I call the Home Owner’s Association that Casa Primer is a part of the Neighborhood Gestapo. (NG) I refer to it as that because they are very keen sending letters about covenant violations. I wouldn’t have the disdain that I do if some of the bylaws weren’t so ridiculous, like say…no colored lights to be used during Christmas for outside decoration. Yeah. (Naturally, people like to line their windows on the inside as a bird flip I suppose). A short observation on my part is that this is spill over from people wanting other people to tell them what to do versus, you know, deciding for themselves. The other part I imagine are people want it done their way, cause they don’t know how to live in harmony unless everyone thinks like them. That’s my opinion. I realize the whole point is to protect people’s large investment and the community amenities but I think some of it is just poorly implemented. Really it’s not on the NG, they just enforce the covenants. Which comes in handy sometimes (except when you want to use colored lights. White lights just aren’t as spooky, y’know?).

My neighbor that moved in some months back has dogs. I have no issue with dogs apart from them jumping up on me (I’m usually in clothes that say ‘Dry Clean Only’ and I kinda hate them since they are ‘Dry Clean Only’). My mother doesn’t like dogs unless they’re ancient and small. (read: slow and least likely to bother her). So, when the pups would venture over to say hi, I didn’t much care. Their yard’s small and since I owned dogs in the years prior, I understood about giving them some leg room. As long as they didn’t leave anything, damage anything-no harm, no foul.

Then I spot the first present left in my front yard. Annoyed yes, but that was about it. One time deal right? Then I started seeing more presents, and patches of my lawn dying then growing back real green. I also noticed that the neighbors and their pets weren’t outside as much when I happened to be outside. So going the usual route of face to face…the opportunity seemed to hide, if you know what I mean.

I’d spy their dogs in my yard using it as a toilet. But the sound of the any door would prompt them to quickly usher their dogs in so nothing could be said (and it has more punch if you say something while their dog’s in the middle of dumping in your yard. Makes denial hard.). I was of mind to scoop the present up and make a border along my back yard and theirs. Thing of it is, I shouldn’t have to remove anything. Then T-Rex manages to get onto the porch one day while the dog was in the act and yelled at him to get outta the yard (the ‘ferocity’ of the yell scaring him clear into the thicket. ) The kicker is the guy that was out there, wasn’t even paying attention to his pup. After the fact he yelled at the dog to ‘get over here.’ With that, there was no hiding and Rex took advantage of the opportunity to tell guy neighbor that we didn’t want their dogs in our yard, elaborating she doesn’t like them, she doesn’t want them near her. After that we noticed no more presents in the yard. And we saw one of their dogs on a leash. So it seemed to get their attention, quite possibly another neighbor managed to report them- our yard wasn’t the only one being used as a toilet.

It didn’t keep the dogs out. Sure the neighbor would come over and clean up the mess…but they shouldn’t be there to begin with and they apparently missed this point, or it just didn’t occur to them that it’s just oh..a lick of sense to keep your stuff outta someone else’s yard when you don’t have an invite.

So I took a look at the bylaws to freshen up on the Pets thou shalls. I also looked into the pet laws. I emailed the NG and asked them what their preferred route of action was, because I was within my rights to do either and both. They told me they could send a letter, but they’d need a picture as proof of the violation- this was if I didn’t want to call in Animal Control.

I spent a good number of weeks with my camera nearby and hovering near a window in the mornings. They’d let their dogs out early, pretty much thinking no one would be up to notice. But I’m up at an ungodly hour because of my morning routine to begin with. Most times I couldn’t get a good picture [on the down low]. It took some patience, but I finally got them. In the interim, we noticed that pretty much anytime they thought we were at the windows or on the porch, they’d usher in their pets. Naturally, this theory was put to test. Every time myself or T-Rex went on the porch, they’d usher the dogs back in. That had us thinking they knew what they were doing was wrong. And as if avoiding us, would keep us from telling them we don’t want their dogs in our yard. Which is something Rex managed to do again, this time with the lady. Again, it was stated we didn’t want their dogs in our yard. Lady Neighbor said it was ok, they’d make sure to clean up. Now, those of you that know T-Rex have a good inkling as to what is said next. I wasn’t there, but I’m guessing ‘the look’ was apart of this. The response was ‘No, you don’t understand. I don’t want your dogs in my yard. Period. Are we clear?’ Apparently lady neighbor got a bit taken aback while saying it’ll never happen again.

I emailed the NG with the pictures and I let them know we had managed to talk with them and let them know, twice, that we didn’t want their dogs in our yard. They let me know when the letter was mailed out so I can see if this is indeed resolved otherwise to let them know if they continue to violate the by laws.

It’s been a few months now since then. And from what I can observe, the letter was enough. Or perhaps letters. For a while there, they didn’t say hi or wave. Which was fine for T-Rex. But many of you know how my mom is, stubborn being among the traits to list. The other day though, guy neighbor waves to me, and one time I share a laugh with lady neighbor, so I’m guessing things are square.