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 2025 CSFD Briefing for MOHA Homeowners

Dave Luken (MOHA's Board Member at Large) has obtained the most recent (2024) Firewise Certificate for your use.  This is an official certification resulting from the hard work homeowners perform in clearing foliage and participating in CSFD's Chipping Program.  Some insurance companies actually lower property insurance based on this certification, so it's worth checking on.  Dave has scheduled the weeks of July 14th and October 16th with the CSFD as our next Chipping Progam windows; more information to follow.  2024 MOHA Firewise Certificate

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Homeowners - Do you know? There is a Peak Alerts system where you can sign up  to receive emergency warnings for El Paso/Teller County? Go here to learn more and sign up. 

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Please update your email if you have changed providers

From admin Bev: If you are not receiving emails from MOHA, please check that the email address you have in your profile is correct. I cannot change it for you. Thank you. 

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A little thoughtfulness goes a long way

Walking your dog is a good thing. Some dog owners think it is okay if their dog potties on their neighbor's lawn. No, that is not a good thing. Letting your dog poop on someone else's lawn and leaving it for them to clean up or accidentally run through their lawnmower or step in barefoot is not a good thing. A few folks think it is okay if they scoop up their beloved dog's poop in a bag and leave the "gift" on the potty lawn. No, that is not okay. Your neighbors do not love your dog, even though they love their own dog.  Owning a dog is owning up to responsibility. Most of our dog owning neighbors are responsible. If you are one of the offenders, it's time to up your game.

We could suggest that neighbors who are violated put signs up "No pooping on the lawn," but alas, dogs can't read.

These are never easy questions (killing neighbor’s dog is never your first choice!). And, unfortunately, mailing the dog poo back to the offenders could get you in legal trouble.

An Internet site suggests talking with your offending neighbor:

1. Find the right time to talk. Most people will be exhausted after a long day at work. So, it is best to talk to your neighbor on weekends, when they are in a peaceful state of mind and both of you can give and take easier.
2. Get to know more about your neighbor’s true interests. Generally speaking, your neighbor left dog poop in your yard because it is easy and convenient without scooping the poop or walking the dog to an appropriate dog defecation position at a distance.
3. Share how you feel and your suggestion. You can tell them how you dislike the smell and messy lawn with neighbor’s dog in your yard. But that’s not the end – also offer some solutions like using doggy bags and inform them about the nearest pet waste stations.
4. Be gentle during the talk. It is best to avoid blaming or threatening your neighbors during a talk.

A survey shows that dog poop ranks the 6th place on a list of Americans’ biggest everyday annoyances, which indicates that the dog feces issue is a common concern. One solution on the Internet was interesting. It read: Establish Neighborhood Watch to Stop Neighbors Pooping in My Yard.
(I hope that is not happening here!)

Your last ditch effort may have to be recording the incidents and contacting local animal control authorities or legal cousel.

If you are one of the offenders and can't figure out how to control your dog, these tips may help:

Tip 1. Train Your Dog to Poop in Appropriate Sites

In fact, dogs will use their urine and droppings in specific sites as markers to confine their territories. And this explains why your dog poops in neighbor’s yard: they treat the lawn as their domains.

However, you can train your dog to defecate and urinate at appropriate sites like specific areas in your yards or dog litter box. By doing so, your pet won’t urinate and defecate on neighbors' lawns anymore.

Tip 2. Bring 3 or More Doggy Bags with You When You Walk the Dog

Even after training your dogs to pee and poop in your own property, you may have to deal with dog feces during a walk sometimes. A handful of doggy bags will be very helpful and reduce your concerns when your dog poops in neighbor’s lawn suddenly. But remember to take your little treasure with you to dispose of properly.

Here are some other consequences of dogs not properly trained:

• Introduces Diseases to Your Yard: Did you know that the poop of a dog, if not lifted and disposed of properly, can cause as well as spread an illness? Many believe that it is a good fertilizer; but no, it is not! While the herbivorous cows’ manure is a good fertilizer, the poop of a dog contains harmful bacteria and worms such as ringworms, E. coli, and parvovirus. This means that your dog becomes vulnerable by roaming in your yard where someone else’s dog has left poop packed with worm eggs. Even humans can become sick due to the present nasty parasites. On top of that, the dog waste draws pests and insects such as breeding flies, only to transmit diseases to you or your dog. Further, even worst can be the fact that the neighbor's dog who pooped is suffering from a disease, as the feces would then contain its germs. Removing this poop from your yard needs much attention and care. All these facts make even the health of your kids also vulnerable. Thus, it is the responsibility of the pet owners to keep their dogs and other dog owners healthy.
• Contaminates Water: Many people will tell you not to worry if poop is there on your lawn, as the upcoming rain will clear it for you. However, did you know that not cleaning the poop area when it is just about the rain is quite harmful? Unpleasingly, this poop reaches the local water channels through the drainage system by the medium of rainwater.This contaminates the water of a nearby lake or a pond wherein you like to swim or play. The fecal matter of dogs contains coliform bacteria that are as risky as EPA pollutants and is likely to cause a hike in bacteria levels. Further, the increased level of bacteria in the water bodies also end up harming the marine creatures and their environment.
• Spoils Plants and Lawn Grass: Dog feces is rich in several nutritive materials that can result in noticeable tall grass along with dark green spots on your lawn. If left for a long time, the dog poop in your yard can also give rise to brown patches.

There can be legal and monetary consequences for not training your dog.

Sincerely,
Admin Bev