A
female
age
36-40,
anonymous
writes:My new neighbors, a married couple, scare me!My husband and I are quiet friendly people. We tried to say hello when they moved in but they actually seemed annoyed we even spoke to them. Since then, they have done everything humanly possible to avoid ever ever having to interact with us or anyone on the street... ever. They never come out of their house in the daytime. Their lovely house, in a few short months, looks overgrown and abandoned. Their animals are feral and pretty much live (and toilet) on our property daily. We have our own pets to worry about and I'm sick of cleaning up after lazy people! Considering how hard they've worked to avoid a "hello" in passing, I don't think they'd be up for discussing the piles of poo on our property.My question is how can I encourage these people to just move away? Any tips on how to quietly encourage them to look at selling?If you're planning on writing abuse in response to my question, whatever. Don't care what you've got to say. Just here on the off chance there's a nice person with a helpful tip.
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (23 April 2022): WiseOwl, thank you so much for your amazing response! You took a LOT of time to write that. Actually made my week!! This was so helpful and thoughtful. I'm going to discuss your list of things with my husband. We have options I didn't know we had!
Yes, I've been worried bout anything I do causing retaliation, as you say. They seem that type. Their fence is buckled and warped and we try to block up the gaps so their animals cannot get in, to no avail. Fact is, they MUST know by now, but they aren't the type to care.
It's made me appreciate others in my neighborhood so much more. Anyone reading this, please never ever take friendly courteous neighbors for granted. You are lucky to have them.
A
reader, anonymous, writes (23 April 2022): FYI, DC has monitors who review incoming posts and their responses. There is no "abuse" written to anyone.
As far as their animals, if they're running all over the place without their tags to prove they're properly inoculated, and under proper human supervision, or there is evidence they don't receive proper care; you might contact animal protection authorities. You should call animal control for wandering furrow animals.
You may have to invest in a privacy fence to divide your properties; and/or place some attractive prickly hedges around your property like holly, or any attractive dense shrub with thorns that make it difficult to pass through without getting pricked or scratched. How do you keep your pets off their property? You can also buy specialized repellent sprays to keep away pesky dogs or cats to spray around your property and your garden area. It will also localize your own pets to selected areas to do their business.
I would assume local town inspectors expect upkeep and proper yard maintenance to keep down vermin, venomous snakes, and harmful insect populations. Check with your town hall. If you live in a nice neighborhood, I would assume inspectors would fine people for overgrown lawns or fields. There is nothing anyone can do about people who don't want to be friendly.
Worse comes to worse, you may have to form a homeowner's association; and hire an attorney to draw-up by-laws for the neighborhood. The unfortunate thing about those is they are often overtaken by bigots, snobs, and power-freaks who make life miserable for everybody. They become political, and there's a lot of cliquishness and backbiting. I live in an upscale gated-community, and you wouldn't believe how it changes people who are elected to the Board of Directors. That should be your last resort. Many countries don't have them; and some that do are only for row houses or apartments. They don't wield the power they do here in the United States. I think in Australia you have the Property Owners Association of Australia; which might be similar to an HOA here in the United States.
Meanwhile, get legal advice about the animals causing any destruction or problems on your property. If they are visibly unkempt and don't display proper tags; they are considered furrow and a possible health hazard. Don't place food for your animals outside your home; or you will encourage their pets to forage for food on your property.
If they want to be left alone, leave them alone. People like that are usually very unneighbourly, retaliatory, and love playing tit-for-tat to prove how much they want to be left alone. Did you check property records to see if they actually own the property, or if they are renters? It doesn't make any sense to purchase a lovely piece of property just to let it go. Then hideaway from the neighbors like you're on the run. That was a rhetorical comment; please don't assume the people are criminals.
You may also find a company to do a professional vetting and background check of public records to see if there could be something shady in their background. We get public alerts when registered sex-offenders may be nearby. This is very extreme, and unnecessary; unless you suspect there is criminal activity amiss.
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A
male
reader, anonymous, writes (21 April 2022): The fence is a good idea. Otherwise I think you have only three legal/moral choices.
1. Buy their house and resell it to somebody else
2. Move.
3. Accept them with their warts.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (20 April 2022): Thank you for the advice 2/3 ladies. Sounds like you have a worse situation than I do Honeypie. That crazy little dog would be horrible to listen to daily.
I did think about notifying authorities but I know the dogs will probably suffer. Worried they'd be dumped or something.
I've never talked about them to the other neighbors... was worried that would cause trouble.
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A
female
reader, Honeypie  +, writes (19 April 2022):
 Maybe it's time to consider getting a good fence?
“Good fences make good neighbors” As Robert Frost so cleverly said.
If they can't even be arsed to say hello, I don' think they are going to deal with their pets' poop or even give a shit (pun intended) about it. Unfortunately.
Personally? I would be petty and have a little bucket for THEIR pet's poop and when you have picked it up, OVER on their side of the property line it goes.
Some people are just NOT great neighbors. We have a couple on one side of our house who are NOT good neighbors. The wife is nuttier than squirrel poop. There have been a few 2-3 am screaming matches on the front lawn (no less) for all the hear (be woken up by) add some Police visits, and a dog they stick out in a TINY enclosure that barks at everything, really.. a leaf falls off a tree in our yard, I go to the trash can, a squirrel or bird jumps around and the darn dog is barking. What can we do? Not a darned thing.
What can you do? Not much either. You can't change your neighbors, you can't MAKE them better pet owners.
I don't know if your area have any rules for how tall the grass can be (we do) We have a whole City Office that does nothing but check people's yards and send letters and bills if things are not up to snuff. (Not an HOA). This may be different in your community. But it might be worth looking into it.
Also, having cameras might not be a bad idea.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (19 April 2022): I hear you.
There's not much you can do unoficially if they refuse to communicate with you.
There are laws and rules that need to be respected concerning property maintenance and keeping pets. It is absolutely forbiden and one can be fined for not keeping their property clean and tidy. The same goes for pets. They cannot walk around other poeple's yards, let poop there.
I would simply notify the authorities and ask them to react. I wouldn't make it personal. First of all, they do not want to have any presonal contact with you. But most of all, you don't want to have people you do not know (who act the way they do - crazy) have you on their radar.
I would also talk to my other neighbors and see what they think about this and if they too would like to notify the authorities. A presence liek that can diminish teh value of your property.
The couple you mentionneed has to feel the pressure of the whole community. They need to see that their behavior hasn't gone unnoticed and that there are legal consequences.
Having said this, the sad truth is, if the legal action fails and/or they find a loophole, there is absolutely noyhing you can do if you don't want to start harassing them.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (19 April 2022): You wrote in a few weeks ago about these neighbours and got a lot of replies so why not read back on them?
You don't keep yourself to yourself far from it. Post an anonymous letter and ask them to clean up after their pets but if you are on about a domestic cat then how and why would they think it's fouling specifically in your garden?
No you can't encourage or try and get them to move away, you honestly seem obsessed with them.
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