Pet Policies in Coral Trace

Starting in 2011, everyone must register (or re-register) your pets with the HOA (click here for the form).

We insist that common courtesy also be observed, both by pet owners and non-pet owners.  That means:

• Pet owners MUST pick up their dog's feces and dispose of it properly in their own home.  If this bothers you, don't get a dog.  We can offer several helpful hints - see below.
• City ordinance: all dogs must be on leashes outside, at all times.  The only exception to this is if you have a fenced-in back yard; and in that instance, you still must pick up after the dogs so the lawn can be mowed.  Our contractor will NOT mow lawns that are littered with dog poop.
• Pet owners should keep their dogs off of other owners' private property, which extends from the sidewalks to the houses.  On West, half of North and South, and Place there is a separate band of land between the edge of the street and the sidewalk to use for dog walking.  Please restrict your dogs to this area, or to common areas, or walk them on the Coral Trace Boulevard.  On Lane, Court, and half of North and South, there are no such bands available.  We understand you have to get from here to there.  Please keep the dog near the curb and of course, clean up after your dog.
• Non-pet owners may not post nasty signs about keeping dogs off their lawn, etc.  All signs are prohibited by HOA bylaws and regulations.
• Do not worry about dog urine ruining your lawn.  Florida grass is very hardy.  But, if you do worry, see the recommended products below which can help.

Don't we all wish our pups would be so well-behaved!  If, like me, you were not successful in training your dog to clean up after him/herself, perhaps you will be interested in becoming…

The Perfect Dog Owner!

For those dog parents who are on limited budgets, despite the variety of products I will tempt you with here:

the lightweight colored plastic bag you get free at Publix or Winn-Dixie, at the drugstore, or from your daily newspaper WORKS FINE!

But, you may not be aware of the special methods for poop-cleanup that are:

Easy! Clean! No muss, no fuss! You never touch the poop!     (continued top of next column)

Here's the SECRET! Put your hand into the bag.

A:  Best method: Stoop down as Fido positions himself and use the bag like a catcher's mitt to CATCH THE POOP - you won't have to pick it up at all!  Really handy when the dog has soft stool.

B:  After-the-fact: Pick up dog waste. Pull the top of bag, inside out, back over the poop. Grab the top of the bag with your fingers and keep it closed!

IMAGINE - NO UNPLEASANT ODORS!

Now, do you already do this, but RUIN the effect by taking it home and throwing it in the trash? Making it very unpleasant in the garage, after a couple of hot days? Well here's the SECRET ... FLUSH IT DOWN THE TOILET! Then dispose of the plastic bag in the trash can. It won't smell up the place like the bag with poop in it will!

Here are a couple of places you can buy basic or designer poop bags and related equipment:

www.drsfostersmith.com

www.dogpoopbags.com

www.petfooddirect.com

www.nycpetsupply.com

Thanks in advance for keeping Coral Trace poop-free, if you aren't already!

above: sample products for dog poop removal, for the squeamish.

We continue the quest for The Perfect Dog Owner! by explaining the subtleties in the phrase "Curb Your Dog."

This never registered with me before, but about half the homes in Coral Trace have grass in-between the sidewalks and the road. This is true on the Boulevard, Place, West and the western parts of South and North.

In these locations, please encourage your dog to do his or her business on these strips of grass furthest from the homes.

This is not the case on the eastern half of South and North, East, Lane and Court. In those locations please keep your dog as close to the sidewalk as possible, away from the homes and their landscaping.
 

Dogonit!  For you homeowners who are really bothered by the prospect of dog urine burning your grass -- which, by the way, I have not noticed here with the thick Florida turf -- here are two very special products for YOU to consider! Both are available from the Drs. Foster & Smith website.

Dogonit Lawn Treatment

*Heals damage from urine burns
   *Conditions soil 
   *Safe for people and pets

This probiotic soil treatment uses organic enzymes to reverse the damaging effects of urine burns -- helps lawns heal naturally. Easy to use. Simply spray on damaged area then flush with water. Spray treats up to 200 spots and Concentrate makes one gallon (enough for 800 spots). Spray is only $12.99, Concentrate is $22.99. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/