petiquette lessons

Two years ago, my family moved into what we thought was a quiet Westchester neighborhood. Then, on day one, we heard screams—shrieking screams. Apparently, one neighbor’s pit bull decided to munch on another neighbor’s two-pound puppy. The little guy lived, but when I recently heard that neighbors of Bedford rapper DMX were complaining about his rowdy pooches, Melissa Leonard’s too, I realized that Etiquette Advice everyone could use a few lessons in petiquette.

Watch the Woofs. If we wanted to wake at the crack of dawn, there are plenty of roosters and alarm clocks to do the job. In other words, don’t leave your dog outside all night.

Poop Patrol. I have a friend who was so fed up with dog poop in her garden that she took a bird-house, filled it with treats, and left a facetious note: “Thank you for cleaning up after your dog. Help yourself to a treat.” Amazingly, it worked! The lesson? Let the pooper-scooper challenged know you’re watching them.

Here Kitty-Kitty. If you want to become the Mother Theresa of orphaned felines, that’s OK. Just remember the immortal words of Bob Barker: have your adoptees spayed or neutered.

Melissa Leonard is an etiquette coach and mother of two extremely well-behaved children in Harrison. Visit her website at www.establishyourselfNY.com.