Good neighbor and pet owner can certainly go hand in hand--although you wouldn't know it by some neighbors. In the pet owner world, they would be the equivalent of those parents at Target or Wal-Mart that assume the rest of the world is their children's babysitter. You don't have to be one of those pet owners--here are ways you can have pets and still be a courteous and considerate neighbor that is invited to all of the neighborhood gatherings--and not treated like the neighborhood leper.
Instructions
1. Clean up after your dog. That is first and foremost. It's inevitable that if you walk your dog in the neighborhood, he will end up leaving a deposit on a neighbor's lawn sometime, if not, every time. Always be sure to bring along some plastic "poop" bags. And even if you don't like your neighbors, will the fact that it's the law sway you?
2. Keep your dog leashed at all times and never let your dog or cat roam the neighborhood. Dogs--and yes, cats--can get hit by cars and/or cause accidents. They also don't clean up after themselves and there's the risk of disease, injury and your pet getting stolen. Pets live longer when they don't wander the streets.
3. Don't leave a dog that likes to bark in the yard unattended for longer than a few minutes. Train your dog not to bark (not easy, but can be done) or limit her time in the yard-just enough time to do her "business." Frequent exercise such as long walks or romps at the dog park will help ease boredom, which can often lead to excessive barking.
4. Don't leave a dog that likes to bark alone in the house for extended periods. Neighbors can usually hear it. If you work long hours, consider a pet sitter or doggie daycare. Also, be sure to leave the proper toys to provide stimulation and ease boredom, and make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise.
5. Stay current on your pet's shots and spay or neuter your pet for obvious reasons. If you feel the need to breed dogs or cats, in spite of the millions of pets that need homes, make sure your un-neutered pets do not mingle with other neighborhood pets unsupervised.
6. Don't walk with your dog up to fences that have dogs behind them, unless you know the reception will be warm. Dogs behind fences tend to get frustrated if there is a fence between them and other dogs, and often show their frustration by barking up a storm.
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