Reported Neighbor That Allows Pet Feces to Accumulate in Yard

[Anonymous]

My neighbor has at least 4 to 5 dogs and never walks them. Just lets them out in the back yard each day. He NEVER picks up after them and after 3 years of dealing with it I finally decided to call the county (Montgomery) today to complain. It is so gross and unsanitary, yet I feel bad knowing that he'll know that I complained. I've never approached him directly but my neighbor across the street did once. I couldn't find much info on what the county will do but they told me that they'd go inspect.

[Anonymous]

It's not your yard, why do you care?

[Anonymous]

It's his property and he doesn't have to clean his dog shit if he doesn't want to.

[Anonymous]

I actually don't think they will do anything. My parents have the same problem and their HOA has tackled it, nothing their county could do.

[Anonymous]

Feces is toxic. It is unsanitary. It smells and the smell lingers to our yard. In the summer there are always lots of flies on the side of the yard. They poop along our fence, so we can see and smell it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Feces is toxic. It is unsanitary. It smells and the smell lingers to our yard. In the summer there are always lots of flies on the side of the yard. They poop along our fence, so we can see and smell it.

That doesn't make it illegal. Sorry, OP, unless your neighborhood has an HOA, the county can't do anything. It's not your property. You could try and get a lawyer and sue for private nuisance and/or trespass (of the odor), but I doubt your attorney's fees would be worth it.

[Anonymous]

An owner shall not:

A. Allow an animal to damage or defecate on property outside the owner’s property. An animal may defecate on public property or the common area of property in which the owner shares an interest if the owner immediately removes and disposes of the feces by a sanitary method approved by the City;

B. Allow an animal to interfere with the freedom of movement of persons in a public right-of-way, or to chase motor vehicles in a public right-of-way;

C. Allow an animal to bite or to attack, without provocation, any person or other animal on public or private property, whether or not any injury occurs;

D. Allow an animal to make disturbing noises, including, but not limited to, continued and repeated howling, barking, whining, or other utterances causing unreasonable annoyance, disturbance, or discomfort to neighbors or others in close proximity to the premises where the animal is kept or harbored;

E. Allow an animal to cause an unsanitary, dangerous, or offensive condition because of the size or number of animals in a single location or because an animal facility, enclosure or its surroundings is not appropriate for the animal or is not properly maintained;

F. Allow a female dog or cat in heat to be outside a building or other secure enclosure that prevents attraction of other animals. (Ord. 2003-27 § 1 (part), 2003: prior code § 3-107)

[Anonymous]

Did you tell your neighbor you could smell the poop?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you tell your neighbor you could smell the poop?

Why risk getting involved? Don't be some kind of vigilante & call the authorities; that's why we pay taxes. Better to just denounce them & go on with life.

[Anonymous]

Dog poop also attracts rats. Yuck.

[Anonymous]

I think you did the right thing, OP. We have two huge German Shepherds. Needless to say, they create a lot of poop. I clean up the yard at least once a day. Usually, two or three times a day. Even though I clean it up constantly, I still feel bad if they poop too close to the fence.

[Anonymous]

OP here - apparently the policy are the ones that go investigate these types of issues. The person who answered the phone said they'd send someone the same day and didn't act like my complaint was unreasonable.

Dog poop has tons of bacteria that can go into the storm water. It also attracts rats and flies.

I also can't help but wonder the condition of house is like inside and how the dogs are treated. 4-5 dogs in a small cape cod in Silver Spring. I can't even imagine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dog poop also attracts rats. Yuck.

You do realize that rats are afraid of dogs and are actually scared off by dogs instead of attracted? Dog feces would of course facilitate the rats keeping away. Common sense, anyone?

[Anonymous]

You sound like a shit stirrer, OP. Pun intended. Chances are, you do not know who you are dealing with. You don't sound very bright. Do you really want to live next door to someone you complained about?

Can you afford to move? If not, shut it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An owner shall not:

A. Allow an animal to damage or defecate on property outside the owner’s property. An animal may defecate on public property or the common area of property in which the owner shares an interest if the owner immediately removes and disposes of the feces by a sanitary method approved by the City;

B. Allow an animal to interfere with the freedom of movement of persons in a public right-of-way, or to chase motor vehicles in a public right-of-way;

C. Allow an animal to bite or to attack, without provocation, any person or other animal on public or private property, whether or not any injury occurs;

D. Allow an animal to make disturbing noises, including, but not limited to, continued and repeated howling, barking, whining, or other utterances causing unreasonable annoyance, disturbance, or discomfort to neighbors or others in close proximity to the premises where the animal is kept or harbored;

E. Allow an animal to cause an unsanitary, dangerous, or offensive condition because of the size or number of animals in a single location or because an animal facility, enclosure or its surroundings is not appropriate for the animal or is not properly maintained;

F. Allow a female dog or cat in heat to be outside a building or other secure enclosure that prevents attraction of other animals. (Ord. 2003-27 § 1 (part), 2003: prior code § 3-107)

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