Readers’ solutions for dog that is allowed to pee off balcony
On Jan. 1, I answered a letter from someone having trouble with upstairs neighbors on the fourth floor, who repeatedly allow their dog to urinate off the balcony and onto the balconies and patios below. They were so fed up by the failure of the owners and the Homeowners Association to act, they were considering moving.
I offered my suggestions and asked you for yours. My favorite was the advice to give the fifth floor residents a dog. Here are some more practical, less vengeful suggestions.
aiAR JOAN >> Years ago we had a neighborhood nuisance. The neighbors all got together and sued the offenders in small claims court for not being able to sustain “quiet enjoyment of our property.”
We each had to file separately. Proof of reporting to various agencies and documenting, video, etc., are needed. Long story short, all neighbors settled out of court for $5,000 apiece! There were seven of us.
I’m sure this would work on the fourth floor neighbors regarding their dog urinating off their patio onto the others below. The full amount in court would have been $7,000 each at the time. That may be just what would work for those poor people putting up with this mess.
— Kathryn Major, Concord
aiAR JOAN >> The owners of units on floors one, two and three should get estimates for cleanup costs, as well as pursue an Animal Control investigation. I am not a lawyer, but it seems to me that the HOA board is negligent as well. I would think a civil suit to cease and desist should be directed to the dog owners, and damages for cleanup and any lawyer fees should be sought against both the dog owners and HOA for its negligence.
Perhaps a stern letter from a lawyer might motivate the dog owners and HOA board to respond without going to court.
— Kathy, San Ramon
aiAR JOAN >> Maybe the people on the three floors below could install a wide rain gutter with a downspout to catch the urine and drain it out onto the ground — or onto the car of those people on the fourth floor.
— Lenore Lustig, Bay Area
aiAR JOAN >> Recently, I moved from an apartment building in Redwood City where this was also an issue. A tenant that lived directly below me allowed his dog to both urinate and defecate on their patio. It would pile up and attract flies. Fortunately, in the end, these issues were addressed, handled and abided by quickly.
I am a dog owner myself, and I am appalled by these tenants’ behavior.
I have a few cleaning tips. If the building maintenance crew has a pressure washer, they can ask to use it.
Those things do wonders for cleaning up patios and walls. Otherwise, just rent one for an hour.
Nature’s Miracle, an Earth-friendly cleaning solution, can be found online and in any pet store. Clorox Bleach is not ideal but it definitely does the trick. Be careful using around other pets or small children.
— Cat Wofford,
Bay Area
aiAR JOAN >> Other than pouring a bucket of urine on the owners’ doorstep, perhaps the health department would be interested in this.