A father is considering legal action after his neighbor repeatedly lets their dog urinate on his front lawn, despite polite requests to stop. The neighbor's dismissive three-word reply—'sorry too bad'—has left the family furious.
Neighbor Ignores Signs and Requests
In a Reddit post, the man explained that he placed 'no peeing or pooing' signs on his lawn after his toddler and wife stepped in dog feces. He confronted the neighbor, who owns a property with a lawn and backyard, but was told they are 'free to walk on our lawn because it is public property.' The man emphasized that property lines show the neighbor is 'mere inches' from his actual property.
The neighbor now makes a point to walk their dog across the grass and let it urinate next to the signs. 'I confronted them and they stated they are free to walk on our lawn because it is public property and dogs need somewhere to pee,' the man wrote. 'Their response to me asking to respect the sign was “sorry too bad.”'
Legal Options for Homeowners
Under UK law, a dog urinating on private property is not a specific criminal offense but is considered civil trespass if the dog enters the land without permission. Homeowners can pursue a civil claim for trespass or seek an injunction through the courts to prevent repeated incidents. According to legal experts, if the urination causes significant health issues or persistent odor, the local council may be involved.
Dog fouling—failing to pick up feces—is strictly illegal. Under local council regulations across England and Wales, owners face fixed penalty notices of up to £100, or up to £1,000 in extreme cases. However, urination is generally ignored by law enforcement.
Impact on Family
The father stated, 'The reason I have these signs is because I have a toddler that likes to play in the front lawn and he's stepped in poop before and so has my wife. It's also gross to have dogs peeing and pooping on grass that is being played on by kids.' He asked, 'Do I have a case for harassment since they are going out of their way to come close to my property and do something that I feel is disrespectful or am I s*** out of luck?'
While harassment claims may be difficult to prove, the repeated trespass could support a civil case. The family is now considering taking the matter to court.
