How do I word this without showing how cross I am?

[Divette]

We’ve just got back from a weekend away to dog shit on the front lawn again! Right next to it are two dog toys belonging to next door neighbour’s dog so I can safely assume it was their dog again. I’m fed up of it now. I would say 3 or 4 times a week there is a toy on the lawn (we kick it onto the pavement or into their garden) but the crap is just not on.

I’m quite angry right now but have only been living here a few months and don’t want to fall out with the neighbours.

I would bin the toys, I think.

Can you fence your garden?

I know you shouldn't have to, but you specifically say you don’t want to fall out with the neighbours.

Have you spoken to them about it at all yet? If not I'd start with a slightly frosty "please ensure you pick up after your dog, it's not my job to do so" then if they do it again you have drawn your line in the sand so to speak. It may be that they let the dog out in the dark and don't know where it's going? Not better obviously but not purposeful either.

Thank you. No option to fence it unfortunately. The way it’s laid out just doesn’t allow it. I haven’t spoken to them yet, in the interests of keeping the peace but i’m going to have to now because OH is refusing

Bag them all together and hand back. They won't realise the shit is in until they open it. And will cost them for new toys.
Repeat every time.

My mum had this. Fence was broken and neighbours dogs kept getting through and shitting on the lawn. She disnt want to upset them by confronting them about it.
I was there once when it happened. mum went round to ask the neighbour to fetch the dogs back. When he came round I presented him with a shovel and a plastic bag. CF gave me a filthy look but picked it up anyway and then tried to put it in my mum's wheelie bin. I just said err, I dont think so and gestured for him to leave with dogs and poo together.

Strangely enough the fence was fixed within 2 days.

Any luck op?

Can you sprinkle ground chilli around the edge of the grass? Or cayenne pepper? Most dogs won't go near it, and it may be enough of a deterrent to get the dog to go elsewhere.....

Thanks all. Yes, there was a development. A couple of days ago it had been absolutely pouring down with rain. I opened the patio doors as soon as it stopped as it was so hot and heard a sound. I looked round and the dog, dripping wet through and with a shopping wet toy in its mouth was wandering into the living room! I shooed it out, and it left, leaving wet footprints on the carpet in its wake

I then looked out of the front window and the dog was on the driveway, seemingly eating chocolate! There were two local young boys who came over and were talking to the dog. I opened the front door and asked what it was eating and they said they didn’t know. They were saying they felt sorry for the dog as the owners ‘just lock it out for 24 hours at a time’. I told them it had just walked through my house and one boy said ‘it does the same at my house’. I replied, ‘hmmm, not good is it?!’ just as the owner walked up! I told him about the chocolate and he laughed and said, ‘oh well, he’ll be dead in an hour then!’ I told him he’d been in the house and he said ‘oh he’s cheeky isn’t he? He’s just the neighbourhood dog’! Erm...no, he’s YOUR dog and your responsibility! He then started to take the dog home but came back to collect the dog toys off the lawn before I had chance to mention them. I then said ‘there’s poo there too’ and to give him his dues, he picked it up straight away with a bag and said to tell him if it happened again. He definitely will have heard me talking to the young lads about the dog and hoped things would change but within half an hour the dog had dumped a toy on the lawn again...sigh! I can’t help but feel it’s really irresponsible ownership. I will certainly tell him if there’s more poo but will also watch carefully for signs of neglect and report it if necessary. Not good!

Next time can you loudly start fussing over the dog being locked out of it's home again. And when you knock on the house door to get them to clean it up, act very concerned and ask if they are struggling as you can recommend a good dog walker if he's escaping out of excess energy or lack of training, or ask if they're looking at adoption for the poor thing since they can't seem to keep it safe.

Next time it's loose shove it in your car and take to the council pound. Cost to retrieve in our area is £70.