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The doghouse

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Original poster

Neighbours dog crapping in my garden

17 replies

Spuddybean · 14/10/2011 21:03

Hi All. I know this is the usual thread from AIBU. But i did not want people having a go at dogs etc.
Backstory - i have always had dogs but DP is allergic so cannot have any and i miss them. 'My' only dogs now are my parents, but i visit twice a week for all the doggy loveliness, walks/cuddles etc.

Anyway, my neighbours recently moved in and they have a gorgeous lurcher. Our fence is quite low and their garden is paved (ours is grass). So the dog leaps the fence and craps on my garden.
When i hang the washing out i step on it etc. Now i understand clearing up poo is part of being a dog owner, but, as i don't have the privilege of that i fail to see why i should have it in my garden.
So when i saw my neighbour (which i get on with) i told her about it (in fact i was really embarassed as i didn't want her to feel bad as i would have). First she said it couldn't have been him - but there are no other dogs around, it only started when they moved in and i have seen it twice! Then she said why don't i put up a trellis or something to keep it out!! She never once said sorry and sort of just shrugged.

Now, i love dogs but i would be mortified if one of mine did that. Any advice?

OP posts:

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 14/10/2011 21:38

Personally, I'd start bagging the poo and returning it over the fence. But I get rather narky about inconsiderate neighbours

toboldlygo · 14/10/2011 21:42

Does the fence belong to you or to her? If it is your boundary I'd just suck it up and put up a standard 6ft panel fence, if it's hers then it's her responsibility to keep her dog in and she ought to replace it.

If there's any way you can catch it on camera I'd do it, show her the evidence and ask her to supervise the dog and/or replace the fence.

Original poster

Spuddybean · 14/10/2011 21:48

i don't really want to do that, but i am tempted - thanks chipping!

it's just so odd. i have got on with them well and thought she would at least offer to try to stop it. But she looked at me blankly as if to say i was talking rubbish or making a big deal out of nothing. The conversation kind of faltered as we both stood there, me waiting for more and her thinking im barmy.

So now i suppose i will have to put a trellis up. I was really worried about offending her too. just shows how different people are!

I don't want to fall out with them as the neighbour on the other side shouted at me two days ago for parking on the street outside his house, then slammed the door in my face. The council have had people complaining that we have 2 cars and my DP is away a lot. So i was hoping to get on with them in case of emergencies. When they moved in i even offered to look after the dogs & cats if they ever wanted to go away.

OP posts:

mousyfledermaus · 14/10/2011 21:49

it is her responsibilty to keep the dog secure.
but others probably know better.

DogsBeastFiend · 14/10/2011 21:50

You could always wait until you actually see the dog in your garden and then knock on the door, poo bag in hand, and announce "I think these belong to you!" when she answers!

Your neighbour's attitude is disgraceful but as has been said the easiest way to deal with it may be to increase the height of your fence, if indeed it is your boundary responsibility.

You may also care to call your dog warden and ask him/her to pop round to next door and have a word with them about their responsibilities.

Original poster

Spuddybean · 14/10/2011 21:51

Cheers toboldly it's their fence but they are renting and i don't know the owners contact details. She did accept it was him, but just shrugged and laughed and said 'oooh dogs eh!'

OP posts:

Original poster

Spuddybean · 14/10/2011 21:55

it always happens when they are out - they appear to leave a door open. i have gone into the garden and shoed it but it kind of looks at me the way she did! haha.

OP posts:

babycham42 · 14/10/2011 22:05

I've been in this situation and didn't manage to resolve it,as like you I didn't want to fall out.
If they're not acknowledging responsibility you've got 3 options:

-Go loud and complain every time,return poo etc. and probably fall out
-Suggest they contact landlord to see if they can improve fencing (unlikely as landlord may not even know they have a dog and I expect would see what was already there as adequete)
-Put fence trellis there yourself - perhaps if neighbour can't afford the fencing they may provide labour - and keep on good terms.

It depends on what is most important outcome for you.

MrsJasonBourne · 14/10/2011 22:08

Tell her again and point out that if it can get out of the garden then it can get out onto the road and get hit by a car, get pinched, etc. Also not to rely on the RSPCA returning it to her if it gets lost.

toboldlygo · 14/10/2011 22:13

They leave the dog in the inadequately fenced garden while they're out? Call the dog warden, tell them you've found a stray dog, they'll have to pay for the privilege of getting him back.

The fact that they are renting is interesting also, I would also suggest to them that they contact their landlord to enquire about improving the fencing, if they baulk I'd suspect that the landlord doesn't know about the dog.

Vindictive, maybe, but I rent with dogs and if anything it makes me extra cautious about how my dogs behave and are perceived by neighbours, I do anything I can to make things run smoothly!

Original poster

Spuddybean · 14/10/2011 22:14

mrsjason it cant from their garden it can only get into ours. I think i will put up trellis.

I suppose i just wanted her to say sorry or even offer to pay half. When i said half heartedly 'oh i think i may just put up trellis then' she said 'don't blame you, i wouldn't want dog shit in my garden'

OP posts:

Original poster

Spuddybean · 14/10/2011 22:15

toboldly it is fenced our 2 gardens are sort of secured together iyswim.

OP posts:

babycham42 · 14/10/2011 22:21

Oh she's not exactly offering the hand of friendship there is she?

But still.only you know your situation Spuddy and if DP is away a lot as you say, I read between the lines that you don't want conflict.I can understand that.

Perhaps do the trellis but make it work for you - do something nice that you'd also get pleasure from.It's not right to have to but it seems the easiest solution to keep the peace if that is what you want.

DogsBeastFiend · 14/10/2011 22:44

Thing is, if you call the DW and say you've found the dog straying you run the risk of 2 possible problems.

That she will discover it was you who handed the dog over and thus you'll have a very frosty relationship thereafter as she knows you could have just returned him to her.

If she doesn't give a shit or hasn't the money to pay to get him back (or doesn't think to contact the DW and pound over her lost dog) then he'll be yet another unwanted Lurcher sitting on death row in a pound. :(

Original poster

Spuddybean · 14/10/2011 22:56

oh DBF. i wouldn't ever do that anyway. more likely i would give him a sausage and a cuddle.

OP posts:

Crosshair · 14/10/2011 23:35

Dog nap him!

DogsBeastFiend · 14/10/2011 23:56

I gathered that you wouldn't let any harm come to him, bless ya. :) Was more worried that others might read this in the future and think that calling the DW to collect the dog might be the best way forward as it quite possibly wouldn't be so for him.

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