Someone's Dog Keeps Pooping on Our Council Nature Strip!

Edit: I am going to consider deterring the dog with vinegar / other strong smells. I am waiting for Sydney to stop raining all the time as I don't want the smells to wash away. Thanks for your suggestions! I no longer feel vengeful and will be more proactive instead :)

I've thought about putting a big sign saying something like STOP SH*TTING ON OUR LAWN but I feel like this would make them do it more. Or maybe even make other people join in.

So I think I should install an outdoor security camera to catch them. Any recommendations please?

Also if you have an alternative solution, I'd like to hear it :)

Thanks!

Comments

  • +1

    See here for similar but not the same, it helped that they knew the dog in that one.

    • +1

      Yeah I saw this post. I feel like it might be someone doing it out of spite for some reason because a few times I've seen ciggie butts or other rubbish near it???

  • +62

    Amber Heard is back in Australia?

    • +1

      You're sh1ttin' me, sure not with Barnaby Joyce still here.

    • +2

      Amber has the answer!

    • +1

      She'll just tell you a human did it

      • +1

        it's her sovereign right as a human female !

    • +1

      Heard Amber is back in Australia.

    • Yes. She is known to drop 10 inch, 5 kilo logs.

  • +12

    Never blame the dog, blame the @r$ehat owner.

    Yes get a camera with motion detection.

    • Yeah I totally agree! Wanna get the bloody human's face on camera.

      • If they’ve got bloody stools they should see a doctor and/or vet.

    • +3

      Would the motion detection, detect the 'bowel movement'?

  • +2

    Rub the owner's nose in it.

  • +1

    security camera to catch them. Any recommendations please?

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/697385

    • +1

      That link doesn't go anywhere jv (or I guess I don't have janny privileges to see it or something)

      • The link seems broken for me too

      • +2

        It was for Imou looc but I asked to delist as it was a mistaken price

        • Cheers :)

  • Also if you have an alternative solution

    DNA test the poo.

  • +5

    Definitely a dog's?

    • LOL. Well the poo looks relatively small… So would be a small dog I think.

      • +1

        Or a small human…?

        • +1

          They'd have to be leprechaun sized 🤔

    • +1

      The photo of the poo jogger caught mid-log on the trail cam is one of my all time favourite photos on the internet.

      • omg I did not know this was a thing. (I didn't find your trail jogger - but there is plenty out there on street poo joggers. What is wrong with people?

        • +1

          I'm referring to the Brisbane based executive, who's photo I'm sure you saw if you googled. They used a trail cam to catch him brown handed.

      • +4

        I remember one of the headlines for that was “Public Enemy No. 2”

  • +14

    Take small Takeaway sauce type containers.Fill them with vinegar and keep them around the lawn at different locations..Dogs hate the strong smell and don’t come back to poop. Recommending containers as spraying on grass will damage the grass.. I have tried it and it has worked.

    • Worth considering, thanks!

      • +2

        Also chopped citrus peel works

        • I've done this for cats and it seemed to work. Had to put a good amount but it did it.

  • +5

    how do you know it's just one dog? now that I have a dog and one that likes to eat poop I realise there's plenty of douche bags not picking up poo

    • +14

      Your poop-eating dog sounds like part of the solution.

  • +22

    I've thought about putting a big sign saying something like STOP SH*TTING ON OUR LAWN

    Just making sure you are aware that dogs can't read

    • +8

      Unless dog name is Brian Griffin.

  • +6

    Put a sign up that says "poisonous chemicals recently laid".

    Most decent owners will keep their dog/s away.

    • +19

      Most decent owners would clean up after their dog in the first place.

  • +1

    Almost went postal on a home owner walking my dog. My dog did her business, owner comes running shouting

    "did you dog shit on my lawn?"
    Me "yes, i pick it up"
    Motion for bag out of my pocket…
    He starts f bombing…
    I held my tongue. Picked up and moved on.

    Ive walked 1000+ times down the same street.

    Ive encounter too many of these types of home owners. Tell the ones that are doing the wrong thing. Not every dog walker does the wrong thing.

    • That sucks

      I have two dogs myself who I take out of walks so I am not generalising that all dog owners are bad / don't pick up after their dogs. I am assuming most do.

      But this mystery stealthy person does not!!

    • -1

      "a home owner walking my dog", then it was 'his' fault.

    • The lawn on his property or the nature strip?

    • +1

      After the poop was in the bag you should've swung it like a flail and chased them chanting a battle cry

  • Unfortunately you're fighting a losing battle. Just hose it down and go on with your life. Unfortunately dog poo is everywhere. In fact, the only public place that I can consistently not find dog poo is where dogs are banned. Maybe find a place to live where dogs are banned? Here's an example: https://www.savethekoala.com/our-work/koala-beach-housing-de…

  • +2

    Buy a bag of cheap chilli powder and sprinkle some all over the area. I've done something similar, bought from an Indian grocery shop. Relatively cheap

    Disclaimer…. for me, it wasn't grass. So I don't know how it will affect your soil/grass patch there. It [probably] won't kill the grass , but im sure it's not beneficial

  • +16

    I once secured a possum cage beside my nature strip tree as I was determined to catch the dirty dog.

    It only took a day, but I nabbed him. At dusk I had a quick look around, then when the coast was clear laid a smelly log over the top of the dog.

    I'm not proud. But it gave me closure.

    • 😂

    • +5

      Poboy? Should be Pooboy. 🤣

    • Imagine the headlines

    • I did the same, but on those annoying birds who wait for me to wash the car. So now their cars are full of shiit, and these birds are either driving a Peugeot or Falcon.

  • +1

    I would take a dump on your lawn if I saw a sign telling me not to.

    • +4

      Lol see, I knew it would encourage some people.

    • +2

      its the council's not theirs.

      • Op’s theoretical sign specifically says not to shit on their lawn

  • +10

    I had the same thing happening to me - got really annoyed thinking someone was letting their dog go and not picking up after it…

    I set up a camera and after the 3rd night I spotted an industrial sized white fluffy cat come over and take a shit, and casually wander back home 3 doors down.

    Sprayed it with the hose the next night, it ran off and it's never been back since 😁

  • -1

    Bad luck, you got a bad and inconsiderate neighbour. A popular saying is : you can choose your friends but not your neighbours. I got similar case. Nothing much I could do even I returned the fucxxxx poos to them. Lucky me I suffered for a few years only as that fucxxxx dog died from cancer due to that inconsiderable neighbour was unwilling to fork out the expensive medical fees to the vet.

    • +1

      Their vet could cure cancer?

    • +2

      Possibly could've avoided or treated with proper animal care.

  • +16

    had the same problem. 1st time I picked it up. 2nd time I went door knocking. couldnt find them and ended up puting a photo of the person just watching their dog taking a dump. was an older lady. who could run surprisingly fast (had a video of her running to take her pic down off the tree)! never happened again. although she was super angry and yelled at me once for taking pics of her. I just yelled back - I wouldnt do it if you didnt leave your shit behind LOL

    • Hmmm so I should do a stakeout!

    • Awesome!

    • User name checks out

    • You are my hero.

  • I have the same, last time was actually on my front lawn next to the walkway.
    Inconsiderate twats, I'd throw it back at them if I could

  • You can get a cheap Arlec Grid Connect wireless camera and run it off a USB Power bank for about 8hrs. Around $40.00. @ Bunnings. Hide it in the bushes or mount it on a tree. Multiple settings to view via iPhone and alarm notifications.

  • I had some cat doing it in my backyard, what would be the options to deter them?

    • +1

      You can get some sprays at the vet shops. Spray around that area few times, cats won't come back.

    • +2

      I put lots of chopped up lemons n limes around. Also they love nice soft soil for their paws so make it uncomfortable for them for a while. I used some chicken wire over some areas. Also plant things if you can. Just get rid of free soil space, wherever possible.

    • You'd pick up someone else's dog's shit? No you wouldn't.

    • +2

      Lol don't worry, not obsessing over it :)

  • Once my hubby caught someone didn’t pick up after her dog and she said she had forgotten to bring a bag. My hubby handed her a bag and she picked up and left but this doesn’t stop her to do the same thing again.

  • Slug gun or sling shot

  • Install a stake with some dog poo bags attached as a public service. More than likely a stray dog though or trained not to shit in its own yard.

  • I hope someone can invent a dog owner abuse camera slash instant fine for allowing it dog to poo on someone land :)

  • Sit out front out of sight - and keep an eye out for the culprit… typically in the evenings they strike.

    Once you establish who it is - accumulate all the DS and (I am not advocating this - just a tic Tok suggestion) toss at their front door.

  • Here's a photo I took of someone's response to dog crap on the lawn.

    From the looks of it, they were quite irritated.

    https://i.imgur.com/82AEqYe.jpg

    • +3

      Gee, he may as well have pooped on top of it to show the dog his dominance. His problem certainly wasn't that he takes pride in keeping the lawn looking nice.

    • Print their face out on a wooden stick flag and stick it on top of the dog shit

  • Isnt that nature strip technically not your property? I once saw a guy bring his dog into our front yard( we have a fence and gate, so he had to open the gate and come in and let the dog do his business on the front yard then left. I didnt quite get why as we didnt know this person so its not like there was some conflict. Then again this was ages ago and we encountered some not very nice behaviour to us when we first moved into the neighbourhood.

    • +3

      Technically not our property but, side note, funny cos we once we got a letter from council saying if we don't maintain it we can be fined.

      I wish the council would come a pick up the poop…maybe I should mail it to them.

      • I presume each council is different as I have seen councils doing the front nature strip in some suburbs.

      • Which Sydney council sent you a letter advising they'd fine you if you didn't maintain the nature strip?

        While owned by council the nature strip is the adjacent landowner's responsibility to maintain. But I've never heard of anyone being threatened a fine for not 'maintaining' it. I wonder what standard or threshold they use to determine whether the strip is maintained or not. They would have to advise you of that as well.

        Cameras are unlikely to help. You would need them close to your property boundary to capture at sufficient quality to identify the owner(s) of the offending animals. Once you have a good enough image or video, your options are still limited and perhaps not very effective in stopping the behaviour. They might however act as a deterrent if they are visible enough. Spraying vinegar on grass or around trees is also likely to kill the grass and affect a tree's health. I would avoid that.

        I would just keep an eye out when home and walk outside when you see someone pause there with a dog. That is likely good enough to send the message they should pickup their dogs droppings or (more likely) let their dog crap elsewhere.

  • -7

    It's not your land. Get over it Kevin.

  • If the dog's in your neighborhood reads signs and can take vengeance if they don't like what they read………………….just cope with the extra poop and don't pee them off I reckon. They're not really dogs.

  • +2

    Vinegar ! !

    Good quality household food grade vinegar sprayed all over the lawn seem to deter dogs and cats.
    Not all of them but the vast majority and almost instantly.

    Perseverance paid off at the end and virtually all animals are NOT using that public footpath as a toilette now.

    Worth to try, lawn seems greener even after the first spray.

  • +2

    Buy chilli flakes from the local Indian grocery store. Spread liberally, no more poop.

    • +2

      Username checks out

    • coles now sells carolina reapers.
      Might be even better. :D

  • Put some suspenders on, then sit on a rocking chair out front with a shot gun in hand for a week or so.

    That or wrote them a letter titled "to the pooper" and attach it to your nature strip with tent pegs.

  • Have seen this on internet and a past ozb post, do post back the results please :) …

    Save your bacon grease, then pour warm bacon grease on the poop by using a zip lock sandwich bag (like icing a cupcake). I did this after repeatedly (and politely) asking my neighbour to stop his dog from pooping on my yard. Neighbour repeatedly stated "wasn't my dog" so I "treated" the dog poop. The dog gleefully recycled the new bacon treats and magically poop disappeared from my lawn!. source

    • +1

      Something about this doesn't sound kosher.

  • -8

    My guess is you are either unemployed, underemployed, or retired to worry about such things.
    Life has so many more problems than where a dog poops.

    • +2

      Actually I'm in my late 20s and working :D If I was retired I would probably be able to catch the person as I sit on the porch in a rocking chair all day.

      Yes I agree life has many other problems, and this is one of many.

      I hope you are not considering a career in fortune telling :(

      • Crystal ball needing repairs :)

  • +7

    This happened to me previously when I moved into a new home.

    My car has parking dashcam, so it was easy to find out who it was by parking my car all day outside. The person had a regular dog-walking schedule, so I waited and followed them to their home.

    Once I found out where they lived, I saved up the poop for about 5 days, then "delivered" it to their driveway.

    Never happened to me again.

    Pass aggressiveness at it finest, I didn't even have to confront the person. It was one of the most satisfying moments of my life lol

    • +1

      A dashcam is actually a fantastic idea

    • Hero!

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