Um, dog poop - still and again a problem

Started by SteveH2 • 11 replies • 1464 views

💬 Join us to post & get advice from 50,000 HOA & Condo leaders.

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in

SteveH2 (Maryland)
Posts: 3

Posted:

Our 503 home community (mostly detached homes) has had the issue bubble up again.

Apparently, some vigilantes have started to operate (someone placed four bags of feces on a front porch). We've sent an email asking all pet owners to obey the cleanup rules and we now have a passionate letter to the editor for our newsletter from pet owners who use common sense and obey the rules.

This could get ugly. Does anyone have advice or suggestions?

BrianB (California)
Posts: 2,820

Posted:

Sound too late to caution you against having a newsletter with editorial content, so that advice is out.

Personally, i don't see the issue here, except that the HOA is likely to be used to fan the flames, which you should avoid (see comment above about the HOA being an editorial platform). The actions of the vigilantes are only the HOA's problem if they violate a Covenant, correct?

I would stick to reminders about the rules, and let the vigilantes and the lazy selfish jerks duke it out without the HOA being involved.

MarciiaB (New Mexico)
Posts: 36

Posted:

Ours is similar and on going. We have a person or persons sneaking out after dark with their dog waste and burying it in our landscaping mulch! It was discovered while replacing some plants and so far we've removed 15 gallons of dirt, mulch and poop from one area. Now they've moved on to another. It appears to be a game for the culprit to see if we can find it. We've posted a fine if we discover who it is and we may have to install motion sensor lighting and surveillance cameras to do that (at a cost to all the responsible pet owners and non pet owners).
Our slogan is: It's a shame some pets have animals for owners

TracieS (Colorado)
Posts: 460

Posted:

I have this problem in our association. Since we don't have anyone who can "monitor" the common areas and we don't have money for motion sensors/lights/video, we made an agreement with our lanscaping guy. He charges the HOA a set amount for picking up poo. Not by the pile. If he picks up one log of poo, the HOA pays the same amount as if he spent 15 minutes picking up poo. More than 15 minutes, he increases the amount he charges.

This takes owners out of "vigilante" mode, except it could wind up costing everyone more. You might check with your landscaping company (if you have one) to see if they could write something like this in your contract. I don't know if it's legal, and in this instance, I'm not 100% sure if I care. We're self-managed, and I'm pretty much the only cook in the kitchen (actually, the only cook in the state!). I have neither the time nor the inclination to try to do DNA testing on poo to find out who's dog it belongs to (yes, this IS possible!!). There's also the possibility, since we're in town, that it could just be some random stranger who doesn't live in our complex.

Takes some trust between the community and the landscaping company, but I work with the landscaping guy's wife, so I'm OK with our arrangement, and I know we're not getting fleeced.

AnnaD2 (Florida)
Posts: 960

Posted:

Steve, what strikes me is that your vigilantes placed the poop in BAGS! Very thoughtful of them! I've heard of some vigilantes putting the poop on porches (or doors) "in the raw". They sound pretty considerate to me....but totally fed up...and I don't blame them.

KevinK7 (Florida)
Posts: 1,343

Posted:

I have had a certain homeowner in my neighborhood who keeps an eye on everyone,. He is the kind to trim your bushes without you asking if your bush overhangs on the sidewalk by just an inch. He also used to run outside every time a homeowner would walk by with a dog and give them the evil eye. Eventually he put a stick in his yard with baggies and a sign asking people to pick up the poop.

The costs to his method seem rather small... You could always put a post up with a small roll of baggies so homeowners could pick up after their dogs.

MaryA1 (Arizona)
Posts: 7,043

Posted:

There are little commercial stations you can erect throughout the neighborhood. We have them throughout our HOA. The only drawback is that kids keep vandalizing them and taking all the bags out. But they do seem to work.

RobertG (Arizona)
Posts: 505

Posted:

I hope this doesn't offend anyone but we need a bit of humor once in awhile -

"My neighbor said he finally solved the problem of picking up after his dog. He buys condoms by the box and feeds them to his dog. Now when the dog poops, it comes out prepakaged."

[My appologies to Garrison Keillor for managling one of his good jokes.]

Adults laugh approximately 15 times a day, while children laugh about 400 times a day. Make someone laugh today! Wave to your neighbor today.

TracieS (Colorado)
Posts: 460

Posted:

Hilarious! Good Friday Fun!

AnnaD2 (Florida)
Posts: 960

Posted:

Oh my gawd! That is hysterical. Thanks for passing it (ha ha) along.

FrancescaM (Washington)
Posts: 264

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By RobertG on 07/10/2009 9:14 AM
I hope this doesn't offend anyone but we need a bit of humor once in awhile -

"My neighbor said he finally solved the problem of picking up after his dog. He buys condoms by the box and feeds them to his dog. Now when the dog poops, it comes out prepakaged."

[My appologies to Garrison Keillor for managling one of his good jokes.]

Adults laugh approximately 15 times a day, while children laugh about 400 times a day. Make someone laugh today! Wave to your neighbor today.

AnnaD2 (Florida)
Posts: 960

Posted:

Was there something you wanted to say here, Francesca?

🎯 You've read this entire discussion

Join the conversation with 50,000 HOA & Condo Leaders:

✓ Ask follow-up questions
✓ Share your experience
✓ Get expert advice
✓ Access 350,000 discussions

Create Free Account →

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in here