Oh, one of my favorite topics. Pet owners in this community are PIGS and it makes things difficult for the responsible pet owners.
Yes, it's true, you must have photo evidence is someone is using your property for Fido's toilet.
HOWEVER, if you have a neighbor that owns a pet and is not cleaning their yard you have complete backing by our CC&R's to expect the HOA to take action. Our rules clearly state that yards must be cleaned of animal waste in a reasonable amount of time. OK, so that means they don't have to pick it up immediately upon evacuation but it does mean you should not have to look at the pile for more than a couple days. That rule only applies to the property belonging to the unit.
Common (or shared) spaces which belong to the community, poop must be picked up immediately. That's 95% of the property surrounding townhomes.
Here's the big rub for your neighbors Scooter. Your neighbors are suppose to notify the HOA that they are renting the unit and supply names of the new tenants. It's in the rules but our HOA can't scratch their behinds without hiring an assistant to do it, so many of the rental issues fall through the cracks.
But one thing that can't fall through the cracks is the owners of the rental unit are required to furnish a copy of the community rules to the tenants. The owners (who are obviously clueless) are responsible for the tenants abiding by the rules.
Ultimately if the tenants are fined for not picking up poop the owners are responsible.
Isn't that just a whack with the irony stick. They move out to avoid following the rules and then they get fined because the tenants don't.
It's just another issue of many that shows our HOA and developer are incapable of managing the community. They are afraid to tell people there are rules and they will be enforced. It's better the residents suffer than have someone not like the HOA.
Next time your neighbors give your crap (sorry) hand them a copy of our CC&R's.