I could not believe my eyes.
 

The is morning while walking with a friend at Legacy Lane and Belle Meade, I saw a woman with an unleashed dog. The dog waddled into the front yard of a home at that intersection. The dog wandered all the way up and into the shrubs and bushes directly against the house. The woman walked up into the yard and stood right by the bushes (two feet from the home's front window, 20 feet from the street) and watched as her dog crapped in the bushes. The only thing to her credit was that she had a plastic bag and she bent over into the bushes and rooted around to find the stuff and put it in her bag.

My friend pleaded with me not to say anything, so out of respect to him, I didn't. She is soooooooo lucky that I was not alone. What would you have done?

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

Politely suggest she get a leash for her dog for her and her dog's safety from golf carts, cars, and especially other dogs.

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

What about the trespassing part?

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

She might just get defensive if you start talking about laws and such??

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

"...defensive if you start talking about the laws and such?" And that's a problem? Speeders, rapists, murderers, and girls of ill repute get "defensive" when they get called on their anti-social actions. Tresspass is another anti-social behavior - especially next to someone's window 3 feet from the house. What a ploy a "Peeping Tom" could use: Bring the dog. "Oh, I was just walking my dog." Ahh huh.

I know what my wife would do, and it is pretty much what TalkHost was thinking but didn't yet say. And I agree with her!

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

She must be a visiting guest at a residents home. I can't imagine a actual resident doing this. Jan, I complement your restraint.

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

Hardly the same category as murderers, rapists, whores, etc. as someone who allows her dog to poop in someone else's yard. You are right that this could be a "peeping tom" but from what Talk Host said it hardly sounds like one. They usually have their dog on a leash so that they can get close to the window.

Would not want the TV to turn into some place like New York City or various other locales where neighbors get into lawsuits and/or fistfights about something as petty as poop on someone else's property.

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

I understand the difference between the seriousness of various forms of anti-social behavior - of course they are not all the same. ::)* My point is that it is common for a lot of people, no matter how minor or egregious the offense, to act "defensive" when they are brought to task.* The possibility that someone may act "defensive" is no reason NOT to point out they are doing something that is unacceptable.* Avoid confronting offensive children just because they might become "defensive" and you will end up with anti-social psychopaths.

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

Barb, I do :agree: with you wholeheartedly but I have to say, It may just be rectified by speaking to the woman. In our area, our dogs pooping on others lawns is not a crime, as long as we are courteous enough to pick it up after, so this is what we are used to. There are new rules to get used to regarding dogs in TV, and sometimes I have to admit I have to remind myself of them. I wouldnt take offense if someone politely and calmly reminded me of them but I probably would get very defensive if I was yelled at. I think alot of people are just doing what they did back in thier hometown and you really do catch more bees with honey then being nasty. A gentle reminder is sometimes the best way to get thru to people. ;)

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

You can usually get a better response by being neighborly. Not always though.

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

Let me get this straight??????
People take their dog out to the neighbors yards and front lawns to do their duty,then walk the dog and go back home.(some nerve)
Why not let the dog do his duty on their own lawn,then take the dog for a walk.
I find it very annoying when I see people letting their dogs poop all over the place,especially at the Piedmont post office on Belle Meade.
Also this is for the few that walk their dogs with their plastic bags in there pocket,then if nobody is looking they do not pick up the poop. Who are you kidding we are watching you.

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

Yes, it requires a fair amount of tact and courage in approaching someone doing something clearly inappropriate so as to get the best result in a polite and inoffensive manner. *While any comment or manner of delivering it might be offensive to some people, the possibility of their taking offense or being defensive should not deter us from bringing inappropriate behaviors to their attention.

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

I always pick up my pooche's poop and it is hard to get a dog to poop on command. Sometimes they do not want to go right away.

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

I do not approach people who are acting in too offensive a manner even in TV. If someone is going bonkers (like an incident of road rage) in my vicinity it is a good idea to get out of there. Fortunately, people having serious mental breakdowns is uncommon in TV.

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

:#1: OK, Tal..you get the award for cool, intellectual pictures..many of them!

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

Thanks, I think. I have been in areas where if you approach someone walking their dog in wrong manner (both meanings), then this person might throw the poop at you.

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

Ah, without doubt the words of someone who does not own property.

When one has spent many thousands of dollars and/or hours and hours of hard labor creating and maintaining a good lawn, one does not want to become the neighborhood toilet. Just because one has a nice corner lot, it does not give every pet owner the right to bring their animal there whenever it requires a bowel movement. If urine was so beneficial to grass, Chem Lawn would be using it. They're not. It's not.

I realize yours is the most adorable, friendly, cuddly creature ever and would not hurt a soul. They all are to someone, be they schnauzers, spaniels, or pit bulls. So were the two who mauled by great nephew. In a perfect world, pet owners would keep their animals on their own property. But it's not perfect, so I accept the fact that many pet owners think my yard is a urinal because I live on a corner. I just pity the poor neighbor who has the first yard outside the entrance to the villas. His front yard looks like Giants Stadium at halftime.

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

You could start a movement to get fences in TV? That would solve your concern about dogs peeing on lawns.

My dog was bit rather badly by a Weimaraner mix at the Doggie Doo Run Run in early August 2007 and I still watch out for other dogs that might take a bite out of him both here in TV and at the Doggie Doo Run Run.

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

:#1:Definitely meant as a compliment! Who are gentlemen in the pics? Balzac?

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

Wilhelm Grimm.

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

This is for Nonie who thinks it is ok for dogs to use your lawn for a toilet.
I totally disagree with you, when a dog does his duty and it is picked up,the smell is there and other dogs pick up the smell ,, now all dogs are using the same place as there toilet.
Best bet is to let your dog do his/her duty on your own lawn and the problem will be solved.
P.S.I had dogs of my own and I always kept them on my own property.

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

We plan on a courtyard villa...a MAJOR reason for which is so our dog can go in our own back yard and not someone else's. My wife and I do not even have a meeting of the minds on this. She believes when you walk a dog it is recreational for the dog, meaning the dog should be let to do whatever it wants whereever it wants.

My principles and practice is the dog should do business only in the owners (my) yard. Walking is for exercise and non-excrementary recreation (did I just invent a new word?) - showing off, looking at the sights, sniffing the air, etc.. In other words, we keep walking.

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

Talk Host:

Please open a Dog Poop Forum in somewhere other than General Villages - I would bet that there are more posts about dog poop than any other subject in TOTV.

Thank You

Chuck

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

The Villages provides 47 Golf Courses, 91 Recreation Centers and 69 Pools. I hear TV also recently provided upgraded play facilities for visiting grandchildren.

The Villages allows two dogs per household. And this is great as pets provide many benefits to seniors. Yet TV has no dog walking areas. Of course pets should not be walked on neighbours' properties!

In spite of welcoming thousands of dogs to TV, the developer has made no provision for 2 or 3 fenced dog parks. I think a few centrally-located dog parks would go a long way to making everyone much happier. And owners would pick up after their dogs, or be reminded by other dog owners to do so.

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

Excellent idea BF and Barb,

Fortunately the neighbors in our area are very understanding and not nearly as "anal" about these embarassing accidents! ::)

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

I've owned and loved many dogs in my lifetime. Barring an Old English who was trained to be off lead at all times, they were always on a lead and curb trained. That is, they'd do their duty into the gutter and I'd clean it up. Barring when they were pups and didn't quite get it, my dogs never squatted on someone's lawn or hoisted a leg on a bush or tree. They did think fire hydrants and telephone poles were fair game and I rather agreed with them -- provided it was on public property, i.e., far side of the sidewalk.

As to the Old English, I got him when he was older and there was just too much fur on him for a collar -- he'd be matted within 30 minutes of having it on. However, he always heeled when we walked and stayed where he was told to. He truly was totally voice and hand trained. Even so, it took me a good year before I was comfortable with the idea that this dog didn't have a lead on him. Sleeper became the love of my life. Other than work, that dog truly went where I went.

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

I posted a rather lengthy but cute reply to this subject and I can't find it. Do you not post all of them. :dontknow: Where did it go? > :(

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

Dear Barb:

If this topic was in an area that was labeled issues with animals or some other title the unsuspecting folks who opened a post titled "I could not believe my eyes" would be spared more discussions about dog crap.

And, it is my right as a citizen of this country to express my opinions even if they disagree with yours.

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

Posts are not filtered through the administrators before they appear on the board. Almost 100% of the time, me included, posts are lost when the poster clicks on the wrong button or closes the window before it is posted. Nobody censored your post.

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

I pay to take my two dogs daily to Doggie Doo Run Run as do many, many other dog owners. DDRR will eventually close as it is a private dog park and the land is very valuable (backs on a TV golf course). When that happens, the dog "issue" will really ignite.

I'm hoping to join the Pet Lovers Club and get them interested in lobbying the developer for some scrubby parcel of land that can be fenced and donated for a dog park. I will post a reminder prior to the next Pet Lovers Meeting.

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

Beltlady, I notice my nails sometimes hit the wrong key and I lose what I've typed without even realizing it.

Chuck, Barb is right, just chill. If its something you don't want to read after opening it, just close it. No big deal.

Kath

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

Count me in Barefoot. Wanna join Pet Loves group as well. and I bet Nonie will too.

Kath

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

Hey Talk Host, we gotcha, misleading subject line. :cop:

Perhaps you can change it to "Does TV Need a Dog Park" and then everyone can take turns beating me up for the suggestion! :joke:

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

Could Talk Host be posting provocative, generic subject labels so that more people will open the thread so he can get his number of hits up to his target on this forum before the end of the year?

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

He definitely would not do that.

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

My dog does her dooty before she leaves her own yard. She might pee on a telephone pole or mailbox on occasion but otherwise, when I tell her, "no yards", she walks right on down the street. She has never, in her 5 years, pooped on someone's property, totally unacceptable.

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

I have to say my husband and I have finally had it with neighbors allowing their dogs to relieve themselves on our lawn. The straw that broke the camels back was after living here for two years, suddenly we are finding dog feces on the lawn that these supposedly good neighbors are not picking up. I have now been forced to look like the bad guy by putting signs in my windows telling people to keep their dogs off our lawn. We too own a dog we adopted from the animal shelter about 7 months ago and we will only take her for a walk "after" she has relieved herself on "our" lawn. The thing that really irritates us is the people aren't even walking their dogs for exercise but just walking down the street for their dog to do it's business on someone else's property and then they turn right back and go home! We are very sorry it has come to this but if people do not want to be good neighbors than I guess we can't be. If it continues than the sprinklers will start going off just as the dog is doing it's business!

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

My dog only "uses" our lawn and then goes for a walk.
I will be another voice for the lobbying effort for a Villages dog run. :agree: :agree:
Great idea BF

Re: I could not believe my eyes.
 

No, I strive to post uninteresting, run of the mill subject lines so that nobody will read them. It's my policy. Heaven forbid I should ever want anybody to read the threads. Just like newspapers. They never try to come up with tantalizing headlines.