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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dog poo. Is my neighbour BU?

65 replies

Wineloffa · 19/05/2015 15:18

Over the past 3 weeks our neighbour has started to let their dogs poo on our shared driveway. I lifted and disposed of 5 massive poos from under our kitchen window last week, stood in a pile outside our back gate on Saturday and lifted and disposed of another 4 piles on Sunday as I couldn't bear to look at it any longer.

They recently got a new dog and I suspect it's the new dog doing it. They have an enormous back garden which is why I can't understand why they let them poo in the driveway!!! It's driving me mad as I don't want our DCs to step in it and it smells! I've just looked out and there's another massive pile outside our back gate. I really want to knock on their door and speak to them about it but DH says not to as we have no actual proof that it's their dog and they'll get all defensive and fall out with us. AIBU? What would you do?

OP posts:
PurpleSwift · 19/05/2015 15:19

I'd go and tell them. If they debt and get evidence and be going round again.

BubGal13 · 19/05/2015 15:24

this is utterly utterly foul (literally sorry!) and reason I couldn't keep a dog as even smelling it makes me near puke. Poor you.

Id calmly approach neighbour (or if you cant pop letter through) saying "oh have you send the horrendous dog mess just left on our driveway recently, do you know whose dogs it could be? my DC nearly stepped in it so Im now very angry, getting to the point that if it happens again I have no choice but to report to council who take this issue very seriously! (could even add) My friend even suggested we all install CCTV to catch the culprits and show footage to council, what do you think?"" play a bit clueless like not pointing finger at them, while letting them know you're no way going to just put up with this.

yellowdinosauragain · 19/05/2015 15:27

Or, rather than being ridiculously passive aggressive like bubgal, perhaps just politely ask then to try and stop their dog pooing on your drive

HappenstanceMarmite · 19/05/2015 15:28

You need to establish that it is definitely their dog first. Then give them both barrels.

Original poster
Wineloffa · 19/05/2015 15:30

Good idea Bubgal, I was thinking of that approach myself! Asking them if they'd seen strange dogs coming into the driveway, etc. I really can't do a summer of this so it will have to be addressed ASAP!! The thing is they are very house proud people with a lovely house and garden so I'm really shocked that they would be so careless about dog mess!

OP posts:
Original poster
Wineloffa · 19/05/2015 15:31

How would I find out for sure though? I can hardly stare out the window for 24 hours!

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Topseyt · 19/05/2015 15:35

I disagree with your DH, I'm afraid. Go and speak to them, politely at first, as long as you are sure that it cannot possibly be a dog owned by anyone else that just happens to roam past unchecked.

If speaking to them politely makes no difference then give them a warning that you will contact the local Animal Warden (your local council will have one), as they are responsible for policing this sort of thing.

I am a dog owner, and this is the sort of thing is what gives the rest of us a bad name. Mine are not allowed out at the front of the house without being on their leads anyway, and I wouldn't dream of letting them poo on driveways or footpaths. If one of them does happen to pop one out in such a place then I always carry nappy sacks in my pocket so that I can clean it up.

MaxPepsi · 19/05/2015 15:41

I'm a dog owner, I'd want you to come and discuss it with me.

Just ask them if it's their dog doing it and if so, what deterrents can they put in place please.

If it's not their dog doing it, you will have to suggest a shit cleaning rota as it can't be left out on the drive.

Original poster
Wineloffa · 19/05/2015 15:42

Thanks for your replies. Looks like DH is in the minority! Up until recently we had a dog too and we wouldn't DREAM of letting him poo in the driveway!! And even if it was some sort of accident, you'd pick it straight up, wouldn't you! I said to DH that if this was the pavement outside the house, it would be bad enough but for it to be practically on our doorstep is horrendous!!

OP posts:
Topseyt · 19/05/2015 15:43

Yes, as Bubgal suggests, not too accusatory.

Something like dropping into conversation: "have you happened to notice whose dogs seem to be being allowed to poo on the driveway? It is a really a problem having to clean it off my own and my children's shoes when having to get out to school/work."

rockybalboa · 19/05/2015 15:43

That is disgusting. I'd have a word with the police on 101 as dog fouling is a criminal offence isn't it? Although is it your private land it is shitting on? That is just gross. Can you buy some 'area monitored by CCTV' signs and put them up maybe? Or is there a window in the right place you could set up a webcam?

Mitzimaybe · 19/05/2015 15:44

I don't see why the council would be interested, as it's private property. But I may be wrong.

limitedperiodonly · 19/05/2015 15:44

Why don't you knock on their door and ask them?

This is my stock response to about 90 per cent of AIBUs.

It may not be their new dog. It may be a fox/hedgehog/squirrel - that's a perennial on animal-shit-in-garden threads and as such you should just roll over, though not in it.

It may turn out to be the excreta of something really surprising that might add interest and therefore value to house prices, such as one of the dragons as in Game of Thrones.

If you don't ask, you'll never know.

ConferencePear · 19/05/2015 15:47

Here's another vote for speaking plainly. Why not just say that you had had to clean up some dog poo recently and could it be their new dog ?

limitedperiodonly · 19/05/2015 15:48

It was very remiss of me not to advise you to call 101 about shit of an unspecified origin in your driveway.

What was I thinking of?

sanfairyanne · 19/05/2015 15:49

knock on and let them know you are getting cctv as some dickhead keeps letting their dog poo on the shared drive. the cctv people said it was best to let neighbours know but you will make sure it isnt filming their part of the house

ConferencePear · 19/05/2015 15:50

Here's another vote for speaking plainly. Why not just say that you had had to clean up some dog poo recently and you wondered if it might their new dog. I'm not suggesting that you are rude or aggressive about it, just ask.

limitedperiodonly · 19/05/2015 15:50
GoodbyeToAllOfThat · 19/05/2015 15:55

I'd just ask them if it's possible their new dog is the culprit, assuming they're reasonable people.

TheCrowFromBelow · 19/05/2015 15:55

Yes just ask them. They have a dog, there is dog poo, it isn't unreasonable to ask politely if it's their dog's poo.
Going next to the house is not ideal and even if it's just while they're housetraining they need to get it cleaned immediately.
Don't say you're going to get CCTV! That's bonkers. Sorry...

sanfairyanne · 19/05/2015 16:06

i would actually get cctv and not tell them beforehand, but i was being nice Grin

BubGal13 · 19/05/2015 16:07

Thanks Wine & good luck with it, as don't quite see how my suggestion justifies being called "ridiculously passive aggressive" by yellow?!

DisappointedOne · 19/05/2015 16:10

i'd get one of those motion-detecting cat squirrels, and when they complain about their dog getting wet..........

DisappointedOne · 19/05/2015 16:10

*squirter, not squirrel!

Original poster
Wineloffa · 19/05/2015 16:11

I wouldn't suggest CCTV as they'd definitely think I'd lost the plot! I think I'll ignore my DH and go and speak politely to them...

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