Irresponsible Dog Owners

My family walks our dog around this neighborhood several times a week and we see numerous piles of dog poo all over the common areas. Is it so hard for our neighbors to respect our community and clean up after their dogs. I don't want my children or my neighbors children to be playing in the common areas anymore, because there is so much disgusting dog poo everywhere. I have seen several children come out of those areas where they have stepped in the piles. I have requested additional doggy clean up bag posts to be put by our house to help encourage people to clean up after their dogs.

Also, those that are failing to clean up after their dogs are violating a Loudoun County ordinance.

We always clean up after our dog. We got a refillable container from PetsMart that hangs from the dog leash that holds a roll of doggy cleanup bags. This way we always have a bag to clean up after our dog.

I want to thank the person who put up the signs next to dog piles on Vestal's Gap, between Claiborne Pky & DeMott. For those who haven't seen the signs, the signs read "Please respect your neighbors. Pick this up." and they are placed right next to a pile of dog poo.

 

We are in the process of moving to Broadlands, and I am very sad to see that the dog poo issue is following us so to speak. We do not own a dog (yet) and where we live now, it's a constant problem. No one will pick up after their dog. There are a few responsible owners but that's it. We are talking about an upscale townhouse community and there should be no problem with this.

Now that we have a house, we want to get a dog too. I am disgusted to know that there are dog piles all over common areas where kids play. I am discouraged though that people will pick up after their pets if they are not already doing it. Our community where we are leaving, have never been able to effectively get this done. I hope this is not the case at broadlands. There should be a way to stick a fine to anyone who violates this code. Maybe they can be reported to HOA? There has to be some way to effectively get people to care.

 

Cliff -
Is this there anything the HOA can do about this???

 

Enforcement will be very tough. You have to catch the dog in the act and the owner leaving the scene. And this means someone has to see them do it and possibly catch it on video. Cause the dog owner could deny it. I think the problem is the mentality of the owner. Maybe they think it's okay to leave the dog poo in the grass. I think a start might be education. Might be a good idea to send out a notice to the community about the rules in Broadlands. Maybe it should also contain material about trash, noise, speeding, and any other concerns recently brought up.

I think it very thoughful of the HOA to even put up those doggie bag boxes with bags. This says that the community is dog friendly. I think the responsibility should be on the dog owners to supply the bags but I'm all for HOA to supply it if it means less dog poo in the hood.

-Teak

 

My house overlooks one of the paths in the neighboorhood and I saw a lot of people walking their dogs along the path, but not cleaning up after them, so I requested that a doggie bag post be put up along this area.

I'd like to see the HOA send out that memo and put it into the newsletter every month. Along with a notice of the county ordinance.

 

Next time follow them home. Take note of the address. Verify that the offender is the owner of the home. THEN, borrow some dogs, feed them taco bell food, and bring them over to this person's house at 2am. And let the dogs do their business on that person's lawn, front door area, driveway. I'm sure they might get the message.

-Teak

 

Let me first say that I am a dog owner and I pick up after my dogs when I am walking them in the neighborhood. A couple months ago, I recieved a letter from the HOA about picking up after my dog, not sure why, other than the neighbor had his house on the market and I did not pick up the dog poop from my backyard. At 7am, the last thing I want do is pick up dog poop, especially from my OWN backyard. I pay to have the small yard that I have, I feel I can leave poop there for a day or two if I want, being that its my yard.

 

Was that letter directed specifically to you or to the entire community?

 

It was directed directly to me.

 

Geez!!
We allow our dog to go in our yard too, where it may sit for a couple of days. I'd probly have to have a 'conversation' with my neighbor if I found out who spoke with the HOA. I'd also talk to the HOA and mention that there was no offense and that the piles were in my own yard.

 

tigger, I'm not a dog owner but I have to agree with you that it should be okay for your dog to poop in your backyard and leave it there for mother nature to take care of it. Unless your neighbor can smell it or attracks all kinds of insects. The front yard might be another thing cause people can see it and smell it. My neighbor's dog poops in their backyard and I don't have a problem. Their grass does look good back there! I might have to borrow their dog to fertilize my lawn

-Teak

 

Hi Folks-
Ahhh, the happy topic of dog poop. As many of you have realized, this is not a new topic. In fact, I'm sure it will be a problem long after we are all pushing up daisies!

What has the HOA done? We have discussed this issue at numerous community meetings, written about it in numerous newsletters, we pay someone to walk the community cleaning up poop (and other trash) that our residents leave behind, and we have installed the poop bag dispensers around the community.

What else can we do? The HOA can take no enforcement action unless there is conclusive proof of the offending dog. I would suggest you ask any offender you observe to please clean up after their pet. Unfortunately, many people do not like the risks of a confrontation.
I personally have found it to be the most effective method.

If you receive a letter about your dog, it is probably because someone reported your animal as an offender. Since the HOA does not consider this as proof, we will send out a reminder letter about HOA policy.

Cliff

 

Thanks Cliff

 

I don't know why some dog owners do not pick up after their dog. This is a difficult issue. There might be some research on why otherwise reponsible people do not do this. I have never observed someone not picking up after their dog. This is amazing since canine friend and I walk every day. I advocate that other dog owners join me and pick up this stuff. We have an army of responisble dog owners walking around with bags. (I see many people picking up after dog. I assume that there are more people who do this than people who don't.) I have informally designated the area on east side of Demott from Center Post to the pool entrance as an area where I pick up dog stuff all the time. We cold organize and designate areas for those who are willing. I also pick up non dog stuff on a regular basis. We can all pitch in.

decalr

 

Off the poo topic but still about dog ownership - Please report any homeowners who leave their pets outside in the heat without adequate shelter and water! I've seen 3 already this year who put their dogs outside all day - makes me want to see them sit in the sun for 8 hours with a fur coat on - growl...