There is a law. There is a $50 fine

Friday, Nov. 20, 2009

When I read the letter from Sigrid Morris in the Nov. 13 Community Forum section of The Enterprise, I thought that my neighborhood was the only place where people didn't care about their neighbors' yards. There is a person in my neighborhood who has walked his dog two or three times a day for the past four or more years and has trained the dog to defecate or urinate in any yard where the dog wants to and then gives the dog a treat. Oh, yes, he has a baggie to clean up the mess, but the scent is still there and then other dogs do their business in the same spot.

I have talked to this man about this problem many, many times, but he just ignores my complaints. He allows his dog to travel right up to your house with his long leash. I also told this man that people put fertilizer and weed killer on their yards and the grassy strips near the curb and that these chemicals will make his dog sick. It is most embarrassing when guests park in the street and step in a dog mess when getting out of their cars. I also dislike running over it in the grassy strip or my yard when I am mowing. Several years ago, I contacted animal control to see what options I had. They told me to take a picture of the man and dog and send it to them. There is a hefty fine of $50 as stated in the St. Mary's County Animal Control booklet for Public Nuisance, item 212.11. Under the information on public nuisance, item #9 is when an animal owner allows an animal to defecate or urinate on other property than that of the owner. I am a frustrated property owner in a housing development right off Chancellor's Run Road.

Sylvia Meyers, Great Mills