Well done

Why are there no signs that say that owners are responsible for cleaning up after their dog? We walk our dogs on the road or pet them use the green around the retention pond outside our villas. Many dogs are walked there and it seems that most pick up but there are some who do not. There are no signs that request owners to pick up and we were wondering if perhaps the thought is that if there are signs then people would use the area more intentionally and it would be an official dog site. Without a sign, people are choosing to use the area and hopefully are considerate enough to keep it clean.

Maybe the county doesn't want to be responsible for designating the area as a dog area. Then maybe there would have to be litter cans for disposal or something like that. Anyway it has always been a curiosity, similar to why there are no North and South signs at the main BV and Morse and Canal intersections which would be most useful, especially for those directionally challenged. But that's another thread.


LW888

Before I moved here I never picked up dog poop, it was never an issue.

I love all the people who do not want a dog to touch their grass but will let their CAT run freely all over the place. Let me tell you I have never had a dog burn my grass BUT a cat is sure to burn grass and leave something stinky in your flowers. Oh yea the owner of course do not pick up.
Polar is right there is a right of way that doesn't belong to owners of house but which they must mow.

I personally don't think we need more signs. The Villages is a beautiful place, more signs will only hinder that beauty..

Our dog usually either goes in our yard or thereabouts, at the private dog park called Doggie Doo Run Run, at the postal center, or sometimes in yards when I walk him late at night. I carry a flashlight and plenty of plastic bags for his poop and since he is a male dog he has to mark his territory with dribbles every ten feet or so. He usually will pee wherever other dogs have gone and does only small amounts because he has a lot of territory to mark.

Not sure why so many TOTVers make such a big thing about dog poop and pee? I find this not much of an issue in the neighborhood I am in. I have heard of people at the dog park who have had problems when their dogs doing their business on other people's yards but with so many homes with no fences, it is quite hard if next to impossible to make sure that no poop or pee gets on other people's yards.

Ok all you poop freaks, please define "private property". When I walk my dog, I keep the leash short so he does not walk on anyone's lawn or personal property. When we are on "common areas", such as along the multi modal paths, grassy areas near mail stations, outside walls of courtyard villa hoods, and so forth, I do let him walk on the grass. These areas are not "public property", but are also privatev, are they not??
If he poops, I pick it up and take it home with me. If he pees, I don't worry about it. Dog urine is basically harmless.
I have not noticed any dead or dying shrubbery in these areas where many walk their dogs. I walk three miles each morning and only rarely do I see a dog pile. I do, however encounter literally hundreds of cigarette butts every day....in the street, on the sidewalks, and on people's lawns. As for my house, I'd actually prefer the poop to the butts.

Utilities, roads, sidewalk, multi-modal path, etc. The point was...it is not the property of the homeowner who fronts on that right-of-way. (I'm not excusing leaving poop there...although I think the pee on right-of-way grass is no problem whatsoever.)

"Survey says" ....:crap2: let the same common sense used for golf balls prevail...:pepper2::pepper2::pepper2:

People LOVE their animals especially as they get older.
 

Common sense is a beautiful thing and so is thinking of others. They used to be seen all of the time. If we each looked out for others then we wouldn't need signs and we wouldn't need rules.

Unfortunately.........................

Let's remember that ALL real estate inside TV is owned by someone. Even the sanctuaries are owned by someone. ALL RE is owned by someone.

So if your dog does ANY business not on its own lawn then you are doing that business on someone else's property. This is not a debate but fact.

Now the question comes "Is it reasonable to allow this practice in 'open' areas"? Well I guess that's the debate. I would assume that most of the places mentioned are owned by the local CDD? So if they don't have any issue then either do I. But have we ever asked them?

If you consider public property to be "owned by someone", of course you are correct. But your authoritative statement misses the point. The concept of public-vs-private still exists and is critical to some of this discussion.

Public right-of-way is not owned by private individuals. Big difference...that too is fact.

Do not let your dog come in my yard unless you are prepared for a confrontation. I have a corner lot and it took months to train the neighbors and there dogs that my lot IS NOT a dog park and it's never ok to pee, poop or walk on my lawn.

The air horn usually does the trick but a few times a month I'll hear some snide comment, have to leave my lanai and tell them what time it is...

I applaud the dog owners that have their dogs do the business on the street. Good stuff and thanks to all responsible dog owners.

Wow! I find some of the comments over the top! I have a pet friendly front yard. Waste is picked up, who cares! I love seeing the cute furry dogs walk along our street. I even have treats to give them when they walk by. It all depends on how you view things whether or not this bothers you. Each to his own! But, we all have to share this world and get along...pick your battles for what is really important.

We are opposites!

That's great and I don't have a problem with that but I wanted to remind people that we all don't share the same feelings. Some people work hard on their turf and don't take kindly to dogs peeing on there stuff.

As Mr. Boston states, all real estate within the confines of The Villages is owned by somebody. As a Villages home owner, I believe that I myself am a partial owner of "Common Areas" within the Villages, and am entitled to use them in accordance with the rules for such use which were in force when I purchased my home.
I am aware of no rules prohibiting the walking of leashed dogs in areas such as around postal stations, alongside multi modal paths, and so forth. I pick up after my dog in these areas because it is the proper thing to do, not because I might be on some one else's property.
Common sense and common courtesy should rule in such matters.
By the way, I am not some one whose entire self image and self worth is defined by the condition of the grass surrounding his home.

How about staying away from postal stations, shuffle board courts, horseshoe pits, and bocce ball courts. HUMANS use theses areas and I don't appreciate your dog ruining the shubs and doing their business where I walk.

There are other "open" areas for your pet to use, like around retention ponds etc. including your own yard.

I think I'm somewhere in the middle of this debate. I'm a responsible dog owner and respect the reasonable concerns expressed here. But I gotta say...I love ya, PammyJ!! There...I said it!! ;^)

It's kind of funny - the poop/pee threads almost made me second guess considering moving to the Villages. I love reading TOTV, especially before we bought our home. I would read these threads and thought this was the most unfriendly place when it came to dogs.

Where we lived in Michigan it seemed like almost every house owned a dog. Our house was a corner house with a fire hydrant and a tree and just about every dog that came for a walk by the house would pee on them both. The tree is huge and doing quite well, and even the grass around the hydrant is green. When people come by with their dogs, we never complain nor do any of the other neighbors.

I have never seen a "no poop here" sign anywhere in our northern neighborhood. If you walk around the Villages you see them all over the place. "Friendly home town" - well - it does not appear that way at a quick glance.

So anyway we bought a home here and come to find out - there are many dog owners who walk their dogs, bags in hand and people don't run out ready to fight when the dog happens to pee. Everyone is friendly - just like up north - and the world is a happy place. I play with their dogs (mine passed away several years ago) and we don't get upset if they pee on the lawn.

I appreciate those who pick up the poop - but won't scream at them if they did not do it. Maybe they cannot get down to pick it up because their knees are bad or their hips are sore.

Yes - maybe you ended up with a yellow spot on your lawn, but be thankful because at least you have a home to live in.

Granted - maybe the dog next door barked, but be thankful because at least you can hear.

Life is precious - enjoy it while you are here!

The postal station and neighborhood pool nearest me is the one in Tamarind Grove. Behind the mailbox and pool areas is a large grassy area with several beautiful and mature oak trees. And the area backs up to privately owned pasture land. Many people walk their dogs there. I go there daily at various times to pick up my mail and it seems there is always some one there with a dog. The area is well landscaped with hedges and many azelias and other flowering shrubs.
Yet despite its apparent popularity with dog owners the grass is generally green and I have yet to notice in two years any dead or dying shrubs. I think the notion that dog pee kills landscape plants is greatly exaggerated.
I live in a courtyard villa and 99 percent of my dog's outdoor time in in my own fenced back yard. And the grass and shrubs there are doing just fine, thank you very much.

Just to let you know that this thread has entertained me but my neck is getting sore from shaking my head...

I think it's not so much damage to the grass and shrubs as much as it is the attitude of entitlement some of the culprits show....entitled to do whatever they darn well please, wherever they please.

That attitude is arrogant and condescending toward people who do not want manure left in their front yard or at the mail station, pool lawn etc.

I don't think anyone here would tolerate neighbors bagging their own human waste and bringing it to dump in another person's front yard, so why should uncollected dog waste left in the yard be any more acceptable??

The key to your post is "Behind the mailbox and pool areas is a large grassy area". That's OK, but not the grassy areas between shuffle board courts near the mailboxes, and other areas that people walk thru with sandals.

I applaud you for doing your part. Wish others would follow your lead. Keep up the good work. BTW I've had dogs in the other places where I've lived.

Thanks Pammy and Oot for these pleasant words of wisdom. :agree:

"We all have to share this world and get along - pick your battles for what is really important. Life is precious - enjoy it while you are here."

does any dog walker here realize how gut-wrenching it is to be sitting on one's street-facing lanai enjoying a meal and/or a beverage and have a dog come onto the property, leave a deposit and then hafta watch the walker pick up the deposit? it's disgusting - accident or not!

Yes you are correct, public right of way. But we can't do ANYTHING we want on those public rights of way, can we? And I don't think the mail boxes are public right of way - I would think that is CDD property. Sidewalks are probably right of way.

I was going to start another subject on this. In what world is a cigarette butt not littering? Stupid thing to do and dirty, dirty.

Russ thanks for the topic tho it's been out there many time before, as a newbie I learned that many dog people don't know how to control their dog's location. Worse, many don't care where the dog chooses to go.
I already knew that a lot of us are responsible, respectful and aware that the world is not our dog's bathroom as the dog naturally thinks it is.

I hope owners will consider getting a short leash and training the dog to walk at your side. That's really all it takes. The logic is, if the dog has to walk beside you and you don't walk in disallowed places, the dog will be unable to go there.
If you must walk through a no poop zone, pick up the pace and the dog won't have time to squat or pick up a leg.
Help is available through Cesar Milan's tv shows on nat geo wild or online.

No, we can't do ANYTHING on public right-of-way, but if you're hoping for dog owners...who use bags to pick up the dog droppings...to stop allowing their dog to use the public right-of-way, you're simply setting yourself up for disappointment. It ain't gonna happen.

You two both make a lot of sense to me.

Currently there are only three tiny dog parks provided by The Villages, obviously not enough for our growing canine population. More dog parks would solve a lot of problems, for dog owners and dog haters alike. Since there are thousands of dogs living in The Villages, doesn't it make sense to provide somewhere to walk them, where they could get off-leash exercise?

When I suggest more dog parks, I usually get an outcry of "Don't use my amenity money to pay for dog parks because I don't have a dog". Well, think about it. Many of us cheerfully pay for tennis courts, pool tables, pickleball courts, baseball diamonds and many golf courses, who don't use those facilities. And many snowbirds live in TV for the winter and happily pay amenities for twelve months. I'd like to think that we could all respect each others' hobbies. It's all for the greater good.

One of the reasons I bought here, besides all that TV has to offer, were the following:
1. Very family friendly
2. Pet friendly
It is obvious that there are many pet owners and it is also obvious there aren't many fences. Just about everyone keeps their pets on a leash and they pick up after the animals.
If it really bothers some, can you say you didn't see that it was pet friendly? I googled non pet friendly communities and I couldn't find any, just landlords that do not want pets. Maybe there is a need for a no pets allowed village. I am not sure what the resale value would be. Are we just venting, or is it really an issue. There are properties outside Tv that are on big pieces of land where you won't have to deal with walking where a dog uses the bathroom, or have to watch dog owners picking up feces. When you buy in a place like this, be prepared, it is all part of sharing spaces. Really? We are going to take the time to designate a right of way area that would be appropriate?
Do you count how many times birds and squirrels unload on your property!
Dogs are wonderful living creatures that can bring love, joy, and companionship!

:MOJE_whot::clap2::BigApplause::a040::wave::agree:

The Villages are filled with pets. Pets pee and it doesn't affect the grass. People, who care, pick up after their dogs and throw it away at home.
The Villages are filled with golf courses. Balls land on others property. People, who care, pick up their balls and play them off of private property.
We knew this moving in.

Pammy, My dog is truly my best friend. To me a pet friendly community means they are allowed. the sad thing here is that while you can't up a fence, alternative spaces are not created that would be dog friendly. I totally agree on that.
I gave up fencing when I decided not to buy a CYV; that was my choice.

Obviously this IS an issue or these threads would not go on and on. If one's head is not in the sand, that is quite clear.

As a pet owner. I accepted the reality of not having a fence and the challenge of toileting the animal responsibly. As a homeowner, I expect others to toilet their animals elsewhere without making excuses. I share your joy at the companionship of the pet, and that has nothing at all to do with respecting other people's property. That I enjoy my pet has no bearing on whether the neighbor should enjoy a load in their yard.

The key to your quote is "poop without picking it up"....that is foul!

well said
 

Thank you for putting into words what many responsible pet owners feel.

I can't believe I'm hearing this. If you live in a place like this, be prepared? No pet Villages if you don't want your yard to be a place for dogs to ****? Move out of the Villages to a larger lot if you don't like it? Have you lost your mind?

What gives you the sence of entitlement that you feel you can let your dog do whatever it wants on my lot? Pet friendly DOES NOT mean you can pee all over the place. Pet Friendly DOES NOT allow you to trespass on my property. You might as well kick in my front door and pee in the kitchen.

Please, curb your dogs!

But I have to disagree with this. Responsible dog owners do not allow their dogs to walk/poop/pee on other people's yards. This is SO easy to accomplish. Why take the chance of causing a homeowner distress?