posting a note on fence gate?

[surfergirl602]

All of these posts about fences lately.

Quick question: do you think it would be tacky and or rude to put a sign up on my gate fence stating to keep out or please knock on the front door before entering to get my permission or something along those lines?

Several times now, without ever coming to the door first, the lawn guys, the cable guys, and someone else, I don't know who, have just waltzed into my gated and 8 foot fenced back yard.

We rent, so I don't know what kind of lawn contract the company has with the owners, and I have yet to be able to catch them here long enough to ask them to please let me know they are here. But every single time I notice the fake green on the grass outside, I go and check the gate now and sure enough, its open.

Each time someone comes, they leave the gate WIDE OPEN. The gate is in an area on the side of the house where I have no view of it other than to walk outside, around the side of the house, and another corner to see if its shut or not. It gates in our backyard, which belongs to our three dogs. We normally just open the side door and let them out to play. The gate only opens from the outside.

The cable company came by yesterday to look at some wires for a possible signal leak, and left the gate wide open. All three of my dogs ran out of the open gate when my husband let them out, and one almost got hit by a car. A very near miss. He noticed that they weren't out back when he went out there to start the grill.

I called the number left on the "sorry we missed you" card left on my door and mentioned it to the person I was making an appt. with about the gate, and to please note in the file to either make sure the gate is re-bolted shut, and to knock to see if we're home first. I did happen to be home at the time, but no vehicles were here. They just walked into the backyard without my knowledge and I never even knew they were at my house, or in my backyard.

So, do you think it would be okay if I hung a sign on the gate? Can I even do that? I just don't want something to happen to my dogs because someone walked into my backyard and left the gate open, and I didn't even know they were there.
WWYD?

 

[abdmom]

Definitely OK. I would also mention it to your landlord. They should not be going on to the property without your permission or knowledge.

 

[bgirldeb]

Can you put some sort of lock on the gate?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would put a lock on it.

 

[si-am]

How about "Beware of Dog"

 

[MickeySP]

Same here - put a lock on.

I havea sign on my 6ft stockade fence beware of dogs. My dog is small but he will go after anyone coming into his territory.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I would and have put a lock on it. When we lived in NY the oil co/electric co/&exterminating co all had "Please call before deliver (or service) right in the files in their offices. Their offices were all great about it and always called the day before. As far as the sign, "tacky" I don't think so. My fence ; my rules. My dear friend in dog rescue had a sign on the fence that said
"Old Dog, Young Dog, Several Stupid Dogs Do Not Open Fence"

but it worked

 

[LuvOrlando]

I would and have put a lock on it. When we lived in NY the oil co/electric co/&exterminating co all had "Please call before deliver (or service) right in the files in their offices. Their offices were all great about it and always called the day before. As far as the sign, "tacky" I don't think so. My fence ; my rules. My dear friend in dog rescue had a sign on the fence that said
"Old Dog, Young Dog, Several Stupid Dogs Do Not Open Fence"

but it worked

I love it!

If humor doesn't work I would put a lock out there too, and if you can't do that I'd block the back with something so they couldn't get it open and leave a note with both phone numbers on it, reg & cell. I think Utility companies have the right to trespass, but leaving the gate open is not acceptable. No-one is allowed to damage or endanger your property and your dogs are your property.

 

[Abbie]

I would guess you'd probably have to check with your landlord but I certainly think you should be within your rights to at least ask them to make sure it's shut when they leave. I think you should think twice before you put a "beware of dog" sign on....from what I've been told, if your dog should ever bite someone (even if they're trespassing) the fact that you had that sign means you're aware he could bite and you could be found at fault.

 

[iwrbnd]

I was at my neighbor's house when a meter person came to my house. I watched him leave my gate wide open and my dogs got out! I couldn't believe it! I got an electric fence soon after.

 

[mamamary]

I put a small lock on both gates (on either side of the house). I can't see either gate when I let my dog out. One night at 1am Baxter really needed to go tothe bathroom since he was on medication. I went out with him because I didn't want him staying out - just a quick bathroom break. Well when I went out with him my gate was wide open. Quickly I closed it. If I hadn't gone out with him and he went thru the gate he would have been gone I went out the next day and bought locks.

 

[surfergirl602]

Thanks everyone! i will certainly see about puting a lock on it. That thought didn't even cross my mind.

I have no idea what legal rights companies have with access to yards, etc. so that's why I thought I'd ask here before I do anything.

Thanks everyone, I'll call the rental company (I have none of the owners info) and make sure its okay to post a nice note about closing the gate and letting me know they are there and see about a lock.

 

[nordkin]

A lock is okay, but be aware if your electric, water, or gas meter is in the backyard and you are not home, you will get an estimated bill. I am a metering supervisor for an electric company and I am always amazed by the complaints I get about estimated bills when the customer has prevented us from entering the property to read the meter. By the way -- our company does not call the day before to let the customer know we will be there the next day. My office alone reads 189,000 meters per month and the company reads 2.4 million per month. With that many customers we just can't do it.

 

[HERSEY]

I have the same problem with meter readers leaving the gate open. I am putting a lock on my gate. If I have to go out and read the meter myself oh well. I rather have my dogs safe then roaming the neighborhood.

 

[surfergirl602]

A lock is okay, but be aware if your electric, water, or gas meter is in the backyard and you are not home, you will get an estimated bill. I am a metering supervisor for an electric company and I am always amazed by the complaints I get about estimated bills when the customer has prevented us from entering the property to read the meter. By the way -- our company does not call the day before to let the customer know we will be there the next day. My office alone reads 189,000 meters per month and the company reads 2.4 million per month. With that many customers we just can't do it.

None of the meters are in the back yard. They are all just before the gate actually, so they do not have to enter the backyard.

I know sometimes the neighbor's kids go back there if they lose a ball or something.

The lawn guys come quite frequently, however, and so do the cable guys, when they need to check on lines, apparently.

 

[srferson]

That is so obnoxious!

I don't know about rights of renters and people coming on the property and all that stuff, but even beside that issue...

How hard is it to shut a gate?! I mean, come on!

People are just off in their own little worlds and don't think about the simplest things.

Good luck OP. Hope you find a good solution.

 

[Luvchefmic]

A lock is okay, but be aware if your electric, water, or gas meter is in the backyard and you are not home, you will get an estimated bill. I am a metering supervisor for an electric company and I am always amazed by the complaints I get about estimated bills when the customer has prevented us from entering the property to read the meter. By the way -- our company does not call the day before to let the customer know we will be there the next day. My office alone reads 189,000 meters per month and the company reads 2.4 million per month. With that many customers we just can't do it.

Yes that's one thing I forgot good thing you mentioned it...it got to the point when I worked rotating schedules so since we didn't want an estimated bill the company on Long Island let us read the meter ourselves and call in the numbers OR just mark the numbers on the meter that was printed on the postcard to mail to them...may be an option too

 

[SevenSeasLagoon5]

I don't see any problem with that at all. I also agree that a "beware of dog" sign might do the trick as well!

 

[mjkacmom]

I wouldn't lock it. Our landscapers come one a week, and always just open my gate - half of the time, we're not home, so if there was a lock on it, they wouldn't be able to mow and blow. They're on a tight schedule, and are only on my street once a week. They can't keep coming back with the truck, hoping your home and will unlock it. I would let them know to please close the gates when they leave - I had the same issue with them when we had a dog, because there are 3 gates, and I can only see one from my back door.

 

[Pumbaa_]

be careful of beware of dog signs - you are advertising you have a dog that might be dangerous

my dog's well being is more important than a yard. Call the company that does the yard and let them know what occurred. They need to be aware of what they are doing. So careless!