The Poo Saga Continues.... (contains nothing gross)

@AmbiePam (85992)
United States
February 29, 2008 4:23pm CST
Remember the incident of a woman supposedly seeing my dog poo and me not picking it up? If not, and you want to bother with it, you can find it under my more recent discussions. Well, anyway, as you know I talked to the woman in the office, disputed the claim, and since she was so nice about it, I thought that, was truly that. UNTIL, I walked outside this morning and I had a note telling me to add 25 dollars to my rent money this month as a fine for not picking up after my dog. The date this incident supposedly occurred is the day that woman from the office confronted me, I told her my dog had peed, not pooped, I talked to the office lady, and thought all was well. Apparently not! Well, I didn't waste time. I went straight to the office, and luckily the top dog boss was in. I told her everything that had happened previously, what was said, how I'd been assured I had done nothing wrong, and now I had a fine. She told me I did NOT have to pay the fine, and as she listened to me she noticed some things the lady had done wrong in confronting me about it. The lady in question was at a training seminar. SO, today when I did paid my rent and dropped it in the slot, I attached a note explaining everything. I said I wanted to make sure whoever kept track of the rent payments knew not to expect an extra 25 dollars from me. I thanked them for trying to turn this place around, but said I was on SSI and had very little. But I DID have my integrity and this may seem little to someone else, but it was a lot to me. I'm sure I've left out some of the details, but this is the gist of it. Do you think I handled it correctly? Would you have done something different?
11 people like this
28 responses
• United States
29 Feb 08
Amber, I think you did a tremendous job, and there is only one thing I would have change. I would not have told her: I was on SSI and had very little. But I DID have my integrity and this may seem little to someone else, but it was a lot to me. I would have left that out because how much money you have or do not have is not the issue. You could be a millionaire, and the point would still be that they are in the wrong. That is all that matters. Those people are very blessed to have our sweet Amber living there. What would they do if they had me there?
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (85992)
• United States
1 Mar 08
They'd love to have you live here because you are a delight! I mentioned the SSI thing for one reason, but I agree with the point you made about it. I live in low income housing, where you have to verify you are poor to live here, LOL. So they knew I didn't have much money. But, and this is something I never told anyone because it really is trivial, one of the girls who has worked here a while flat out asked me months why I was getting to live here when I had no business being here. I don't look sick. I'm young, and it was confusing to even my family as to why I felt so bad all the time. Well, I do look sick when I take off my wig, lol. Anyway, to sum up the conversation, she knew I was on Section 8, and thought I was cheating the system because I 'looked' capable of working. So I think that was in the back of my mind when I mentioned SSI. I was probably a little paranoid she had mentioned her opinion to the newer people.
2 people like this
• United States
1 Mar 08
That is terrible that people judge you on whether or not you look sick enough. You can never go by looking at someone. Only God knows what you go through.
1 person likes this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
1 Mar 08
You have to watch those extra charges. I didn't know that at our apartments if you lock yourself out of your apartment and you have to have the manager open the door...it's a $25.00 fee. The second time it's $50.00 and the third time you get an eviction warning. Thankfully Hubby is home all the time so I'm never locked out. **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85992)
• United States
1 Mar 08
Wow! If we get locked out we do have to pay a 25 dollar fee, but it is always only 25 dollars, and we won't be evicted for it. Goodness, I'd be scared to forget my keys if I lived in your place.
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
1 Mar 08
Well, like I said thankfully Hubby is always home so I don't have to worry about it. But our lease is like 15 pages long so I've never read through the whole thing. I guess someday I should. **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
1 person likes this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
1 Mar 08
I would have complained as well. I am glad they did right by you. The management here tends to sit on their hands until the have to take action. Thanks for the reminder that rent is due tomorrow :o)
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85992)
• United States
1 Mar 08
LOL, yeah I hate when I forget. I hightail it over to the office in the nick of time on occasions.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
1 Mar 08
You did exactly what you should have done. You suspected that the land lady had not written the note (I suspect when you took the place, you knew her hand writing but for any other reason.) I gather that the land lady knew that this other person was a trouble maker. It is also best to talk to the one in charge, and not to a subordinate. That is what you did. So you did handle it correctly.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85992)
• United States
2 Mar 08
Thank you for backing me up, suspensful. I always want to follow the chain of command so I can make sure I tie up any loose ends.
• United States
1 Mar 08
I would have done the same thing as you did. It seems like you covered all your bases. I think it was great that you went to the office and the top dog was in there. I also think its great that you stuck up for yourself and said that you didnt do what you were accused of. I would have been very upset at such an accusation. People really need to practice minding their own business now a days instead of trying to get others in trouble!
@AmbiePam (85992)
• United States
2 Mar 08
That is what I thought. Now it seems whenever I take my dog outside, I'm looking around wondering if someone is watching, thinking of new things to accuse me of. Paranoid, but I still think about it.
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
1 Mar 08
You handled that very well, but you're almost too nice. That woman who accused you was in the wrong, I mean, can't she tell the difference between poo and pee? You sure don't need that kind of stress. There should be a law about accusing someone like that, without proof, It seems so discriminatory.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85992)
• United States
1 Mar 08
Sometimes I think because this complex is low income, that they can get away with unsubstantiated accusations like that. The girl who accused me was in training today, but I was really hoping the boss would be there like she was, but also that the accusing employee would be there so we could talk about it face to face. She would have to lie straight to my face and I don't think she could have done it. I think she would have caved if confronted by both me and her boss. I keep telling them if they are looking at me through an office window, there is no sure way for them to tell what the dog is actually doing.
1 person likes this
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
2 Mar 08
You know, what really bothers me about this is that it seems like you have no privacy, like they are watching everything you do, and then still making the wrong assumptions.
• United States
29 Feb 08
I think you handled it very well. You stood up for what you believed to be correct. I hope the person who gave you a false sense of security but did not handle the situation correctly will be chastised by the boss.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85992)
• United States
1 Mar 08
Yeah, I think it was a break down of communication. Some of the people are very new and it is taking them awhile to gel as a team.
@terri0824 (4991)
• United States
29 Feb 08
I saw your other discussion that you started on this subject, but not sure if I responded or not. I think you handled the situation very well. Just be sure that you always have your pooper scooper with you, so you don't get hit with the $25 fine.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85992)
• United States
1 Mar 08
I carry tissues, but I think you're right. I need to have something that is obviously showing what I do.
• United States
2 Mar 08
I think you handled it courageously, but I hope that you got something in writing from the boss or at least she documented it because next thing you know you could receive and eviction for not paying it. Make sure you are covered.
1 person likes this
@vicki2876 (5636)
• Canada
1 Mar 08
You totally did the right thing. I would have done the same thing. You need to stand up for yourself. Some people just like to have power and control people. Sounds like this is what that woman tried to do. You are a great pet owner who cares about her animal. They are very bad owners out there that let the pets out lose. I am big dog poops in my yard and I don't own a dog.
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
29 Feb 08
I think you handled it well, probably better than I would. Unfortunately people are like this everywhere and this may seem extreme, but if you had just a cheap camera that takes videos, you can video tape everything your dog does along with the date and time and if the woman complains again, send her the video..
@AmbiePam (85992)
• United States
1 Mar 08
That DID cross my mind today.
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Mar 08
good for you for not folding and just paying that fine! I would have done the exact same thing. You know that your dog did not leave a mess, and you know that you are right. You have to stand up for yourself, or everyone will just walk all over you. Good job!
@jhl930 (3601)
• United States
29 Feb 08
I think that you handled it very well...infact i would say that you kept your cool pretty good...probably alot better than i would because dog poop is a normal part of life every dog does it just as every human does it...and when you step in it or something yes you get a little ticked but its nothing to get that upset about its a dog...not a person
@AmbiePam (85992)
• United States
29 Feb 08
Thanks, I appreciate it.
• Canada
29 Feb 08
I think you handled it very well, cause if it were me they would have probably had to escort me out!!!! I don't know were you are from, but could they fine you for supposebly not "pooper skooping" without catching you in the act? Where I am from it is a bi-law to "pooper skoop" but needless to say only a bi-law officer or the police can fine you and they have to catch you in the act.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85992)
• United States
1 Mar 08
Because I am in a lease with the apartment complex, they can fine me if a member of the office staff sees me not pick up after my dog. And the lady who questioned me that first day, was a member of the office staff. But I told her flat out that my dog had peed. Apparently she didn't believe me. I told the boss today that I encourage anyone who thinks they see me do something, to come right out at the moment they see the 'offense.' Because they could see my dog in the act of urinating, but to them it might look like pooping! It's getting ridiculous.
@AJ1952Chats (2332)
• Anderson, Indiana
1 Mar 08
It would be interesting to find out if this were simply an isolated incident that resulted from some kind of honest misunderstanding. Could it be possible that there have been other tenants who got charged with some infraction, got $25 added to their monthly rent, and didn't protest it--which means that the powers-that-be are profiting greatly from lies!?!
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
1 Mar 08
yes you handled it professionally and well done I must say to you. You are an inspiration to us all.
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Mar 08
I think you handled it very well. Most people would not have been able to remain as calm as you. I live out in a rural area so I have never experienced people getting all upset if a dog poops outside lol. I can understand why they are that way in cities and towns though. But the woman should have done a little more investigating to see if your dog actually pooped. She shouldn't have just jumped to conclusions.
1 person likes this
@valerie37 (1002)
• Christiansburg, Virginia
1 Mar 08
You handled it great. I would have been cussing someone up one side and down the other so you handled it better than I know I would have.
1 person likes this
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
1 Mar 08
I think you handled it quite well. Better than I would have I think. Hopefully that will be the end of it and you will not have to deal with this nonsense anymore.
1 person likes this
@gemini_rose (16264)
1 Mar 08
No I think you have handled it perfectly and calmly, I am sure a lot of people would have been infuriated and acted rashly. But how ridiculous and petty that woman was, if she was so sure she had seen this incident she should have gone over and checked. I would have asked all concerned if this woman had any evidence to support her claim, because really if people make an accusation about someone they have to have evidence dont they otherwise anyone could claim that they had seen someone letting their dog foul. She wants to come and live where I live she would be in her element because no end of folks dont clean up after their dogs and they dont bother to hide it so she would be able to go telling on loads and have plenty of evidence instead of picking fault with innocent people like you.