Serious thread.
I walk out the front door of my house this morning at 8:35AM to find a 40-something woman allowing her leashed dog to take a big steaming crap on my front yard. FYI this is a small front yard, maybe 12 ft wide x 30 ft long, with wood chips and native plants.
She gives me the "whoops, totally busted" look.
I stop walking and give her a stink eye that communicates, "are you f-ing serious right now, lady?"
Controlling my urge to say something more rude, I say, "make sure you clean that up" in a decidedly unfriendly, yet controlled tone. In the heat of the moment, I tried to convey that I never want this to happen again, without going overboard.
"I will, " she says in a somewhat flustered tone.
I watch her produce a plastic bag, pick up the turds, and quickly walk away. I get in my car and drive to work, pondering:
How did I handle this? Too aggressively? Not aggressively enough? Just right?
In the world of neighbors and dog owners, is her behavior normal or rude (i.e. allowing your animal to crap on someone's yard, but cleaning it up)? I personally would be mortified to be found allowing my dog to crap in someone's yard.
As I see it, the spectrum of possible behavior for her, from least to most offensive, goes: 1. having her dog crap at her own damned house. 2. having her dog crap at a public dog area. 3. having her dog crap in my yard, but picking it up. 4. having her dog crap in my yard and NOT picking it up.
I readily admit I can't stand "dog freaks" (people who let their dogs run on trails off leash, expect them to be allowed into retail establishments, etc.) and would seriously freak out if she had attempted to walk away and leave the crap.
What say you, LRC?