Neighbor's dog pooping in my yard

I have had it!! The last few weeks, the people that live across the street have a poodle that seems to think my yard is it's bathroom. I have caught her or him several times doing the deed. Today, my youngest was rolling around in the yard and rolled right in the pile. He threw up all over the place before I could get his clothes changed. To make a long story short, I stalked across the street and demanded the owner keep his dog in his yard. He had some smart comment to the effect of "you can't prove its my dog and think of it as fertilizer for the grass"..The whole scene ended with me stomping back across the street mumbling animal control, irresponsible animal owners and several other things I won't repeat here. I can't afford a fence and I don't own the house anyways. I hate to call animal control because I would feel bad if they put the dog to sleep. Let alone the fact it totally stresses Sam and Sally out when the dog is in the yard.

I live on a very busy street with drivers who dont observe the speed limit as it is. One of these days that dog will get hit by a car or cause a wreck. Anyone else have this problem???

Can you prove it is his dog? If so, call Animal Control. You have every right too. The owners will just go and get the dog out anyway, but it should stop the dog from coming in your yard...if not...you'll cross that bridge when you come to it. You say you don't own your own home...have you spoken to your landlord about this? He/She may want to put a fence up knowing this has happened. We had the same problem about a year ago and now they keep the dog locked in his own yard. Good luck!

The only thing I could do for "hard evidence" would be to take pictures of the dog in the act--not that I havent considered it. Or trap the dog and haul it off myself to animal control. The rest is circumstantial really..yes, it is the only little dog (little dogs make little poops) in the neighborhood that runs loose all the darn time, and yes, I have seen it doing it. My sister suggests collecting and hanging the bag from the owners front door knob, but I really dont want it all back in my yard and he seems like the type of person that would do that.

If I see anyone else walking their dog and they do their business in my yard, I open the door and say "Are you going to pick that up? I will get you a bag". I have stunned a few owners into taking the dog further down the street. Others will pick it up with the bag I provide. These poops are in the back of the yard, not by the sidewalk in the front and every time I have seen this dog doing its business its been in the same spot as the pile my child rolled in today.

Dog poop in your yard. I had the same problem. I had two neighgors that let their dogs run loose and did pick up after them. Well the second time I stepped in dog mess, I decided that I had had it. I took a shovel and threw half of the dog mess on to one neighbors drive way and the other half on to the other neighbors. Worked like a charm.

Goblin

I feel your pain.
My neighbor's(about the only neighbor's that I have that I don't like)have like a hundred dogs.Well,not really that many,but sometimes seems like it.
Seriously though,I think they have around 6 or 7,some big,some smaller..and they always make their daily rounds through the neighborhood everyday.
I am forever going into MY yard and finding dog poo and it is really disgusting.
They come over here all the time and get into stuff.They get into the other neighbor's trash(I learned to keep mine inside by the door till time to take it off).
I swear they have a trail through my backyard where they come through here so much.
They also have a bunch of chickens.This really drives me nuts.If I wanted chickens all over my yard I would buy some.I just think they are so nasty.

There is no animal control here to call,only the cops,and they are no help..all they say is "Well,just shoot it"

Anyway,sorry to vent in your thread,but I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone.

Hope you get it worked out soon.

We had neighbors with these part chicken part turkey looking things. One got out of the cage one day and my oldest had left the backdoor open and it got in the house. Then it got scared and was panicking all over the house. We had to call the neighbors to come get it.

Originally posted by Abby7625
We had neighbors with these part chicken part turkey looking things. One got out of the cage one day and my oldest had left the backdoor open and it got in the house. Then it got scared and was panicking all over the house. We had to call the neighbors to come get it.

Click to expand...

I believe I would have been freaking too.LOL.

I don't leave my door open anymore because of all my cats,but when we first moved here about 4 and a half years ago(i only had one cat,but he wasn't here)we were here working on some things on the house before we moved in.
Well,my so had went to get us something to eat and I had the front door open.I was in the kitchen cleaning it up and I heard something at the front door.
I went to the door and there was my former neighbor's HUGE male rottie standing in my doorway.I thought I was got.LOL.We had all the doors off of all the rooms and I was about 5 months pregnant and I just knew I was going to have to end up climbing the top of the cabinets or jump out the back door and run to the neighbor's and tell them to get their dog.LOL.
I wouldn't have been scared of the dog if it hadn't have tried to eat us once when we walked back to the neighbor's house.

Anyway the dog just stood there and looked at me and then merrily went on his way.
We later learned the dog was as friendly as could be as long as he was in our front yard...but he just didn't like us to go far out into our backyard cause he thought it was his.
They soon moved thank goodness and took the dog with them.I think this could have turned into a big problem because we weren't even allowed to go far into our backyard if the dog was loose.

I don't think they will put the dog to sleep unless the dog had bitten you.

Actually, you DO have the proof. The poop is the proof. It should not be too difficult to test that the poop belongs to the dog.

Anyway, you could sue for damages.

Indiana Code 32-26-2-2
Domestic animal breaking into enclosure
Sec. 2. (a) This subsection applies in a township for which the board of county commissioners has adopted an ordinance that allows domestic animals to run at large in unenclosed public areas. If a domestic animal breaks into an enclosure or enters upon the property of another person that is enclosed by a lawful fence, the person injured by the actions of the domestic animal may recover the amount of damage done.
(b) This subsection applies in a township for which the board of county commissioners has not adopted an ordinance that allows domestic animals to run at large in unenclosed public areas. If a domestic animal breaks into an enclosure or enters upon the property of another person, it is not necessary for the person injured by the actions of the domestic animal to allege or prove the existence of a lawful fence to recover for the damage done.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.11.

IC 32-26-2-3
Tender of costs and damages; confession of judgment
Sec. 3. (a) The owner of a domestic animal described in section 2 of this chapter may:
(1) tender to the person injured by the domestic animal:
(A) any costs that have accrued; and
(B) an amount, in lieu of damage, which equals or exceeds the amount of damages awarded by the court or by a jury in an action filed to recover damages caused by the actions of the domestic animal; or
(2) offer in writing to confess judgment for the amounts set forth in subdivision (1);
before an action filed to recover damages caused by a domestic animal described in section 2 of this chapter proceeds to trial.
(b) If the person injured by the domestic animal described in section 2 of this chapter rejects the tender or offer under subsection

(a) and causes a trial for damages to proceed, the person injured:
(1) shall pay the costs of the trial; and
(2) may recover only the damages awarded.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.11.

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If you had a fence you could be a bit more devious and confine the dog and then treat it as a stray.

IC 32-26-2-4
Strays; confining domestic animal
Sec. 4. Except as provided in this chapter, if a domestic animal breaks into the enclosure of a person who is not the owner of the domestic animal, the person, without regard to the season of the year:
(1) may confine the animal in the same manner as a stray animal may be confined; and
(2) shall proceed under IC 32-34-8 for stray animals.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.11.


IC 32-26-2-5
Notice to owner; confining domestic animal
Sec. 5. A person described in section 4 of this chapter shall, within twenty-four (24) hours after confining a stray animal, give notice to the owner of the animal, if the owner is known and can be immediately found.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.11.


IC 32-26-2-6
Examination and assessment of damages
Sec. 6. Before posting or advertising a stray animal, a person described in section 4 of this chapter shall procure from two (2) disinterested property owners an examination and assessment of the damages caused by the stray animal with a certificate of the damages. Damages under this section may include reasonable pay for the persons making the assessment.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.11.

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By the way while I do know you are not going to do it given you comment about concern about the dog being put down, shooting the dog may expose you to civil liability and damages from the owner of the dog.

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Aside from legal remedies, as mentioned in the post above you could film your lawn to try to catch the person doing the deed. Then simply make multiple copies of it and post it for all the neighbours to take a look.

I wouldnt shoot the dog!! I might yell at it and its owners though

I talked to my landlord today (who stepped in another pile ) and told him who the dog belonged to again. Last few times I have talked to him he has just smiled and shook his head. I had to laugh at him because he was livid this time now that its happened to him. So he went over there and talked to the neighbor who told my landlord the same thing he told me.

vettech: When my oldest was 6 months old, I was dropping him off at the sitter's house early one morning. There was a huge rot standing between the door and the car. I just kept talking all nice to him and carried the car seat between us and the dog. When I got back to the car, the dog was at my driver's door and when I opened the door, he got in to go bye bye. I had no idea who he belonged to or what to do with him. So I kept talking to him telling him he couldn't come with me and that he was making me late for work. He just looked at me and settled into the backseat. I left him in the car and went back in to the sitter's house and asked her if she knew who he belonged to. She did, so after 20 minutes of talking to him, we finally bribed him out with a piece of ham and put him in her garage until she could get ahold of the owners to come and get him.

I hate that - whenever my dogs go out (whether it's just in the front yard, or out for a walk) I always carry bags for pickup - it only takes a moment to clean up, and in most places, it's also the law. Animal feces can spread parasites to other animals and also to people, so cleanup is considered a public health issue.

If your city has a website, look up its animal codes - chances are this person is violating both a leash law & a littering law. If there's no website, call your city offices & they should direct you to the right department for reporting this person.

If it were me, I'd probably go out in the yard with a bucket or bag & pick up the poop, then dump it back out on the neighbor's doorstep as a morning surprise.

A more conventional action would be to take pictures (dated) of the dog in action for backup, and if the problem continues, report the owner to animal control. I seriously doubt they would confiscate the dog - they would probably just warn the owner & possibly fine him if you have proof it was his dog.

This might be a good question for the "Ask Animal Control" forum.

Oh, careful about delivering poop to the residence. Here are a couple of more suggestions:

1. Send out a poop alert letter. Advise the owner that you have witnessed the dog, spoken to him, and not received a satisfactory response. Copy animal control, the local health department, and the local newspaper. Be polite. Be blunt. Send a certified copy. This serves to let everyone know that Mr Personality has a dog that deposits unmentionables in your yard.

2. Take a video and file charges. The court and animal control usually do NOT have the authority to euthanize an animal for illegal dumping.

3. Send the owner a bill for removal and disposal of animal waste. $5 per pile. Have someone remove the pile properly and issue you a reciept for your records for the amount. When he doesn't pay, you could file a small claims civil action. If it gets ugly, file a lien against his property and see if you can convince the local tax authority to sell it at auction to satisfy the lien.

4. Post your yard with NO DUMPING signs.

5. Purchase a infrared sprinkler head and set it up where the dog travels. Hose him/her down everytime he comes in the yard. These are designed for scaring birds but work equally well on irritating dogs. Send home a soaking wet smelly dog a couple of times!

Today I was out watering the flowers and the dog was out. It started to come in the yard and I yelled "GET OUT" and sprayed it with the hose. It started yelping and took off home. Naturally the neighbor was out and started in hollering from his yard. I turned around calmly, smiled sweetly and said "You know, if you kept the dog in your yard, it wouldn't have gotten in my way." and went back to watering my flowers.