[Warren Kiefer]

Originally Posted by Uptown Girl

First let me say I am a dog lover.
The problem at the Tamarind Grove site is not just about poop.

There are a number of dog owners who go there daily to freely exercise their large dogs.
They let them off the leash (sometimes they have no leash at all) and throw balls and frisbees to engage the dogs in play.
A few of my neighbors with small dogs ON leash have had the bigger dogs come close to running them over in the enthusiastic play.
I have seen village license plates from a number of other villages. Two come regularly from the Village of Pennecamp, for example.

At times there have been so many cars and golf cars in front of the mail station (with those walking/playing with their dogs) neighbors have to park at the pool and walk a distance to get to their mail boxes. For some, this is not an easy chore, especially if they have mobility issues, it is hot or rainy.
I know I sound like I am exaggerating- and probably sound whiny, but it is after all a garden area, not a designated dog park.
I don't presently own a dog and I don't walk back there, so that part does not affect me personally.

I did make a call on one lady. Her dog, (an elderly, obese bull dog) was obviously not healthy and had continual diarrhea. He followed her off leash to her mail box and back daily- leaving a wake of a mess behind…. on the sidewalk. I don't know how she would have cleaned it up, but she made no attempt. Just walked around it.
I swear she fed him, then took him to the mail station to eliminate, so as not to deal with it. She paused long enough for him to void his bowels completely, then left. This went on for weeks. Not only annoying, but a health hazard to people and to other dogs.

I finally followed her home, got her address and called community watch. I was grateful there was somebody I COULD call.
They said they would speak to her.
I have not seen her, or evidence of her dog's droppings since then.

It is sad that the privilege of allowing a well mannered dog and owner to enjoy a pleasant walk back there has been abused, but that is what has happened.

P.S. We had small signs asking people not to put dog droppings in the paper waste cans. People kept peeling the signs off the cans, then depositing the poop bags anyway.

The Villages in it's growth has lost some of the courtesy people once exhibited. This is not exactly on the topic but I believe is indirectly connected. On a street in the Santo Domingo neighborhood a couple own two dogs that are without a doubt as large as Great Danes... this couple appear they are leading a small pony as they allow the dogs TO RELIEVE THEMSELVES IN THE STREET in front of their home. The dog urine actually runs into the gutter and all the way past their two neighbors homes. On a hot day the smell is awful. Every so often the dog owners will pour bleach and water into the gutter to disguise the odor. There are still two things horribly wrong here, 1. If the urine has not dried, the adjacent neighbors will definately track the wet urine into their garage when returning home in a car.
2. the bleach water will be introduced into a lake or pond somewhere.
Before yhou give advice about this problem let me tell you what has been done. Neighborhood Watch was notified, the offices of the Developer was notified, Sumter Count Health was notified, the Sheriff of Sumter was contacted. Each and every source contacted said there is nothing they can do.