I think my neighbor is a Rover sitter, is there anything I can do?

[Anonymous]

She’s nice, but she constantly has a stream of random dogs at her house, plus two of her own. Most of the time, she has two visitors, so four dogs total. We are in dc and have tiny yards. The dogs are outside multiple times per day, often barking at anyone who walks past. The dogs are all kinds of breeds, including pit bulls.

Is this legal to run a business like this in your home?

[Anonymous]

Why wouldn't it be?

[Anonymous]

Oh, and the dogs’ owners are always parking on our street, which is annoying because it just adds extra traffic and less parking.

[Anonymous]

MYOB.

[Anonymous]

What do you want to have happen?

[Anonymous]

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Boy OP you're a real curtain twitcher.

[Anonymous]

As a user of Rover I hope not.

I had a wonderful sitter who got turned into her HOA for being a Rover and while it wasn't really against the rules she stopped bc she didn't want to cause problems. She needed the money though.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's illegal (especially if she is hosting through Rover which means she's reporting the income and paying taxes on it). If the dogs are posing a nuisance you could maybe make it a hassle for her to allow the dogs in the yard so much (i.e. calling noise complaints). But it would have to be reeeeally bad for DC to do anything about it, and if the dogs are on her property and don't actually harm anyone, you probably can't do anything.

Since this is the case, if you don't plan to move, I think a better tactic is to befriend her, be neighborly, and then bring it up in a friendly way in the future to address whatever the worst aspect of it is (for me it would be the dogs out in the yard barking at everyone who walks by -- my neighbor has a terrifying dog like this and it is a genuine source of stress for my youngest to a degree that we go out of our way to go the other direct). Maybe suggesting she keep the dogs in the house during high traffic times like when school lets out or during he morning/evenign commutes. But if she just has dogs coming in and out of the house and they don't do anything to you... there's really not much you can do.

[Anonymous]

What’s the issue? She has dogs that bark occasionally and are not neglected?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She’s nice, but she constantly has a stream of random dogs at her house, plus two of her own. Most of the time, she has two visitors, so four dogs total. We are in dc and have tiny yards. The dogs are outside multiple times per day, often barking at anyone who walks past. The dogs are all kinds of breeds, including pit bulls.

Is this legal to run a business like this in your home?

Whats wrong with having pitbulls?

[Anonymous]

You need to chill. It's legal for her to have dogs and you don't own the street parking.

[Anonymous]

In my township it’s not legal unless she is licensed. I don’t know DC’s rules but you might check into them.

[Anonymous]

Fwiw, it depends on zoning. It may not be legal. We had a woman proving private personal training in her basement studio. She was shut down and fined. Residential means residential. That being said, you sound like a busy body neighbor.

[Anonymous]

I use Rover and I'm glad they exist, so I couldn't be against a Rover sitter right next to my house, unless they didn't clean up after the dogs or something.

That being said, check the rules and act accordingly.