Neighbourhood Watch: STN 1 South YarraRegion 1 Division 2 Stonnington, Victoria, Australia.
You are here: Home>Newsletters>May 2004
Neighbourhood Watch: STN 1 South Yarra
Region 1 Division 2
Stonnington, Victoria, Australia.
You are here: Home>Newsletters>May 2004
| Home About Us Crime Reports Newsletters Local links Contacts Help! |
Newsletter
May, 2004 When good neighbours become good friends CRASH! The flyscreen door is slammed shut. I wonder if my neighbour is aware that the door is fitted with a handle which can be used to close the door QUIETLY. Living in a flat or apartment is very different from living in a house, and being a good neighbour in a multi storey building entails different considerations. Perhaps this is most obvious in the fact that walls, parking areas, laundry facilities, and more are shared with strangers. While this situation may be intimidating at first and certainly can make for some difficult situations, there are steps you can take to be a good neighbour and make apartment living a pleasant experience. Get to know your neighbours. They don't have to become your best friends, but there are many reasons why knowing your nearest neighbours is a good idea. So, as you see them in the hall, laundry, lobby, or by the mailbox smile and say hello; if they appear to be receptive, introduce yourself, "G'day, I'm Bruce, and I just moved into number 7." Many apartment communities have rules for things like where you can park, where your pet can be, when certain facilities are open, unreasonable noise, garbage collection, and more. Understand and follow the community rules. If you have children, understand that many of your neighbours don't. And vice versa. Your childfree and childless neighbours probably are not used to tripping over toys, tuning out yelling, and other adjustments that come with living with children, so be considerate. For those of you without children, understand that your neighbours' children have a right to be there, and that they are, after all, children. If you have pets, understand that not all your neighbours are animal lovers. If pets are allowed, be aware of the rules concerning where they can be when they are outside your apartment. Don't let your dog roam free in the complex; promptly clean up any messes your pets make; and don't let your parrot practice his opera while you're at work. Be aware of any noise your pet may make while you are at work or school. Ask a neighbour who's home during the day whether your pet has any annoying habits. Observe reasonable hours for noisy activities. Vacuuming, hanging pictures, renovations, moving furniture, all these activities produce noise which can travel beyond the walls of your apartment. Make every effort to restrict these activities to daytime hours. When it comes time to throw that party, remember your neighbours. Let them know ahead of time when the party will be happening; though you needn't invite them, if it is going to be an open party, it would be a nice gesture. Make sure your guests understand the rules of your community -- including where to park -- and that they remain inside your apartment (or within your own personal area outside) during the party. And remember: even when you're having a party, unreasonable noise is prohibited. Be considerate, be ready to compromise a little, and keep the lines of communication open, and you will be able to live quite happily with your neighbours and perhaps become good friends. http://apartments.about.com Responsible pet ownership LIVING with a pet can be a joy. But the dog or cat that you cherish dearly may well be perceived as a nuisance by some visitors or neighbours. Whether you live in a house or apartment, there are some steps you should take to become a good pet-owning neighbour. Confine Your Pet For your pet's safety, it's best if your pet is confined to your property. Pets that roam free often encounter dangers from motor vehicles, toxins, other animals, or from unappreciative neighbours. Although you may think it is beneficial to let your pet out to wander, if he gets into your neighbour's garbage, dig up their garden, or relieves in their backyard, it doesn't foster good neighbourly relations. Your neighbour may report your pet to the local council and it could end up at the animal pound. A really angry neighbour may even try to harm your pet. Teach your pet the boundaries of your yard, provide a fenced area, or let him out only under supervision. If your pet is neutered or spayed, he/she will be less likely to wander. When you walk your dog, be sure to pick up any litter he leaves behind. Control Excessive Barking Excessive barking is a common behavioural problem and a nuisance to your neighbours. You may not even be aware of the problem until someone tells you. Barking often signals that your pet is frightened, bored, or has separation anxiety. Chewing or other destructive behaviour may also occur. Whatever the cause of the problem, even the most tolerant neighbours will have a low threshold for a pet that barks all day or all night. If you suspect your pet is behaving in an anxious manner, try leaving the house for a few minutes as you would in the course of your normal routine. Then quietly come back to the house and see or hear if he is engaging in any anxious behaviours. If your pet is exhibiting any of the aforementioned behaviours, a visit to your veterinarian may help define the problem and he/she will likely be able to offer a solution to help modifying these behaviours. There are many training methods available to teach your dog not to bark once the problem has been identified. Teach Your Dog Manners It is a dog's nature to be social, but having a few basic manners in place will help friends, neighbours, and visitors to enjoy your pet's company. Discourage jumping and overly enthusiastic greetings. Dogs can inadvertently knock over children or elderly people, who can be frightened or injured as a result. Teaching your dog to sit, stay, come, and walk properly on a leash is as essential as teaching a child to read and write. A dog that behaves well is more apt to be included in social activity. Dogs that behave badly or are hard to control are often excluded from social settings and this often worsens behaviour problems. Dogs should never be allowed to engage in play-biting with people, beg from the table, or to dominate furniture or room space. Do not allow such behaviours to develop by firmly discouraging them from the start. In addition, it's well worth taking time to socialise your pet to people and other animals, so that he can learn to be comfortable and confident around them. Give a Friendly Caution If despite your best efforts you know your pet has a tendency to bite or guard, urinates submissively, or jumps up, calmly inform visitors before they approach your pet. Such cautions may circumvent injury or embarrassment. Many animals just need a few minutes to feel comfortable around people they don't know in order to calm down enough to accept petting and praise. Work with your dog for a few minutes every day to correct behaviours that are troublesome and destructive. It is a dog's natural tendency to please and be a part of the family "pack." Use that desire to your advantage when teaching your dog how to behave. Local law Stonnington Council have a number of local laws concerning pet ownership. In particular you should be aware that owners of barking dogs face on-the-spot fines of $50 for the first offence, the fine increases to $150 on the second offence, subsequent offenders may face court action. Found or wandering dogs and cats and nuisance behaviour such as dogs barking can be reported on 8290 1333, or after hours on 9625 5312. http://www.petplace.com Even better prices at The Good Guys  DID you know you can receive the guaranteed best price from The Good Guys stores in Victoria if you are an Accredited Neighbourhood Watch volunteer? Be part of Neighbourhood Watch so you can receive your Exclusive VIP Card. Please contact your Neighbourhood Watch Police Coordinator (phone 9529 7658) or the Neighbourhood Watch State Office on 1300 139 689 to become a volunteer. Prahran MP's office to help FOR the past six years this newsletter has been printed by the Victoria Police Print Centre in Collingwood. Late last year the Police Print Centre was closed and Neighbourhood Watch had to find an alternative printer. I am very pleased to say that the Electorate Office of Tony Lupton MP, State Member for Prahran has offered to assist Neighbourhood Watch by printing this area's newsletter. Future meetings AT THE last NHW residents meeting it was decided to alter the time and place of future meetings. For the rest of this year, residents meetings will be held on the first Saturday of the month from 10am to 11am at the Prahran Market Square. So, if you are interested in joining Neighbourhood Watch, would like an information brochure, or perhaps have a question about some neighbourhood problem, please call by the Prahran Market Square, say "Hello" and have a cup of coffee. We can't guarantee to solve your problem, but we are willing to listen, and may be able to point you in the right direction. Did you know........ ‘Lollipop' is the longest word that can be typed with the right hand on a qwerty keyboard. ‘Dreamt' is the only word in the English language that ends in 'mt' Next Meeting Acknowledgement: |
Last modified 31May 2004.