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#Post#: 1399--------------------------------------------------
New neighbor & her dogs. UPDATE POST 8
DIR By: Bibliophile
Date: March 12, 2012, 9:43 am
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Ok, I sort of need to repair the situation because I don't want
it to escalate. Background - we live in a condo. The front
yard is fenced and leash free. This is all well & good for
owners with large dogs, but the fence has areas where a small
dog, such as mine, can get through. I don't do unleashed when I
go in that area & really only go out there if it's raining & I
can't go on a walk. New neighbors moved in last month. They
have 2 larger hunting dogs. They also have their own fenced in
area attached to the front yard. Dogs cannot be unattended
ANYWHERE - even in their own little fenced in area.
So the week before last I was walking my dog on the sidewalk at
6am when their 2 dogs came to the fence all barking & snarling.
I kept walking, but did notice that the lady did nothing -
didn't tell them to be quite, nothing. At 6am, that seems a bit
rude to the other neighbors, but that's just me. Saturday we
were on our evening walk and the dogs again came to the fence
all barking and snarling - they're a foot away from us. She's
not 10 feet away with her back turned talking on her cell phone.
I saw red. And I had to speak up to talk over the dogs, plus I
was just mad. I told her that she needs to get off the phone
and do something about her dogs. She told me "Dogs bark" - I
responded with something along the lines of, "Yeah, well that's
when you need to tell them to stop." Seriously, they can't be
barking at every person/dog that walks by the fence. They're
intimidating. We had just got done playing with a 120 lb.
doberman - without any barking or intimidating going on.
This wouldn't have been so bad if the dogs didn't bark at us
yesterday morning as well - they were in their fenced area but
there wasn't a person outside with them so when she came out to
see why they were barking I told her the dogs can't be outside
unattended.
Now, before anyone suggests talking with the HOA, I'm on the
HOA. We're also neighbors now and there's a really good chance
of running into them every time I check the mail. I've met the
husband - he's nice - he also tells the dogs to quiet down &
controls them when he's out with them, it's the wife that is the
issue.
We have a BBQ next month, but I think I need to smooth things
over before then - they're renters and the owner & the HOA
aren't really on good terms right now either, but I don't want
to take that out on renters, not their issue. Do I take them
cookies and introduce myself to her? I mean, the woman needs to
watch her dog & not ignore them in favor of a cell phone chat,
but it's a little hard to avoid her...
#Post#: 1401--------------------------------------------------
Re: New neighbor & her dogs.
DIR By: G-Lady
Date: March 12, 2012, 9:59 am
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I think taking over a plate of cookies (and maybe some
information on HOA rules and guidelines) would be very helpful.
You might also ask other HOA members how they've handled
situations like this in the past.
#Post#: 1402--------------------------------------------------
Re: New neighbor & her dogs.
DIR By: Bibliophile
Date: March 12, 2012, 10:04 am
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This is the first time we've had an issue with someone & their
dogs in over 6 years. The HOA rules have to come from the owner
& the owner says that she gave them the docs & their lease
states they'll follow the rules. I will admit that if it
happens again, I'm sending an official HOA first notice letter
to the owner & threatening them with fines, but I'd rather chat
with the lady first.... I just don't want to ::) I'm thinking
she needs to apologize, but I'm willing to suck it up to keep
the peace for now.
#Post#: 1411--------------------------------------------------
Re: New neighbor & her dogs.
DIR By: TychaBrahe
Date: March 12, 2012, 1:13 pm
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This is an odd situation.
If I were in your shoes, except that I weren't a member of the
HOA board, the first thing I would do would probably be to talk
to the husband, if I felt I was on good terms with him. If I
weren't, I would contact the owner, saying that I didn't wish to
get the board involved, but their tenants were obviously not
following the rules, and my dogs and I felt intimidated.
Except that you are on the board, which means if you contact
anyone, whether or not you intend it, it bears the appearance of
the board's imprimatur. And that can heighten an already tense
situation with the owner.
Can you bring someone else in? I'm guessing that since you
don't mention a spouse/SO/roommate also walking the dogs, that
you live alone. Do you have a trusted friend living nearby who
could speak with the renters? "Look, we like you and don't want
you to have to move, but if you keep allowing your dogs to
violate the rules, the HOA is going to have to contact the
owner."
#Post#: 1414--------------------------------------------------
Re: New neighbor & her dogs.
DIR By: Giggle Loop
Date: March 12, 2012, 1:42 pm
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I like the idea of talking to the husband if you can. Perhaps
mention that you want to talk to him as a neighbor, not as an
HOA member, but that if the problem continues, the HOA may have
to get involved.
#Post#: 1416--------------------------------------------------
Re: New neighbor & her dogs.
DIR By: G-Lady
Date: March 12, 2012, 1:51 pm
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I like Giggle Loop's suggestion.
Due to my job working for an elected official, sometimes when I
express a personal opinion, I clarify "this is my personal
opinion; I've taken off my G-Hat" before going on. I work with
the media, and I'm friends with some reporters, so I want the
distinction noted that this is their friend they're chatting
with, not a "gubberment employee."
#Post#: 1418--------------------------------------------------
Re: New neighbor & her dogs.
DIR By: Bibliophile
Date: March 12, 2012, 2:14 pm
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I have a husband - but I normally walk the dog. She's my baby
:) I've only introduced myself to the husband & spoken to him
that one time, but I don't know how I feel about going to him
about this - doesn't that give the "I'm going to take this up
with the head of the household" impression? I know I'm being
difficult. Sorry!!! I should probably talk with her. *sigh*
Ok, I'll work up to it.
#Post#: 1450--------------------------------------------------
Re: New neighbor & her dogs.
DIR By: Nerdling
Date: March 12, 2012, 10:43 pm
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You can do it! I do like the idea of taking some cookies over,
introducing yourself, and discussing it without your HOA hat on.
It wouldn't surprise me if either the owner didn't pass along
the HOA rules as s/he was supposed to or they just didn't read
the rules. But I think it would be better to talk directly to
her than to her husband, if only to avoid looking as though
you're trying to talk to the "man of the house" (which it could
come across to her as, even though you'd be doing it because you
have a better relationship with him).
#Post#: 1502--------------------------------------------------
Re: New neighbor & her dogs. UPDATE!
DIR By: Bibliophile
Date: March 13, 2012, 9:14 am
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Well, someone else made it easy on me! We have had a complaint
regarding unleashed dogs. I'm pretty sure this is for my other
neighbor who just got a 120 lb doberman (which is also against
the rules, but I'm not telling someone to get rid of their dog -
plus, he's a marshmallow & my 20 lb dog loves him). So I'm
sending out this from the HOA email - my name not attached ;)
(Owners, please forward this notice to your Tenants, thanks!!)
Happy Tuesday! Just need to take care of a few housekeeping
issues and invite everyone to the 1st Annual Spring BBQ! We
plan on having a meet-your-neighbors gathering around noon on
April 7th in the front yard – we’d like everyone to bring a side
item to share and your own item to grill. Pets welcome! We’ll
post more info closer to the date & we hope to see everyone
there!
Pets Notice - $25 fine for each offense:
Leashes: Dogs are to be leashed in all areas other than the
leash-free fenced area in the front of the building along The
Road.
Supervision: No dog is to be left unsupervised outdoors on the
property at any time – this includes Common Elements and Limited
Common Elements.
#Post#: 1507--------------------------------------------------
Re: New neighbor & her dogs. UPDATE POST 8
DIR By: Izzy
Date: March 13, 2012, 9:47 am
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--- Quote from: Bibliophile link ---
>
> Well, someone else made it easy on me! We have had a
complaint regarding unleashed dogs. I'm pretty sure this is for
my other neighbor who just got a 120 lb doberman (which is also
against the rules, but I'm not telling someone to get rid of
their dog - plus, he's a marshmallow & my 20 lb dog loves him).
So I'm sending out this from the HOA email - my name not
attached ;)
>
> (Owners, please forward this notice to your Tenants, thanks!!)
>
> Happy Tuesday! Just need to take care of a few housekeeping
issues and invite everyone to the 1st Annual Spring BBQ! We
plan on having a meet-your-neighbors gathering around noon on
April 7th in the front yard – we’d like everyone to bring a side
item to share and your own item to grill. Pets welcome! We’ll
post more info closer to the date & we hope to see everyone
there!
>
> Pets Notice - $25 fine for each offense:
> Leashes: Dogs are to be leashed in all areas other than the
leash-free fenced area in the front of the building along The
Road.
> Supervision: No dog is to be left unsupervised outdoors on the
property at any time – this includes Common Elements and Limited
Common Elements.
>
>
--- End Quote ---
The email sounds great. I hope everything goes well at the BBQ!
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