February 2006

WINTER is hopefully coming to a close for this year! Please remember to keep garage doors closed to keep the warmth inside your home--- and intruders out! On that note, remember to keep doors and windows locked to ensure the security of your home. It is also a good idea to make sure outside lights are working properly. You might want to notice how your home looks after dark some evening. Is it well lit? Does it look like someone is home?

ANNUAL DUES
Thank you to those homeowners who have already paid their dues.
If you have not yet paid, please send them to our treasurer as soon as possible.

DOGS ON LEASH
Most dog owners are wonderful and responsible neighbors. Unfortuntely sometimes we have neighbors who either are not aware of laws or chose not to comply by them. Remember that Farmington Hills has a leash law. All dogs not on the owners property MUST be on leash. That means if you take your dog for a walk either on the streets of our subdivision or on our commons property, it must be on leash. This is not only for your dog's protection, but also for the benefit of all home owners. We have children in our subdivision who have become extremely fearful of dogs off leash. We want our children to feel comfortable in their own backyards without worrying about a dog off leash coming onto their property.

Owners who allow their dogs to run off leash should be reminded we have several property owners who have underground fences for the containment of their own dogs. If your dog is running off leash, you and your dog may not be prepared for a dog on its own property that may protect its property from an intruding dog.

One last note-- part of the leash law requires owners to pick up excrement after their dog. That means if you walk your dog off your property, you MUST pick up after it. Do not assume that someone else will clean up after your dog. It might help if you keep plastic bags in your coat pocket when taking your dog out so you will always have a bag handy. This applies not only to picking up if your dog goes potty on someone else's property, but also to cleaning up after your dog when it leaves excrement on commons property.