I moved into my house in late January. It is in a deed restricted neighborhood, which means that you have to keep things up and nice, can't run a business out of your house, etc. Nothing too intense, just the usual stuff that normal good neighbors should do anyway.

The problems:

1. Neighbor to one side refuses to spay or neuter their cats, which are indoor/outdoor cats (mostly outdoor, they live in the garage). Two generations of female cats belonging to them have litters of kittens at the moment, for a total of 4 adult cats and 6 kittens (were 7, but he ran over one in the driveway). I had had enough BEFORE I found the paw prints and scratches all over my S2000, which has only been out for one brief drive in 6 weeks! I have found a kitten (they are about 10 wks old) in my garage previously, so I guess they get in when I take my other car out. I am fit to kill: there are cats everywhere, my S2000 has taken damage, and since my dog likes to eat them, I have to check the yard before I can let them out. IMPORTANT NOTE: I will NOT be doing anything to hurt these animals, so DO NOT even suggest it, but what should I do or say to my neighbors to make them take care of this problem? Other than their being totally irresponsible pet owners, I really like them and don't want to be "that" neighbor.

2. Neighbor across the street has clients in and out of his house, all day long, seeing as he is a massage therapist and apparently runs a clinic in his house. Two of his patients, when backing out of his driveway, have run into two of my roommates' S2000s parked on my side of the street, legally. How do I approach this guy, again trying to maintain a good neighbor status, and tell him that his business is infringing on my right to park legally on the street in front of my own house?

HELP!

 

I'm well past the point of trying to "help" people do things the right way (i.e. legally). I'll outline my concerns with them once then if they want to still do it their way, I'll usually go around them. In your case, I'm willing to bet that there are spay / neuter laws there. I'd contact the animal control office and have them issue a ticket to have him get all the cats fixed. If you don't stop it now it's only going to get worse.

The second instance is stickier because the guy probably makes a living doing this. Not exactly what advice I have other than try to discuss it with him.

 

1. I would first talk to the neighbors, but if they have already made themselves clear that they will keep allowing the animlas to reproduce, then I would go to the SPCA or Animal Control and as that they supply you with traps. My neighber here did that and returned 6 cats in one day. You can chose to return toi neighbor or Animal control.

2. Again, I would talk to him about his clients' issues and how that is making it unsafe to park. maybe you can ask him to ask his clients to park in the street instead?

3. last option, time to move again.

--- this did NOT list any "unethical" methods of course--- we'll save that for when things get more desperate.

 

Get those devices you place around the house tht sends ultrasonic waves or whatever that keep animals away. But secretly install them on your neighbor's yards. Also, make the devices face toward the neighbor's house so the point is....the cats will not be able to leave the house

 

Damage pics here: https://www.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?...6513#post846513

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by yu888
[B]--- this did NOT list any "unethical"

 

Sonda, does your neighborhood have a Home Owner's Association? If so, I'd bet there are rules against both situations you mentioned, and odds are that after one warning, they qualify for fines...

Dave

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Audball
[B]Sonda, does your neighborhood have a Home Owner's Association?

 

1) I'd talk to the neighbor as diplamatically, rationally, and calmly as possible. Having a tolerance for lots of cats running around is one thing, but once they cause property damage and dirty your car, it becomes an issue that needs to be addressed.

I know how you feel, though, since I believe my neighbor's kids broke a couple of fence boards. They haven't come forward, and I feel reluctant to initiate a conversation given no hard evidence. I'll prob. just take care of it myself and hope it doesn't happen again.

2) I think your characterization that his biz is infringing upon your right to park in the street is going overboard, but you should take action. Talk to him first, ask if he knows he's violating the deed restrictions, and express concern over the traffic and impact on neighborhood property values (nobody wants to live in a neighborhood that has businesses being run out of homes). If that's not enough to get him to stop, file a complain w/ the HOA, and the city if the address is zoned for residential use only.

Good luck resolving both of these issues!

 

1.Just show them the damage. I'm sure once they see it, they'll be a little more responsible with their cats. If they're reasonable and friendly enough they'll understand. Maybe they don't even know what's happening. Nobody wants their car scratched up. Give them the opportunity to do the right thing before getting grumpy

2.Have this guy teach his clients the proper way to drive backwards...maybe you could host a "reverse workshop for the freshly massaged"

Other than that, try to keep accurate records of the damage these folks are causing in case you need proof for whatever reason in the future.