep!

[hellsbellsmelons]

Agree with PP's - water spray and a shaker.
You can make it with a plastic bottle and some small stones or pebbles.
Shake it him whilst spraying him with water.
He won't like it at all.
Time to get tough.
If I knew of someones dog shitting anywhere near my house I'd be over there like a shot.
Big girl pants - go for it!!!

[Chickoletta]

Dog warden!

[MiddleClassProblem]

I'm sure even if they are friends with her there is a way you can phrase it that doesn't piss others off, iyswim.

Or call the dog warden and it can be anonymous and they can suspect but don't know it was you.

[MiddleClassProblem]

Also legally a dog must wear a collar with the owners details on so in guessing it didn't if you couldn't find the owner or that it was and you couldn't get near it to see

[justilou]

There is always the option of taking it to the pound ("I found this stray dog!") so that she has to pay a fine every time she retrieves it. (Actually, it may just rip your arms off if you try, so be careful with this one!!!) Might keep the little monster in her own yard after that.

[justilou]

Failing that, some strongly scented oil in the sprayer - citronella is particularly fine as it tastes vile when they lick it off themselves. It doesn't always work, but it makes them think twice before peeing in your house!
(Btw - I don't care if you spray the dog or the owner.)

[sparechange]

The purpose of the dog warden is dealing with things like this...
There will be a section on the environmental health section of the council's website, and either a form to complete or a number to call.

You can probably do it anonymously

[spiderlight]

Dog warden. Definitely. If the dog's aggressive, they'll go and have a stern word, and if they can't contact her they'll pick it up as a stray and she'll have to pay a fee to get it back. Poor dog doesn't sound very happy at all.

[SeenYourArse]

Ok here's a few points for you!...
Firstly it's now illegal for a dog to be allowed to roam like that
Secondly thanks to the dangerous dogs act she is leaving herself wide open to prosecution for having a dog that is 'dangerously out of control in a public place' which this situation DEFINATELY fits into according to the law.

[FuzzyFairy]

It is illegal for a dog to be out of control near alongside a road anyway so she's breaking the law by allowing that.

[FuzzyFairy]

Cross post x)