I've already painted a sign on two small used tarp sheets that says, "PLEASE, ALWAYS CLOSETHE GATE. THANK YOU." When it's dry I will stick the sheets back to back with each other and hang it up on the gate. Hopefully it will remind them, for now.

My husband and I fought about it last night. He said that they (the relatives) are just plain lazy and there is nothing we can do about it.

Easy for him to say that, since heis not the one cleaning up the mess almost everyday.

But we made up already. I am just getting too stressed lately, partly because of the dog poop. The gate, if not closed shut, is useless in keeping the dog from messing up our driveway.