to ask my neighbours to pick up their dog shit!?

[Robotgirl]

Ongoing issues with the couple next door. Don't want to get on the wrong side of them as they're not very friendly & it's just me & my toddler living here but have had 'a word' in an assertive yet friendly way before & they've listened for a while...
There is a thin wooden fence dividing our gardens. Theirs is FULL of dog shit. I mean about 20 turds. They rarely pick them up/clean the yard. I put a note through their door (as they were out) last week. A friendly note! Me & DD will be using our garden again soon & it's gonna stink when it gets hotter. I pointed out in the note that dog shit is a rat magnet.
I have spoken to their estate agent before re a separate issue & they were useless. I'm all for the face to face communication but sick of having to speak to them about stuff-feel like their mum! Any ideas how to approach this 'shitty issue'?

Would environmental health be an option?

It's their garden. Did you actually put a note through their door, asking them to clean up their own garden?!

Sorry, I understand that it's disgusting! It's just the idea of putting a note through someone's door, asking them to clean up their own private property seems so cheeky! Their garden must be rank though.

Most dogs 'go' twice a day. So, 20 turds mean their garden hasn't been cleaned in perhaps 10 days which is justifiable in such rainy, cold weather. Is the dog walked?

Sorry, OP, I do understand your frustration but think YABU.

Could you perhaps look at investing in a higher fence, with their agreement?

Yes YABU - its their garden.

I don't think it is justifiable not to pick up in 10 days, we clean up after our dog every time.

It is disgusting OP but I'm not sure there's much you can do really. Do they have kids? Would be a worry if they are out playing in it

Thanks for your replies!
I know it sounds like I'm asking them to clean their garden (and I'd be annoyed if someone asked me to BUT it's the impact on us....
It's going to stink when the weather gets warmer & the view from my kitchen window is a mountain of shit. So I don't even open the blind.
And if it does attract rats, there's a big enough gap for them to get under the fence into our garden...
Am I still being unreasonable? I feel bad now... Plus hanging my washing about a metre from loads of dog shit feels disgusting...

That's gross. My garden is very wet and if it rains the poo is disgusting to pick up, so I dread to think what it would be like after a few days rain.

PS their garden is tiny-only about five metres by five metres so it literally is FULL...
No, they don't have kids
Unsure about how much exercise the dog gets....

It's February and freezing. Are you really putting your laundry out at this time of year?

It will stink when it's summer but I would hope they would clean after their dog(s) more often at that time of year.

Sorry I do think YABU. It's their garden and sounds like they are cleaning it at least three times a month, during winter.

People leaving their dog mess on the road is a whole other matter, however.

Yanbu

People who think it's OK to use their garden as a temporary open sewer are gross. I am a dog owner and would be ashamed if my neighbours could smell dog poo from my garden!

I understand that it impacts on you but it's their garden. they will think you're a right cheeky bitch putting that note through.

Nope not putting washing out yet, but will be!

Thanks poverty pain
Good idea

Oh that is so grim! I'm a dog owner and I always clean up straight away after my dog if she poops in the garden, I don't want to have to smell it and I don't want any of my neighbours to have to smell it either!

I don't know what to suggest though I'm afraid. It's their house and their garden. Apparently you CAN report to Environmental Health (according to Google) but I don't know how successful that would be as it's their garden, and that you would piss off your neighbours even more.

Meant to say, your def not unreasonable to want it lifted but I really don't know what you can do about it. Maybe talk to the other neighbours in the area and see if they're bothered too. If so, you might get them on side. Is this a regular thing or now and again. If it's a regular thing I can understand your annoyance but if it's only now and again, then you may have to put up with their inconsiderate behaviour.

Can you put a screen up so at least you don't have to look at it. I think seeing it probably makes the smell seem worse, iykwim. Get some strong smelling pots of herbs/plants and put them along the fence. Depending what your neighbours are like, I would hate to see your relationship with them breakdown.

Thanks Chuff
I have a lovely hound too & exactly the same with picking it up pronto...
Don't want to be a nagging neighbour but it is DISGUSTING & rats love it apparently.
Might go with the stink bomb option....

I must admit I haven't picked up in my garden for a while [although this won't bother anyone since our nearest neighbour is some distance away] - since it is rainy and muddy underfoot, however as soon as the weather warms up and its dry and sunny I pick up daily; it attracts flies and smells otherwise. Perhaps your neighbours will do similarly?

Thanks 4 all your good ideas poverty pain
No can't put a screen up (my kitchen blind is the screen!)

Haha. Loving the fact that the stink bomb is your favourite option.

Where do you buy stinkbombs from?

As far as I am aware, dog poo does not attract rats.

rats are everywhere anyway.

I think you are asking for aggro if you put a note through their door to be honest.

I haven't shovels my dogs poo up yet either. my garden. My problem ( and my washing is blowing in the wind, and no it wont smell of dog poo

Joke shops. You could probably buy them online. If they say anything to you, you could always tell them, you didn't want to upset them, but you saw two big rats in their garden eating dog shit. They might care more if they think there are rats.

i must admit im on your side OP because i had this with old neighbours! My NDN was a youngish guy who lived on his won with a Mastiff and the poor thing NEVER got walked, was locked in a spare room upstairs all day and howled all night long when the guy went out on night shifts. He let it out in back garden to do its business and as we were all in rented terraces with waist high fences, not only could you see literally a minefield of shit (im talking easily 50+ poos covering the entire garden) but it actually stopped myself and the NDN on my other side from using our gardens in spring due to the stench, it was like living in a sewer.
His mum eventually came over one day and we saw her from the window taking 2 hours to shovel it all into a bin.....
so yes i sympathise, it might be THEIR garden but its impacting YOUR life.

One of many articles on dog faeces attracting rats, Jessbow. I was surprised too...

rhodybeat.com/stories/Help-fight-rat-infestation,73450