Dog Do(o) Not!

This might come as a surprise to some people, but I didn't buy my lawn so that dogs could use it.

Call me crazy, but my thought when I purchased my front lawn was actually along the lines that a lawn was a nice attachment for my house, something attractive leading up to the house, somewhere for my kids to run--I don't know, something (anything) else.

I admit that I am not a dog person, but I do respect dog people who take care of their dogs.  And their dogs' doings.

People who like dogs are certainly free to obtain dogs.  It might be a good idea, though, to buy a lawn before you buy a dog.

Or at least have a lawn in mind--one that does not belong to someone else.

The other evening, I was pulling into my driveway, and a young couple was allowing their two dogs to do their doings on my lawn.

I fumbled for my window.  "That is not a dog park!" I said.

They looked up at me in shock.  Shock!

"She's going to clean it up," the guy said.

I agree that cleaning it up is better than not cleaning it up, but it made me want to ask them: Would they mind if I smeared something nasty on their car, and then picked it off?

It's a matter of respect.  The lawn is not theirs.  My children play on it.  I walk on it.  My husband mows it.  None of us uses it for a bathroom, and we really don't want anyone else to.

 We live downhill from a large apartment complex apparently housing a legion of dogs.  I have thought before of posting a sign on my lawn, but I can't decide which one.  "Not a dog park" is my current favorite.  For what it's worth, there is an actual dog park across the street.  I pointed this out to the couple on my lawn.

I've also thought of: "Please purchase your own lawn for your dog," "Leave your address so I can return your property," "No trespooping," and "Dog owners: please ring the doorbell for a free dirty diaper."

However, so far, I have yet to post a sign.  After all, I wouldn't want to be rude!