How to ask fellow dog-lovers to quell the smell - nicely?

Question

My apartment neighbours have two dogs on a ground-floor "balcony area". The area is floored with wood decking, with gaps between the planks. The dogs don't live out there, but they "go" out there and the owners come out and clean up with disinfectant. Now that it's summer, it smells like a public toilet from all our overlooking balconies.

How do I tactfully talk to them? I hope they plan to move to a house, and if they put some lino down it would save the wood maybe. They duck back inside if I pass by smiling & waving - I love dogs and like dog lovers, & don't want to scare them or have the committee approach them formally. How can I break the ice? I've thought of offering some cans of dogfood, pretending I won them in a raffle. Enough people hate the dogs that I don't want to give that impression. Is there a nice way of saying your apartment stinks but I can live with it? I am afraid that they will have them put down if we object.

Answer 1

I would talk to your landlord or apartment manager about the problem. It actually is a health hazard and you could make an anonymous complaint to your health department or animal control. As a landlord and property owner, I would want to know that is happening and would put a stop to it without compromising the tenant who disclosed the problem. But, if you want to approach the problem, yourself, directly, I suggest a treat offering rather than food. Being a dog lover, I'm a little picky about my dog's diet and would think you might be suggesting that I wasn't a good doggie mama. A little bag of healthy treats for the fur babies is a better idea.

I would appreciate it, however, if you came explaining that you love my little fur babies almost as much as you do your balcony for sipping coffee in the morning. But, the doggies using the balcony as a bathroom makes the experience a little unpleasant. I would also make certain that they know you are aware of their efforts to disinfect, but that odor is just as unpleasant. Suggest a product called Nature's Miracle available at the PetCo which is a natural enzyme which neutralizes urine, feces and even vomit without masking the odor. Good luck, I hope you are able to resolve the problem without the owners becoming offended or worse, doing something to the doggies.

Answer 2

Instead of saying you won cans of dog food say you won a bottle of Natures miracle, and that you already have plenty. Ask them if they would like it. If they ask'what is it'? Tell them it is a stain and odor remover safe for most surfaces(including wood surfaces), wonderful for doing laundry(just add a little with your detergent), and is great for removing dog odors! You can get at most Petsmarts.Good Luck!

Answer 3

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