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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to object to all the dog shit in my neighbour's garden?

77 replies

MsMitford · 23/09/2021 09:39

Moved in last year, and were puzzled by a fusty, funky, decaying smell in the garden. Finally peeked over the fence and realised that next door's garden was full of several months worth of decaying dog turds. Reported to the Council and it got cleaned up (with a side helping of abuse from our neighbours). A month later it had built up again, reported again, cleaned up again (with more abuse). Stopped reporting for a while as we felt a bit broken by the situation, plus we were trying to address drug problems with the same neighbours, which felt the more pressing of the two problems.

By June the garden really stank again, flies everywhere etc., so I started reporting again. Since June, I have sent a time-and-date stamped photograph of our neighbours' garden to Environmental Health every single sodding week. The garden is still covered in shit, and we've started to see rats running along our fence line and into the neighbour's garden. The whole thing is totally grim, and I don't know what to do if the Council won't respond.

We know that its an offence to gather large amounts of animal faeces in a private garden (Environmental Health Act 1990) - it's clear that the neighbours are in the wrong, legally speaking, but how the heck do I make our Council take action?

Has anyone else had to deal with this? Any thoughts or advice?

OP posts:
Flyingantday · 23/09/2021 09:42

Placemarking, this happens with our neighbour but nowhere near this bad. Flowers you have my sympathy

Brollywasntneededafterall · 23/09/2021 09:44

Rspca also. Ddogs have a right to a clean environment... Show them all your documentation...

ncmcr · 23/09/2021 09:59

Absolutely foul. No idea op. But here's a bump. Hope someone has the answer for you.

MinnieGirl · 23/09/2021 10:40

Send an email to your MP.
Sounds drastic but it does work. And each time you send a photograph to the council, copy your MP into the email.
As soon as any government department sees that an MP is involved, things start to move very quickly!

TheGriffle · 23/09/2021 10:45

Keep reporting to environmental health, in writing so you have a paper trail then contact your MP if you’ve had no response. MP complaints/enquiries get looked at and responded to much quicker than Joe Bloggs complaint.

stokiemum62 · 23/09/2021 10:49

Agree RSPCA, they must have a fair number of dogs to make that amount in a week so the dogs may well be neglected in other ways. The RSPCA can prosecute and confiscate if necessary.

thereisonlyoneofme · 23/09/2021 10:53

I feel your pain, exact same problem here, I complained to the landlord and he must have mentioned something to them when he arrived with a workman because they cleared it. However its back to disgusting again, this is joined by party poppers, foil barbeque trays, half drunk glasses of beer, which appeared after a party nearly two weeks ago,. The front garden also looks like a bomb site. Trouble is your neighbours will know itsyou or the other neighbour reporting them. I want to put my house up for sale next year, cant see anyone wanting to buy it

itsgrand · 23/09/2021 10:59

Jesus who has voted YABU?

SweatyYetti · 23/09/2021 11:11

You have to legally declare this now if you sell your house Sad

Smashingspinster · 23/09/2021 11:15

I have a dog. Had a yard. The most that ever built up was a few days worth when I was so sick I could barely get out of bed. This is disgusting and a health hazard. Environmental health is the best place to start. Unless they are in social housing?

MereDintofPandiculation · 23/09/2021 11:19

@MinnieGirl

Send an email to your MP. Sounds drastic but it does work. And each time you send a photograph to the council, copy your MP into the email. As soon as any government department sees that an MP is involved, things start to move very quickly!
It's not an MP issue, it's a local Council issue. So start with your Councillors. Complaints that come in via Councillors are given more weight than those that come in from individuals.
Ponoka7 · 23/09/2021 11:19

If they are drug addicts, they will be seen as vulnerable and there will be limited powers against them, until it's either a real health hazard, or there's animal abuse going on.
The rats might be a separate issue, if they have food or water out for the dog(s).
All you can do is keep reporting so the environmental officer is sick of hearing about it and does something.

Original poster
MsMitford · 23/09/2021 11:56

@SweatyYetti

You have to legally declare this now if you sell your house Sad
Sadly we are only too well aware of this :(

We also have to report: drug problems, noise nuisance, verbal and borderline physical aggression, and damage to our property.

The system around report anti-social behaviour totally sucks for property owners.

OP posts:
FellInLoveWithABanana · 23/09/2021 12:11

God how bad it is? We have a dog and can get pretty lazy with picking up the poo, saving it for a massive clear out once a week. Which I admit is bad and lazy on our part. It has never smelled that bad and we don’t have lots of flies. It must be awful, sorry you’re going through this.

I will also try to get better at picking up the poos

Mookie81 · 23/09/2021 13:47

@FellInLoveWithABanana

God how bad it is? We have a dog and can get pretty lazy with picking up the poo, saving it for a massive clear out once a week. Which I admit is bad and lazy on our part. It has never smelled that bad and we don’t have lots of flies. It must be awful, sorry you’re going through this.

I will also try to get better at picking up the poos

Disgusting Angry
MrsColon · 23/09/2021 13:54

@FellInLoveWithABanana

God how bad it is? We have a dog and can get pretty lazy with picking up the poo, saving it for a massive clear out once a week. Which I admit is bad and lazy on our part. It has never smelled that bad and we don’t have lots of flies. It must be awful, sorry you’re going through this.

I will also try to get better at picking up the poos

Vom. That's gross!
granny24 · 23/09/2021 14:16

Talk to your councillor.

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 23/09/2021 14:18

@FellInLoveWithABanana

God how bad it is? We have a dog and can get pretty lazy with picking up the poo, saving it for a massive clear out once a week. Which I admit is bad and lazy on our part. It has never smelled that bad and we don’t have lots of flies. It must be awful, sorry you’re going through this.

I will also try to get better at picking up the poos

🤮 ewww
Sarahlou63 · 23/09/2021 14:20

Bloody hell. We have six dogs with a big garden front and back and still poo pick it once a day.

LizzieW1969 · 23/09/2021 14:28

**God how bad it is? We have a dog and can get pretty lazy with picking up the poo, saving it for a massive clear out once a week. Which I admit is bad and lazy on our part. It has never smelled that bad and we don’t have lots of flies. It must be awful, sorry you’re going through this.

I will also try to get better at picking up the poos**

^Sorry, but I have to agree that that really is gross. I think you must have become immune to the smell, believe me your neighbours will be very aware of it.

Redyellowblue34 · 23/09/2021 14:28

Sounds like your council will need to have a monthly appointment to come and clean on behalf of the householders if they’ve done this twice already and do not intend to take punitive action.

GooodMythicalMorning · 23/09/2021 14:45

How hard is it to pick it up each time? I have 3 and pick it up every time. The kids aren't so great but I get any they miss.

SunLovingMum · 23/09/2021 14:49

How can people let this go like that. Do they realise the dogs are stepping in that shit and bringing it into the house?

I’d be reporting to everyone I like think of, including social Servicrs if there are children there. Drug use plus this? You can only imagine what it’s like inside their house

idontlikealdi · 23/09/2021 14:50

As others have said RSPCA. Do the dogs look cared for apart from this?

WeAreTheHeroes · 23/09/2021 14:57

@FellInLoveWithABanana

God how bad it is? We have a dog and can get pretty lazy with picking up the poo, saving it for a massive clear out once a week. Which I admit is bad and lazy on our part. It has never smelled that bad and we don’t have lots of flies. It must be awful, sorry you’re going through this.

I will also try to get better at picking up the poos

Urgh! Do you not walk the dogs and pick up after them on walks? We had neighbours who had dogs they never walked, just let out in the yard, but they did at least clear up regularly and hose the place down.