to talk to my new neighbours about their dog?

[JammyGem]

We live in a house converted into 6 flats. We have the garden flat, although anyone can use the garden. To get to it you have to go through the side gate.

We have a cat and always keep the gate closed, or at least pulled to, as she knows she's not allowed the other side (the road at the front can get quite busy)

We've had some new people move into one of the flats and they take their dog out to the garden two or three times a day. They never close the gate behind them and let their dog go to the toilet right in the garden.

Now I know cats are the same, but at least she does her business right in the corner underneath the bushes, buries it, and we do a weekly clean-up...

It's been two weeks since the neighbours moved in and they've not cleaned up the garden at all - there's dog shit everywhere and massive yellow patches in the grass. Obviously at the moment it's not really garden weather, but during warmer months we spend a lot of time out there so I don't want it to end up a mess.

I've tried to catch them to have a chat but they always disappear before they hear me. WIBU to bring it up with them and ask them to close the gate and to take their dog elsewhere? I know the garden is theirs too but I don't think it's fair to leave it in a state where no-one else can use it.

When i lived in a communal building the rules were dogs on a leash in the shared garden, clear up after yourselves - litter and animals.

of course ppl ignored it - until we got the wardens and community support officers involved and they started monitoring and handing out fines.

Is the garden definitely for all the flats to use? Sounds like a rum arrangement to me. How on earth does it work? What if one tenant wants to lie quietly and read whilst another wants to have their kids in a paddling pool out there?

Oh and I would also leave a note in their door. And if they fail to clean up, collect the crap and place it neatly on their step. Then tell the landlord.

I have a bloody 7 acre field and I still pick up after my dogs! This is disgusting, especially as most dogs poo twice a day, the garden must be absolutely covered in it. I would pin a note to the entrance gate so they can't miss it. I would also pick up after your cat daily and lead by example

You can't actually ask them to take the dog elsewhere as it is their garden too and if you are going to ask them to pick up after it immediately you really need to be doing the same for your cat.

Why not suggest you get together to construct a sandbox area for both animals to do their business and take turns clearing it out.

I think it's fine to ask them to keep the gate closed.

I'd get one of those spring things on the gate so it shuts automatically.
I don't think you can stop him using the garden for his dog, but he should certainly be picking up the mess, every time.
If it's a communal garden anyone can use it at anytime so he needs to leave it in a state that's acceptable for anyone to use.

Arf @ a cat knowing the rules

Looking for an update please OP?