Am I wrong in thinking this is crazy?

[Nettio]

For those that follow my Facebook, the imaginary dog situation has gotten worse. :blink:

Here's the deal: I live in a neighborhood of townhouses. Our townhouse opens out onto a community space that is shared with about the 10+ units that surround the courtyard. In that area there's a long strip of grass that owners have decided is their dogs personal poo area despite the rules clearly stating that all pet owners are required to immediately clean up after their pets. :thumbdown:

About a month ago, I received a violation letter stating that I was not cleaning up after my dog. Except, I don't even OWN a dog. I responded and told them so and while they apologized, they said that because they don't know where the poo is coming from, they just send the violation out to whoever is closest to the area. (I guess in hopes they get it right? :blink:) I thought that was a rather stupid way of doing it but she said she'd close the violation so I figured it was finished.

Clearly I was wrong.

Yesterday I receive a letter that says this:

During a recent community inspection, dog waste was found near or adjacent to your home. This was first noted on Tuesday, November 17, 2009. The Board understands you may or may not own a pet, or if you do, this pet waste may not even be from your pet. However, the Board is asking all residents to help keep the community clean by picking up any pet waste that may be around their home. If this pet waste is not from your pet and you know whose pet left this waste behind, please contact the Community Manager so this issue can be addressed with that resident. It is anticipated that you will correct the above violation by Saturday, November 28th, 2009.

So I go out this morning to see where this so-called dog poop was. It's very clearly in the community area and just to give you a visual, I snapped a photo. My house is to the left of the sidewalk (you can see we're pretty packed in there, I'm standing by the 4th unit in our building), the red circle is where the majority of the poo is:

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h232/linniep/SSD/IMG_4692-Edit.jpg

Am I wrong in thinking it's completely crazy for this woman to expect me to go out there and clean up the poop? :blink: I mean, my husband really really really wanted a dog, but I told him no because I didn't WANT to be responsible for cleaning up after a dog while he was deployed. So I can pretty safely say there's no chance in hell I'm going to be cleaning up after someone else who is clearly too lazy and irresponsible to follow the community rules and clean up after their OWN pet. Believe me, I don't like that it's there either but I fail to see how it's my problem to deal with. If she wants it cleaned up so badly, why didn't she just do it during her "inspection"?

I think I'm beginning to understand why people hate HOAs. :cursing:

[lovely1m]

I would go there and throw a royal *** fit and demand that during one of their inspections they figure out who does own pets and come down on them. No way in **** I would clean up after someone else's dog!

[scrap2day]

That. Is. Nuts.

Wish I could be more help.

[EvaK]

That is crazy. I wouldn't be picking up someone else's dogs poop. That is why when we bought our last house we purposely looked for one without a homeowner's association. There are still very nice neighborhoods that don't have HOAs.

Put out a hidden camera and find out who's dog it is. :)

[Nathalie]

Ugh, I really think this is wrong! I am a dog owner who cleans up after - yeah, it is gross but hey, I knew my responsibilities before I got the dog! And it is one of my pet peaves that other dog owners don't do it. I got really nasty a few weeks back - I was just leaving to drop off kids at school when I noticed a dog walker, chewing an apple and wandering off after her dog left his business behind. She looked at me as if I was nuts:cursing: It wasn't even happening at our but the neighbours property. It is just gross when you step in it or when the s h i... is flying all over when you are mowing the lawn.

OK, stepping off my soap box...

No, I don't think non pet owner should be responsible for cleaning up, no way. That way those lazy people get away with it! Maybe they need to inspect a little longer and catch the people in the act.

[junebug]

i think that is a load of crap, no pun intended :D

i'd complain. its not fair for you have to clean up someone elses dog poo. i can understand the community keeping trash picked up but poo is something entirely different, lol.

[Nettio]

Put out a hidden camera and find out who's dog it is. :)

I know, I've thought about it! The problem is the only way you can report someone is if you either a) know who they are or b) know where they live. This grass area is the only real grass nearby so there's even people coming from across the street to walk their dogs! So even if I see them, I'm not sure how I would know who they are and I'm definitely not comfortable going out and confronting them. I did report my neighbor two years ago but they've been really good about it since then and I honestly haven't seen anyone out there lately.

Personally I think they should require dog owners to register their dogs with the HOA so at least they would know who has dogs and what kind of dog they have. Or better yet, why not put up some signs or something?

[Julie Billingsley]

I'd probably write a note to all your neighbors. Telling them that you are getting in trouble and you don't have a pet. Someone should feel convicted and take care of it. heck, the pet owners could take turns patrolling the area and clean up. But it sure isn't YOUR problem! What an ordeal!

[neenee]

That is a load of crap! No pun intended. :p

Seriously, there is no way I would be picking up after someone else's dog.

[NettieB]

um... (1) no, you're not crazy, that's beyond excessive - you do.not.own.a.pet! (2) my legal knowledge is hazy but I think signage would be, and should have been, the First Step before you should have even received Nasty Note #1...(3) Do you have a leash law? if so, addresses of all pets should be on file with the county. Determining whom of your neighbors have pets then may just be a phone call complaint away...

hang in there... HOA's aren't all bad, really. It keeps the turquoise house with orange shutters and six gazillion cars under repair from showing up over time next door...;)

[ColleenSwerb]

As a dog owner, I'm appalled. Yea, picking up dog poop sucks, but that's the price you pay for owning a dog in an area where you're required to pick it up.

I also think it's EFFING ABSURD for the HOA to only be sending you letters (if that's the case, which it sounds like). All homes in teh whole friggen area should be getting a letter.

And there's no effing way I would be picking up someone else's dog poop. No. Effing. Way.

Oh man, this has me all riled up and it's not even my problem, LOL!

[newfiemountiewife]

There is no way on God's green earth I'd be cleaning up someone else's dog's crap.

They are only saying this to you in hopes you'll do it without complaining, then they don't have to do any investigating to see who has a dog or whatever. This is easier for them. But you wouldn't catch me cleaning it up! It'd be different if you had a dog!

[xboxmom]

I live in a neighborhood with an HOA and I think you should definately go to the next meeting and discuss this issue and I would totally be talking to your president about these letters and that you feel you should not be responsible for other peoples Pets business when you don't even own a pet. Maybe put it to a vote that anyone who does have pets should be the ones to clean up any doody out there.

[crystalbella77]

oh my!! This is so insane! I would NEVER clean up after someone else's pet. Like you, I declined getting a pet because I didn't want to mess with it! That is seriously so insane that they are giving you a hard time about it. I wish I had some advice, but I do not. lol!

[kristine]

Wow! That is about the craziest thing I have ever heard. I get that it's a nice idea that everyone helps out to keep the communal areas clean, but surely you can't force people to clean up after other people's dogs? I don't know how I would handle it - to be honest I'd probably just go pick it up to avoid any arguments, but I wouldn't like it. I'm the president of our HOA (but it's very relaxed - people do what they like around here), and I would never send out a letter like that - or any other letter for that matter, apart from the invitations to meetings;) What would happen if you didn't pick it up? Would they fine you or something? Crazy people;)

[nikkiARNGwife]

Um yeah..that's crazy. No way would I clean it up.

[~Julie~]

That is insane! I would not clean up other people's dogs poop. No way!

We have an HOA where we live too but they only send out newsletters saying please keep your dogs on leashes and clean up after them.

What a headache...hope everything gets straightened out.

[jessica31876]

Our neighbor lets their dog run loose alot and he poos right in front of our gate and sometimes in our yard. Ive seen him doing it so when I do I take a shovel and get it and walk it over to their yard and drop it. After doing that a few times her dog no longer poos in our yard. Obviously not a solution for you since it is kinda community property but it isnt your responsibility to clean up after the dog. I say go down there and they should know who has dogs in the area and tell them to send the letter to all dog owners and if you catch the offending party give them a copy of the letter you received and tell them that you wont be cleaning up after their dog.

[Stacey42]

I'd mail them that photo with things labeled and inform them that this is thier problem, not yours, as you do not have a dog & will only be taking responsibility for poop actually on your property. It is on them to enforce the rules in the common areas by addressing the likely offenders not passing the buck off to those who have nothing to do with the offense