Perhaps the best way pets can be welcomed into a neighborhood is to be a responsible pet owner.

I have seven cats and I do not let them roam the neighborhood, as I see so many cats do. They stay in my fenced in backyard and are under constant supervision when outdoors. It is a good thing, too, because I found out my new neighbor is afraid of cats. I assured her that she would never see my cats in her yard.

If I were a parent of a toddler and that toddler picked up a piece of dog or cat poo to give to me and we didn't have pets, I would be highly upset. That is one of the main reasons I do not let my cats roam; to protect the neighbors and to protect my kitties from people who don't like cats.

As a life time pet owner, I get disgruntled when I see other cats in my fenced in back yard starting fights with my cats. I also get disgruntled when I see someone allow their dog to use my yard as its potty then not clean it up. It is inconsiderate behaviors such as this that cause pets to be unwelcome in neighborhoods.

I am getting ready to move to FL with all my furry babies. Down there, they will have a screened in pool area to run around since we do not have a privacy fence yet.

I agree with Deeanna. I can't imagine life without my dog Candy Corn but others in my neighborhood don't feel the same. The best ways to let them know that my dog won't interfere with them is to pick up after her, keep her on a leash when we go for walks, and allow them to interact with her on their terms which sometimes means not at all.

I get angry at my neighbors for allowing their dog to easily get out of their yard and to roam the neighborhood and other people's yards. I worry about the dog's safety as she navigates the streets alone. I'm annoyed that they don't pick up after her. Imagine how non-pet people must feel.

If we want others to see the joy of living with pets, we have to demonstrate the best practices ourselves. The more responsible we are with our pets, the less concerned our neighbors will have to be. We can serve as great examples for how it can be done. I make sure to tell everyone who meets Candy Corn that I adopted her from Best Friends and how wonderful the experience has been. It starts the conversation about adoption and pet rescue.