Hey random stranger, get your mutt out of my yard
July 24, 2015 2:05 PM Subscribe
We live at the end of a semi-rural cul-de-sac and random people keep stopping at the end letting their dogs out to use our yard as their personal bathroom. How can we get them to stop this?
We have a ridiculously long driveway and no fence (yet! that's first on our list of things to do "when we can afford that"), so going out and confronting them hasn't been easy. We're the only property that's really accessible at the end of this cul-de-sac. It borders a highway, and the other side has a big garage/shop, which doesn't invite dog walking.
I did confront one man, nicely I might add. I asked him if I could help him. And he got downright nasty when I pointed out that this was my yard his little precious was pooping in. I was way more polite than that, but he still got nasty. "So?" was his response.
So, I don't want to pick up your dog's poop. I have two dogs of my own to clean up after, thank you very much. And it happens every day! Not just one person, or the same person. It's like there's been a meeting of the minds and they decided that this is the best place for them to let their dogs out to do their business.
Since we just bought the place, I'm assuming that the people who are doing this have been doing so for a while and now feel like it's their privilege, hence the hostility. But it's not their privilege. It's our property, not theirs. We paid for it, and we're paying taxes on it. They need to find another place to let poopsy out to do his/her business. So, without a fence -- which is cost prohibitive at this time -- and without me sitting at the end of my driveway all day making my feelings known, how can I make that clear to them? I'm pretty sure they'd ignore a sign.
We have a ridiculously long driveway and no fence (yet! that's first on our list of things to do "when we can afford that"), so going out and confronting them hasn't been easy. We're the only property that's really accessible at the end of this cul-de-sac. It borders a highway, and the other side has a big garage/shop, which doesn't invite dog walking.
I did confront one man, nicely I might add. I asked him if I could help him. And he got downright nasty when I pointed out that this was my yard his little precious was pooping in. I was way more polite than that, but he still got nasty. "So?" was his response.
So, I don't want to pick up your dog's poop. I have two dogs of my own to clean up after, thank you very much. And it happens every day! Not just one person, or the same person. It's like there's been a meeting of the minds and they decided that this is the best place for them to let their dogs out to do their business.
Since we just bought the place, I'm assuming that the people who are doing this have been doing so for a while and now feel like it's their privilege, hence the hostility. But it's not their privilege. It's our property, not theirs. We paid for it, and we're paying taxes on it. They need to find another place to let poopsy out to do his/her business. So, without a fence -- which is cost prohibitive at this time -- and without me sitting at the end of my driveway all day making my feelings known, how can I make that clear to them? I'm pretty sure they'd ignore a sign.
What if the sign also said, "this area under surveillance"? They probably wouldn't ignore that.
posted by something something at 2:10 PM on July 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by something something at 2:10 PM on July 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
Make a poop station or buy one ready made. These people are going to poop their dogs in your yard whether you want them to or not. I think the best you can hope for is that they clean up afterwards.
posted by phunniemee at 2:11 PM on July 24, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 2:11 PM on July 24, 2015 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Can you do a super cheap "fence-type" thing that delineates the edge of your yard? I'm picturing some 3-foot tall metal rods stuck in the edge of the yard every 4 feet with some wire strung between them at 6", 1.5' and 2.5' off the ground, or chicken wire wrapped around rebar, or something. It will limit super easy access, and there's a really serious psychological difference between "there's a barrier here" and "there's no barrier here"
posted by brainmouse at 2:12 PM on July 24, 2015 [8 favorites]
posted by brainmouse at 2:12 PM on July 24, 2015 [8 favorites]
Since we just bought the place, I'm assuming that the people who are doing this have been doing so for a while and now feel like it's their privilege
I live in a similar neighborhood setup, and I think it's a lot more likely that they have no idea the lot they've been walking their dogs to is private property, especially given the rural setup you're describing and the lack of a fence or anything else demarcating that your yard is actually someone's yard, and not empty land. Put up a sign and doggie bags, or do some primitive fencing (even cheapo neon surveyor's tape) to send the message.
posted by moonlight on vermont at 2:13 PM on July 24, 2015 [6 favorites]
I live in a similar neighborhood setup, and I think it's a lot more likely that they have no idea the lot they've been walking their dogs to is private property, especially given the rural setup you're describing and the lack of a fence or anything else demarcating that your yard is actually someone's yard, and not empty land. Put up a sign and doggie bags, or do some primitive fencing (even cheapo neon surveyor's tape) to send the message.
posted by moonlight on vermont at 2:13 PM on July 24, 2015 [6 favorites]
How about putting up a sign that says something along the lines of, "this area treated with pesticides, extremely toxic to animals, keep out"? Something like this?
posted by un petit cadeau at 2:15 PM on July 24, 2015 [12 favorites]
posted by un petit cadeau at 2:15 PM on July 24, 2015 [12 favorites]
Buy one of those high frequency bark stopping gadgets they sell on Amazon. It doesn't hurt dogs but it makes many of them anxious and fightened. I'm betting uncomfortable enough that they won't do their business. Those things work for quite a distance and they aren't detectable to the human ear. When you see someone and their pooch approach just push the button. It won't work on every dog. In my experience most large dogs ignore it, but little ones don't like it at all. A couple times of the dog refusing to go will probably be all it takes to dissuade most of these inconsiderate oafs. Best part is you no longer have to confront anyone. Also the dog may go on one of their lawns on the way back home. See how they like it! I'm a dog owner and love dogs but that kind of attitude is what gives us all a bad name. Shame on them!
posted by WalkerWestridge at 2:24 PM on July 24, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by WalkerWestridge at 2:24 PM on July 24, 2015 [5 favorites]
While they may ignore a sign, it's there when you aren't. We've got a 'scoop the poop' sign at the corner of our yard and over time, folks in our neighborhood have gotten on board with cleaning up after their pets. It's a hard habit to break dog owners from, but with time, even they too can learn to be responsible.
posted by pappy at 2:24 PM on July 24, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by pappy at 2:24 PM on July 24, 2015 [3 favorites]
Temporary solution would be stakes and string delineating your property with a "private property" sign. It's likely the dog owners don't realize your yard isn't a place they shouldn't be walking their dogs. I'd start there.
posted by betsybetsy at 2:28 PM on July 24, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by betsybetsy at 2:28 PM on July 24, 2015 [6 favorites]
Well, if you live in a neighborhood, and you're walking your dog, you can't control where it poops. You walk it, and it decides to poop somewhere. So I kind of think that the only way to actually stop the dogs from pooping on your yard is to fence it off.
Now, if the problem is that they're leaving the poop there, I think you need to talk to the neighbors. Explain to them that it's your yard and you don't want to pick up their dogs' poop there. If that doesn't work, you may want to add a sign.
posted by J. Wilson at 2:28 PM on July 24, 2015
Now, if the problem is that they're leaving the poop there, I think you need to talk to the neighbors. Explain to them that it's your yard and you don't want to pick up their dogs' poop there. If that doesn't work, you may want to add a sign.
posted by J. Wilson at 2:28 PM on July 24, 2015
Response by poster: The problem isn't that they're walking their dogs and letting them poop in our yard. They're driving up to the end of the cul-de-sac and letting their dogs out of the car and into our yard to relieve themselves. And it's pretty clear that this is a property with a house and not an empty lot. You can see all of our house from the end of the driveway. Our mailbox is right there. Our driveway is right there. Our cars are clearly visible. I can see them from my computer and when I walk out to the end of the driveway, and look back, I can see my computer through the window from the street.
When I said the driveway was ridiculously long I meant it was long enough that if I call at them from my porch they have enough time to scoop up Precious, get into their car, and be gone by the time I reach the end. Which is what happened earlier today. But it's not so long that our front yard looks like an empty lot. I'm sorry for the confusion.
I think I have some t-bars and chicken wire. I don't know why that didn't occur to me. I guess I just latched on to the idea of permanent fence.
posted by patheral at 2:39 PM on July 24, 2015 [8 favorites]
When I said the driveway was ridiculously long I meant it was long enough that if I call at them from my porch they have enough time to scoop up Precious, get into their car, and be gone by the time I reach the end. Which is what happened earlier today. But it's not so long that our front yard looks like an empty lot. I'm sorry for the confusion.
I think I have some t-bars and chicken wire. I don't know why that didn't occur to me. I guess I just latched on to the idea of permanent fence.
posted by patheral at 2:39 PM on July 24, 2015 [8 favorites]
Well, if you live in a neighborhood, and you're walking your dog, you can't control where it poops.
Gotta disagree on that. My dogs are trained not to poop on the neighbor's lawns. They don't even pee on them. My previous dog was also trained where she could and couldn't do her business. It's not hard. It just means getting your dog on a very dependable, regular walk schedule.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 2:40 PM on July 24, 2015 [5 favorites]
Gotta disagree on that. My dogs are trained not to poop on the neighbor's lawns. They don't even pee on them. My previous dog was also trained where she could and couldn't do her business. It's not hard. It just means getting your dog on a very dependable, regular walk schedule.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 2:40 PM on July 24, 2015 [5 favorites]
Response by poster: Oh, and it's not our neighbors that are doing this... it's random people I've never seen or met before. There's an outlet mall up the street and a shopping center too. I think that these are customers/tourists from there.
posted by patheral at 2:40 PM on July 24, 2015
posted by patheral at 2:40 PM on July 24, 2015
You could buy a dog repellent chemical of some kind (some work better than others; I used a similar product to fend off stray cats), combined with a "private property" sign.
posted by Nevin at 2:40 PM on July 24, 2015
posted by Nevin at 2:40 PM on July 24, 2015
Surveillance camera, motion-activated or shooting every minute or so. Get pictures of the violators, or their license plates. Identify them. Take the evidence to the police and have them ticketed under your town's wrongful-pooping ordinances. (This suggestion makes some assumptions but seems practical to me at this moment.)
posted by JimN2TAW at 2:41 PM on July 24, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by JimN2TAW at 2:41 PM on July 24, 2015 [7 favorites]
I assume you're still in Seattle. In which case it is illegal to let your dog poop without picking it up, but unfortunately officers will only ticket owners if the pooping happens in the officer's presence. Might be still worth a phone call to the station to ask about your options.
posted by crazy with stars at 2:56 PM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by crazy with stars at 2:56 PM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Sounds like you have it under control with T-posts and chicken wire, but another option would be motion-activated sprinklers. Dogs approaching the poop position don't tend to like being sprayed with water; their owners either. But the fence is a better idea. It'll help keep strangers' dogs away from your own dogs, too.
posted by bookdragoness at 2:57 PM on July 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by bookdragoness at 2:57 PM on July 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
Best answer: That is an extremely weird problem. For less than $100, you can install a camera to catch these people doing this. Start a facebook page for the pooping bandits. This has become the weird habit of a lot of people. Public shaming seems like your best and most fun option.
posted by myselfasme at 3:16 PM on July 24, 2015 [9 favorites]
posted by myselfasme at 3:16 PM on July 24, 2015 [9 favorites]
I'd go for the signage quadfecta, "private property," "no trespassing," "this area under surveillance," "warning dangerous pesticides." Let your adjacent neighbors know why you are doing this so they don't think you are some kind of isolationist weirdo.
posted by prize bull octorok at 3:22 PM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by prize bull octorok at 3:22 PM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Oh my god, a literal poop-and-run by mall tourists was not at all what I was imagining there. Wow. You are being very gracious in handling this; good luck coming to a solution.
posted by moonlight on vermont at 3:29 PM on July 24, 2015 [9 favorites]
posted by moonlight on vermont at 3:29 PM on July 24, 2015 [9 favorites]
Best answer: If you're there and visible, whip out your camera and take a photo of them. If you're not, put up a sign with a graphic of a camera on it that says, Smile, you're about to be on Facebook, or Smile, you're about to be famous! No pooping in our yard. What they're doing is so wrong, I'd have no compulsions about naming and shaming. You might even want to have a little poster up there with photos of the individuals that you keep adding to so they know you're serious. You don't even need a surveillance camera if you manage to get a few shots with a camera phone yourself, just the idea that it looks like you have one running is enough.
posted by Jubey at 3:46 PM on July 24, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by Jubey at 3:46 PM on July 24, 2015 [7 favorites]
Best answer: Temporary fencing that physically keeps the dog out would be best. It probably doesn't even need to be that high. I would not use anything sound or water based that makes the dogs anxious or frightened. That can cause problems for the dog, and it's the owners that need to be addressed. Any hardware store will have many options of netting or fencing in all price ranges. Or even something like those low garden edging barriers in metal or plastic might work (and look pretty at the same time).
posted by Vaike at 3:59 PM on July 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Vaike at 3:59 PM on July 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
Best answer: If they were picking up after their precious, if tell you to get over it, but since they aren't, a fake camera and accompanying signage is your best bet. Even if you install a fence there will still be a poop zone that will be covered in dung, and it will be far more concentrated, likely right where you walk to get to your mailbox, unless you illegally enclose the public right of way adjacent to the road.
posted by wierdo at 4:07 PM on July 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by wierdo at 4:07 PM on July 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
Do you have a sprinkler system? Can you set in on remote control and/or make it motion sensitive?
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 4:13 PM on July 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 4:13 PM on July 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I live in the area, and i've removed and given away quality fence more than once with my dad or for family/friends that needed to be pulled for various reasons(installed in the wrong location without permit/over a property line, being replaced with fancier fence, whatever).
Fencing, and i don't mean shitty chainlink fencing, gets given away on craigslist. I'd also check out second use.
Assuming you're up to the physical labor of installing it, you could probably do this for VERY cheap and have a nice looking fence. Hell, you don't even necessarily need to dig post holes. You could just put it on concrete deck blocks.
I like the motion activated sprinkler idea, by the way. I don't think it's too mean or anything. Hell, if this was my house i'd put an outdoor speaker up and fucking yell at them when i heard them. Just wait til the timing is right and "HEY. HEY. STOP DOING THAT. GO AWAY. RARARAGAGARRAGHGH."
I have literally done this before with a megaphone for other stupid people-outside-building-being-stupid-repeatedly stuff. It worked.
This would piss me off so much though. Like, i'd sit out in the driveway all day with my laptop waiting for these people to show up and then just run over and yell at them. I'd maybe even throw water balloons or something incredibly irritating but not harmful/violent/counting as legal harassment or assault. I had a problem at a house i used to live out that was just behind a bar with humans pissing on my house and in my yard. We eventually just started doing well, basically that.
posted by emptythought at 4:42 PM on July 24, 2015 [11 favorites]
Fencing, and i don't mean shitty chainlink fencing, gets given away on craigslist. I'd also check out second use.
Assuming you're up to the physical labor of installing it, you could probably do this for VERY cheap and have a nice looking fence. Hell, you don't even necessarily need to dig post holes. You could just put it on concrete deck blocks.
I like the motion activated sprinkler idea, by the way. I don't think it's too mean or anything. Hell, if this was my house i'd put an outdoor speaker up and fucking yell at them when i heard them. Just wait til the timing is right and "HEY. HEY. STOP DOING THAT. GO AWAY. RARARAGAGARRAGHGH."
I have literally done this before with a megaphone for other stupid people-outside-building-being-stupid-repeatedly stuff. It worked.
This would piss me off so much though. Like, i'd sit out in the driveway all day with my laptop waiting for these people to show up and then just run over and yell at them. I'd maybe even throw water balloons or something incredibly irritating but not harmful/violent/counting as legal harassment or assault. I had a problem at a house i used to live out that was just behind a bar with humans pissing on my house and in my yard. We eventually just started doing well, basically that.
posted by emptythought at 4:42 PM on July 24, 2015 [11 favorites]
Best answer: I agree that a combo of any fence you can get right now and signs are a good start. If you aren't going to get a camera you can say you have one anyway.
I think whatever signage you put up should specifically address the dog issue. If they're thoughtless enough to do this in the first place, they are probably too thoughtless to comprehend that "no trespassing" applies to their dogs, too.
I'm sorry, this is a literally shitty situation.
posted by kapers at 4:53 PM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
I think whatever signage you put up should specifically address the dog issue. If they're thoughtless enough to do this in the first place, they are probably too thoughtless to comprehend that "no trespassing" applies to their dogs, too.
I'm sorry, this is a literally shitty situation.
posted by kapers at 4:53 PM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
This also made me think of something i would totally do with either what i already had on hand, or a $3 trip to a hardware store/target.
Garden hose up to outside your window, zip tied to something right outside the window > one of these > hose to end of driveway > Clipped full "on"/rubberbanded garden spray nozzle zip tied to something in the yard, even a cone or lawn chair, aimed generally outwards at this area.
See someone out there? Reach out the window and turn the hose on and let them get blasted. Laugh your ass off.
posted by emptythought at 5:05 PM on July 24, 2015 [6 favorites]
Garden hose up to outside your window, zip tied to something right outside the window > one of these > hose to end of driveway > Clipped full "on"/rubberbanded garden spray nozzle zip tied to something in the yard, even a cone or lawn chair, aimed generally outwards at this area.
See someone out there? Reach out the window and turn the hose on and let them get blasted. Laugh your ass off.
posted by emptythought at 5:05 PM on July 24, 2015 [6 favorites]
Best answer: I'm really surprised by the number of people who've suggested that you target the dogs to rectify your problem. Please don't do that. The dogs engaging in this behavior do not deserve to be frightened, sprayed (with chemicals) or otherwise traumatized because of the selfish, entitled behavior of their owners.
If you'd like people to stop using your yard entirely, temporarily fencing the area off (until you can get a more permanent fence) is a great idea. Some (not all) of the people currently using the space will see the new fence and be dissuaded from letting their dogs go there. A sign would also be helpful -- especially one depicting eyes** that lets people know the area is private. This will let people know the 'dog poop spot' is actually your yard (ie: private property) and not public space. It'll also give them the impression they are being watched. For some people, this alone (ie: the thought of being watched) causes them to behave more ethically. You could explicitly monitor the yard with a camera, but that seems like overkill unless you genuinely intend to get the police involved and need proof to supply them with. If the behavior continues despite the aforementioned, I'd employ a sprinkler system controllable from the house that you can switch on when other people and their dogs are in your yard. You'll need to do this every time it happens (until the people are retrained) and it assumes you'll be OK with being 'that' neighbor (the 'get off my lawn' kind).
If your issue is not with people using your yard, but mainly with people failing to clean up after their dogs, I'd go with the 'poop station' idea. The easier it is for people to pick up after their pets, the more likely they are to do it. Since a poop station is simply a sign, bags and a waste can, you don't have to buy a fancy one ($199 -- ouch!) -- you could make your own. Or you could go with a premade 'mini' poop station ($60) where you need only provide the waste can. This may result in more people using your yard (and/or the area around it) -- but may also result in less people failing to clean up after their dogs.
If you're fine with the dogs in your yard and just want people to clean up after themselves, I'd go the 'poop station' (ie: sign, bags, waste can) route. If you don't want others in your yard at all, fencing it off entirely (inexpensively or otherwise) will be the only reliable way to keep human and dogs out.
Good luck!
** http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140209-being-watched-why-thats-good
posted by stubbehtail at 5:09 PM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
If you'd like people to stop using your yard entirely, temporarily fencing the area off (until you can get a more permanent fence) is a great idea. Some (not all) of the people currently using the space will see the new fence and be dissuaded from letting their dogs go there. A sign would also be helpful -- especially one depicting eyes** that lets people know the area is private. This will let people know the 'dog poop spot' is actually your yard (ie: private property) and not public space. It'll also give them the impression they are being watched. For some people, this alone (ie: the thought of being watched) causes them to behave more ethically. You could explicitly monitor the yard with a camera, but that seems like overkill unless you genuinely intend to get the police involved and need proof to supply them with. If the behavior continues despite the aforementioned, I'd employ a sprinkler system controllable from the house that you can switch on when other people and their dogs are in your yard. You'll need to do this every time it happens (until the people are retrained) and it assumes you'll be OK with being 'that' neighbor (the 'get off my lawn' kind).
If your issue is not with people using your yard, but mainly with people failing to clean up after their dogs, I'd go with the 'poop station' idea. The easier it is for people to pick up after their pets, the more likely they are to do it. Since a poop station is simply a sign, bags and a waste can, you don't have to buy a fancy one ($199 -- ouch!) -- you could make your own. Or you could go with a premade 'mini' poop station ($60) where you need only provide the waste can. This may result in more people using your yard (and/or the area around it) -- but may also result in less people failing to clean up after their dogs.
If you're fine with the dogs in your yard and just want people to clean up after themselves, I'd go the 'poop station' (ie: sign, bags, waste can) route. If you don't want others in your yard at all, fencing it off entirely (inexpensively or otherwise) will be the only reliable way to keep human and dogs out.
Good luck!
** http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140209-being-watched-why-thats-good
posted by stubbehtail at 5:09 PM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I think we'll probably go with putting up the temporary fencing since we have that. And also with a sign or two that at least hints that the people are being caught on camera (and pictures may posted online) if their precious poopsies use our yard.
We might consider setting up a poop station, but it's been my experience that those are routinely ignored by people who are this rude to begin with. Still, it's worth a shot.
I never considered going after the dogs. It's not the dogs' fault. Just crappy owners.
Thanks for the ideas!
posted by patheral at 5:18 PM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
We might consider setting up a poop station, but it's been my experience that those are routinely ignored by people who are this rude to begin with. Still, it's worth a shot.
I never considered going after the dogs. It's not the dogs' fault. Just crappy owners.
Thanks for the ideas!
posted by patheral at 5:18 PM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
I would talk to a lawyer before implementing any kind of "public shaming" program. I'm not a privacy law expert by any means, nor am I licensed in Washington, but... it's definitely possible that could be a bad idea and you could possibly subject yourself to liability if you post pictures of these people online without their consent.
posted by J. Wilson at 5:22 PM on July 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by J. Wilson at 5:22 PM on July 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: I had more in the lines of "this is not my dog" and posting the dogs' pictures. I don't think that there's a law against posting pictures of dogs online... After all, they don't have a right to privacy so far as I know. But I guess I should ask about that too.
posted by patheral at 5:29 PM on July 24, 2015
posted by patheral at 5:29 PM on July 24, 2015
I am appalled at the people who, uninvited, let their dogs crap on a stranger's property. This is not acceptable conduct. It is still not acceptable even when they clean up afterwards, but that is less objectionable and might be tolerated for neighbours, but not strangers. And you should PAY for a pooping station for these strangers' dogs?! Give me a break!
If these are not 'repeat customers', you will have to deter/educate all of them, over the long term. For that you need to minimise your active involvement.
Fence is the answer, if that is not possible immediately, some 'private property' signs, 'no dogs allowed', 'property under video surveillance', 'no trespassing' - the whole box and dice. I would also set up some powerful sprinklers at the entry to your place, switchable from the house if not hooked up to motion detector, could just be hose/plastic pipe, nothing fancy. If the problem moves to the nature strip outside your boundary, redeploy these so they spray the nature strip from inside your place.
Does this crappy behaviour (sorry, couldn't help it) also affect your neighbours? Can you develop a neighbourhood approach?
posted by GeeEmm at 6:00 PM on July 24, 2015 [8 favorites]
If these are not 'repeat customers', you will have to deter/educate all of them, over the long term. For that you need to minimise your active involvement.
Fence is the answer, if that is not possible immediately, some 'private property' signs, 'no dogs allowed', 'property under video surveillance', 'no trespassing' - the whole box and dice. I would also set up some powerful sprinklers at the entry to your place, switchable from the house if not hooked up to motion detector, could just be hose/plastic pipe, nothing fancy. If the problem moves to the nature strip outside your boundary, redeploy these so they spray the nature strip from inside your place.
Does this crappy behaviour (sorry, couldn't help it) also affect your neighbours? Can you develop a neighbourhood approach?
posted by GeeEmm at 6:00 PM on July 24, 2015 [8 favorites]
Best answer: For goodness' sake, don't install a poop station on your property. Contact the mall and make them aware of the situation, and suggest they install a poop station on their property for the benefit of their customers. Then follow up with your township and/or city councilman on the issue. I mean, likely they won't install a poop station, but it should be on their radar that their commercial enterprise is affecting property owners in a (mildly) adverse way. I mean, even if you put up fencing, the people are going to stop a hundred feet farther down the road to toilet their dogs, it's going to be on someone's property even if it isn't on yours.
posted by vignettist at 6:53 PM on July 24, 2015 [11 favorites]
posted by vignettist at 6:53 PM on July 24, 2015 [11 favorites]
I'm really surprised by the number of people who've suggested that you target the dogs to rectify your problem. Please don't do that. The dogs engaging in this behavior do not deserve to be frightened, sprayed (with chemicals) or otherwise traumatized
I doubt that a quick blast of noise or water is any more stressful or frightening than being taken to mall in the first place.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 9:19 PM on July 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
I doubt that a quick blast of noise or water is any more stressful or frightening than being taken to mall in the first place.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 9:19 PM on July 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
I completely disagree with the station idea. Why on earth would you cater to these people? This is your private property that they are not only trespassing on but littering with feces. I would be quite a bit more contemptuous than you have been, and I applaud your patience. I would definitely post a video surveillance sign, one of those red and white ones that look official and can handle the weather, in addition to installing a fence and a 'no trespassing' sign. If the issue persisted, I would buy a camera and begin reporting the individuals' license plates to the authorities. Vile behavior these people are engaging in and completely entitled and inconsiderate.
posted by Avosunspin at 9:32 PM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Avosunspin at 9:32 PM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
I know i'm multiposting here, but i did not mean spray the dog with water.
Spray the fucking people. The cars pull over at about the same spot every time, right? You want whatever water-projecting device you choose to spray water all over where the car would be. If it hits the dog, that's collateral damage. You want the PERSON getting wet.
It's also not illegal to take a photo of anyone on a public street and do pretty much anything with it unless you're turning a profit. You don't have to read all that many photographers rights manifestos to know that one. And yes, i'm in washington, and i'm quite familiar with the laws here because i've been there on that one.
posted by emptythought at 2:42 AM on July 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
Spray the fucking people. The cars pull over at about the same spot every time, right? You want whatever water-projecting device you choose to spray water all over where the car would be. If it hits the dog, that's collateral damage. You want the PERSON getting wet.
It's also not illegal to take a photo of anyone on a public street and do pretty much anything with it unless you're turning a profit. You don't have to read all that many photographers rights manifestos to know that one. And yes, i'm in washington, and i'm quite familiar with the laws here because i've been there on that one.
posted by emptythought at 2:42 AM on July 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
If you have nearby neighbors, can you all band together and get no trespassing / no pooping dogs / we're watching you signs for everyone's property? What about a sign for the main entrance road to the area, or at the intersection where the cars leave the shopping area and enter your neighborhood? It seems like a group effort to get these idiots out the area completely is worth a shot.
You can start a calling campaign to the businesses in that shopping center. I've seen businesses put up signs telling their customers not to park on nearby private property. Maybe these businesses would be amenable to helping you out by posting something on their premises or in their lot.
You could ask the businesses to pay for a poop scoop service for the neighborhood. Maybe they would consider it a cost of maintaining good relations with their neighbors, because otherwise you keep calling the police or your local governmental representative and complaining.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 6:55 AM on July 25, 2015
You can start a calling campaign to the businesses in that shopping center. I've seen businesses put up signs telling their customers not to park on nearby private property. Maybe these businesses would be amenable to helping you out by posting something on their premises or in their lot.
You could ask the businesses to pay for a poop scoop service for the neighborhood. Maybe they would consider it a cost of maintaining good relations with their neighbors, because otherwise you keep calling the police or your local governmental representative and complaining.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 6:55 AM on July 25, 2015
Ask if the city would be willing to put up no parking signs on the street.
posted by sciencegeek at 7:34 AM on July 25, 2015
posted by sciencegeek at 7:34 AM on July 25, 2015
For the temporary fencing, how about something more visible than chicken wire (and more visible from a distance), like the stuff for snow fences?
posted by bentley at 11:17 AM on July 25, 2015
posted by bentley at 11:17 AM on July 25, 2015
Response by poster: Just to answer a few questions... It doesn't affect the neighbors so far as I know because we're really the only house that's on this cul-de-sac that's accessible. Otherwise it's a long drive down the road with houses on one side and big blackberry bushes on other -- running between the road and the highway. After about 3/4 of a mile from the strip mall is the cul-de-sac which dumps into our driveway and yard and the tip of our neighbor's driveway then the garage/shop and then back up the road. So we're the only ones getting the dog walkers because they don't want to walk their babies in the blackberry bushes, and the garage/shop looks too much like a buisness (I guess) so they're lured by the green grass of our yard -- I'm guessing. I don't know their minds.
At first I thought they did this because part of the front of our property was also overgrown with blackberry bushes -- so they could kind of hide their cars behind those (not really, I always saw them from my window could even see some watch the house...) but we've since had the blackberry bushes removed and it hasn't stopped them.
The outlet mall has a green area with a pooping station. I've seen it. I don't know why people are coming down this dead end road and using my yard. It's really very frustrating.
posted by patheral at 10:22 PM on July 25, 2015
At first I thought they did this because part of the front of our property was also overgrown with blackberry bushes -- so they could kind of hide their cars behind those (not really, I always saw them from my window could even see some watch the house...) but we've since had the blackberry bushes removed and it hasn't stopped them.
The outlet mall has a green area with a pooping station. I've seen it. I don't know why people are coming down this dead end road and using my yard. It's really very frustrating.
posted by patheral at 10:22 PM on July 25, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by adamrice at 2:10 PM on July 24, 2015 [15 favorites]