Confronting Dog Owners Who Dont Pick Up After Their Pets: AITA Story

AITA for confronting dog owners who left their pet's waste in my yard, sparking a heated exchange and neighborhood gossip?

Damjan

Published in Interesting
26 Dec 2025

Confronting Dog Owners Who Dont Pick Up After Their Pets: AITA Story

In today’s discussion, we delve into a peculiar encounter in a neighborhood that raises questions about personal responsibility and community standards. The original poster (OP) found themselves in an unexpected confrontation when witnessing a couple, seemingly oblivious to etiquette, tossing their dog’s waste into their yard.

[ADVERTISEMENT]

This moment of frustration escalated into a larger conversation about the responsibilities of pet ownership, particularly the importance of cleaning up after one’s dog. As the OP confronted the couple about their actions, their response was less than apologetic, suggesting they were simply off their usual route.

[ADVERTISEMENT]

The OP, however, maintains that clear expectations are in place, including designated dog waste stations in their community. This raises an interesting point: should pet owners be more considerate, even when they believe they have a valid excuse for neglecting their responsibilities?

The thread is filled with a range of opinions, from those who support the OP’s call for proper pet care to others who empathize with the couple’s predicament. As we explore the varying perspectives, we invite you to share your thoughts: Was the OP justified in their reaction, or should they have exercised more tolerance?

Join the conversation and weigh in on this pressing issue of neighborhood etiquette!

Original Post

So, I was walking past my front door and glanced out. I was puzzled to see a couple bending down, looking at something in our yard, under our magnolia tree.

I stopped where was I heading and kept watching. Then I noticed a labradoodle sitting on the sidewalk next to the crouching couple.

The man grabbed a magnolia leaf and started to scoop something up. Then he threw what was in the leaf into the ground cover under our tree.

[ADVERTISEMENT]

He started to scoop again, but then I went out and said "Hey! What are you doing?

Stop that!" when I realized it was dog poop he was tossing. The woman said "What do you want us to do?

We weren't on our regular route." I said "I want you to take a bag with you when you walk the dog and pick up after it. Or go get a bag and come back to clean it up.

[ADVERTISEMENT]

It's the law. I don't want you to throw your dog poop into my yard." Then the woman said "There's always a K\*\*\*n." Now she's telling people in our neighborhood that I'm awful.

FYI, we have two doggie bag stations in the subdivision, one right around the corner from my yard. And we sometimes step in the ground cover to rake leaves and pick up pine cones.

I really don't want to step in dog poop when I do that. So, AITA here?