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Do dog owners violate rights by allowing their dogs to poop on others' lawns?

I live in a residential urban area along with many dog owners. On a daily basis, I observe those dog owners allowing their dogs to defecate on other peoples' lawns. I view this action as a trespass and violation of property rights, whether or not they pick up afterward. (For those who believe that picking up after your dog mitigates the trespass, would you let your child play on that spot afterward?) I don't believe that property owners should have to create fences, hedges, or other structures to prevent this trespass. On several occasions, I have asked owners not to let their dogs poop on the front lawn of our apartment. I have received various responses from polite acquiescence to incredulousness. Many dog owners seem to feel a sense of entitlement about using others' property without permission. Isn't that wrong? Would you agree that it is the SOLE RESPONSIBILITY of the animal owners to care for their pets without violating the rights of the people around them? What, if any, recourse would property owners have in a free society against blatant repeat offenders of this principle?

Michael , 25.01.2014, 12:41
Idea status: completed

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Lauren, 18.06.2014, 08:17
I was slightly amused to find out that while I was missing the live broadcast that this question was originally scheduled for... I was standing in line at a restaurant in a cute little historic town, with several dozen other people. One person had their dog with them and let him pee on the bushes and fence in the small walkway where everyone is standing in line. Another customer stared down the dog owner after the 2nd offense, and the dog owner poured their bottle of water on the painted wood fence over the dog's wet graffiti so to speak. I don't know exactly what the owner thought this accomplished and wonder if this is a common practice. It was an extremely humid and hot day, so the water did nothing for the smell in the small confines of the fenced walkway where people were both waiting to order and in the adjoining small courtyard, trying to enjoy their lunch or ice cream.
Is the restaurant at fault for not posting no pets allowed signs? (it was not a service animal)
And how do the rules apply to service animals?
Could this problem be something that would follow each state's fence out or fence in laws?
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