[OhioBuckeye]

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

Just to be clear, it is not a requirement in all areas that a dog be on a leash at all times when outside. Here is the relevant Sumter County code...

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County Code 4-10 - All dogs must be confined on the owner's property at all times or under direct control or on a leash when off the owner's property.
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Thanks for the Code Polar Bear but correct me if I'm wrong the question was the new neighbor let their dog run & doesn't have control over their dog to keep it on their property. Isn't that what the Code you posted said? Not disagreeing with what you said but the dog isn't confined on a leash when running on the neighbors lawn.

[darlagirl]

I love my East coast. I don't confront
Folks.

[darlagirl]

Thank you for being such a nice person with your pup!
Dogs ate so nice.

[Pamela Sloan]

Why not kindly approach the new residents an ask them if they are aware of the lease law? Or show concern over the dog getting hurt? No reason to start out with hard feelings........

[robinsdw2]

Originally Posted by Mleeja

I second this. We have a dog watch fence around our yard. Our dog have not left our yard in three plus years. We have a bigger yard than normal. The dog has room to “take care of business”, run around or play frisbee. Also, we do not leave her outside alone. When we are out and about the dog is on a leash, except at the dog park. No entitlement here, just a responsible dog owner.

If every dog owner was as responsible as you there would be no issues and I applaud you for feeling this way. We have new neighbors who installed a pet fence but when they turn their 2 dogs into the yard they are not out with them and the dogs certainly violate the rights of all the other neighbors by just standing there and barking at the air. Those of us who live around them can not even walk out in our front yards or our garages, if the dogs are out, without the dogs just standing there and barking. There is no discipline of these dogs. This was such a quiet community prior to these folks. I have always had dogs until I moved here but I would never allow my dogs to behave this way.

[xcaligirl]

Wish you were my neighbor! :-). Seems like there are quite a few "entitled people" here. They act like someone told them they only have a month to live & do whatever they please

[Suzi]

Originally Posted by Pamela Sloan

Why not kindly approach the new residents an ask them if they are aware of the lease law? Or show concern over the dog getting hurt? No reason to start out with hard feelings........

Perfect advice.

[airstreamingypsy]

1. For the dogs running loose.... they can on their own property but not on anyone else's. I would simply go the people and tell them I know since you're new here you may not realize that your dogs can't run loose out of your yard. Tell them about the off leash dog play areas. Tell them about the coyotes killing dogs. Explain that if the dogs are loose, and running around outside, while they are inside, they could crap in someone's yard which will cause all hell to break loose. My neighbors had a chihuahua what would come over to my yard and yap, I told them if it comes in my yard, my dog will kill it. That solved that..... 2. To the person whose eneighborhood peace is being destroyed by barking dogs...... the owner can hear them so the owner is clearly an idiot. Report them to the powers that be and let them deal with it.

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by OhioBuckeye

Thanks for the Code Polar Bear but correct me if I'm wrong the question was the new neighbor let their dog run & doesn't have control over their dog to keep it on their property. Isn't that what the Code you posted said? Not disagreeing with what you said but the dog isn't confined on a leash when running on the neighbors lawn.

We are in absolute agreement.

A dog running loose on other folks property, or even barking incessantly no matter where they are, is terrible and gives all dog owners bad reps. I only quoted the code because a few folks believe a dog must be on a leash whenever outside, even on the owners' property.

And while I think the code is reasonable, I do think it could have been worded better. The phrase "...under direct control or on a leash when off the owner's property..." could be interpreted that it is legal to have a dog off a leash when not on the owners's property if under direct control. I do not believe that is the intent or that it should be. In my opinion, when a dog is off the owners' property, it should be leashed, unless of course it's in a dog park.

Like Mleeja, our dog is either in our yard or on a leash. While in our yard, our dog is directly supervised 100% of the time and is not on a leash. When off our property, our dog is on a leash.

[Ss6247]

Have you tried talking to them? Maybe they don’t know....

[justjim]

The Villages is what is called a pet friendly community. You are allowed two dogs - - no weigh limit. I know there are some HOA’S and communities that are not pet friendly and pets are not allowed. Would not deed restrictions preclude county code leash requirements? In other words, we have certain age requirements, sign requirement, yard ornaments, etc. My point is that our deed restrictions (as I remember them) require residents to be responsible to keep dogs on a leash. Just a thought - - not a lawyer.....

[tophcfa]

I am a lifelong dog owner and dog lover. I strongly disagree with any dog owner that uses an invisable fence, choke collar or prong collar. Negative reinforcement by shocking, choking, or gouging a dog is just plain animal cruelty. Instead of being a lazy and cruel owner, take the necessary time to properly train your dog using positive reinforcement. And yes, it is same same lazy people that let their dogs off leash where not allowed, let their dogs to do their business on other residents lawns, and never pick up after their dogs. Unfortunately, the relatively small percentage of bad dog owners tend to cause all dog owners to be negatively painted with the same broad brush.

[tmbromley]

Originally Posted by kaseydog

new neighbors moved in on my block. they let their dog out without a leash. dog runs on their front lawn & neighbors lawn. lots of yelling to get dog under control. dogs in the villages are supposed to be leashed when outside. i'm not sure how to handle this.

When was it that neighbors became afraid to talk to neighbors. I’m sorry but I would have no problem at all introducing myself to a new neighbor and speaking to him or her about controlling their dog so that it doesn’t use my yard as a bathroom. If that doesn’t work I’d go to the next level of police or TV restrictions. But just speak to the individual; you might be surprised how well that may work.

[banjobob]

call the animal control people or just go tell them you have a gun and if your dog is in my yard

[PennBF]

If you ever served on a Board of a Condo in Florida you would quickly learn that the 3 most residents problems to deal with are "Pets, Pool and Poop"! PETS: not on a lease, Threatening (e.g. Pit Bull, etc), Barking, POOL: Water too cold, water too hot, too many in pool, kids relieving themselves in pool..If that happen Florida laws require the emptying of the pool and cleaning and refilling, POOP: Pets pooping on parking lot, beach, lawn. I promise you these will be continually brought before the board and you will never win! OH Yea, where pets not allowed.."I didn't know, its my relatives dog and they are just visiting, just here for a day or so and he's a friendly "Pit Bull", Isn't he/she cutes, can I keep him at the Condo?".You can fill in the many blanks.