"DSK" wrote in message
...
Doug Kanter wrote:
... In my apartment is a tenant whose dog craps all over the small
grassy
area that's supposed to be shared by everyone. The crap on the lawn
makes it
seem like she was trying to create a perfect grid, with a pile every 2
feet
or so in every direction. The landlord is clueless as to how to handle
it.

Here's a suggestion... write a polite note and tape it to the dog
owner's door. Suggest that he clean up after his dog. Give him two days,
or until the very next time he doesn't clean up. Then (this is the
unpleasant part) you get a trash bag, and using it inside out so as to
minimize unpleasantness, gather all the deposits. Now tape the bag to
the neighbor's door.

Actually, I've spoken to this neighbor politely. She cleaned up the mess.
Once. Then, it started again. She apparently thought I meant "just this
time". This is actually standard practice for bad dog owners.


Another option is to explain to scout around for a dog-free place to
live, and tell the landlord that if he doesn't fix the situation you are
going to move and hold him responsible for your expenses since he has
violated your lease terms.

Nah...the next move will be to a house. And, the landlord is on the
defensive as of today. Money talks. At the end of my 2nd year in this
apartment, I told her I was looking for a house and asked if they'd go for a
6-month extension instead of a year. She said yes, but it meant I'd have to
pay an extra $50 per month. I asked how my request presented them with an
actual financial cost. Her answer: "That covers the cost of continuing to
service you". I don't know what mental picture that paints for you, but for
me, it's a bad one.

We spoke again this morning and I reminded her of my policy: If one thing is
broken, the whole package is worthless. This being the case, I would be
withholding the upcoming rent check until the package was made whole. "You
are NOT continuing to service me". She's consulting with her boss at the
moment. "Whole" means the dog goes, or anytime I see dog ****, I subtract a
day's rent. This complex has too much empty inventory. They'll go for the
deal.


About being polite... good manners always improve any situation.
Besides, if fuming & cussing is your default mode, how can people tell
when you're *really* mad? For example, 2 cultures, Southerners &
Japanese, are both very polite... and they are also both very dangerous
to have ****ed off at you.

Actually, when I get mad, I get quiet. I create the image that everything's
cooled off. The results have more impact that way.


Dogs are universal. It doesn't matter where you live.

It's not the dog that's the problem.

No, but if they're gone, so is the trail they leave.