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DOOR-TO-DOOR SOLICITORS

Summary of the info from Cobb County:

The county permits door-to-door solicitations only if the person has registered with the county’s business license office. A registration badge must be worn by solicitors and will include their name, address, organization and a photograph. Solicitation without a registration badge is prohibited. Police will respond to reports of unregistered solicitors.

A well-written article concerning the topic:

Cobb County Police Precinct 4 frequently receives calls regarding door-to-door solicitors. In unincorporated Cobb County, door-to-door solicitors are required to have a solicitor permit issued by Cobb County Business License Division which is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance. This permit may be displayed on either shoulder of the solicitor's clothing and must be visible to the customer.

The Cobb police have received reports of various styles of permits being displayed. The picture of an official Cobb County Door–to-Door Solicitor Permit is shown with this article. Violations of this section of the ordinance are written under 78-115 Solicitation Permit / 78-116 Display of Badge.

If someone approaches your home without the proper permit, call 911. Take note of gender, race, age, height and weight, and any clothing description you can remember. If calling about a suspicious vehicle, focus on details such as body style, color, tag number if you can get it, and condition of the vehicle. Look for obvious dents, scrapes, broken windows or taillights, and bumper stickers – anything that will make the vehicle stand out to the officer while he is on the way to the call.

And the actual County Code:

§ 78-85. Door-to-door salespersons—Conduct generally; rights of occupants.  

(a)  The supervisor of the license office shall provide to each door-to-door salesperson an information card, and the door-to-door salesperson shall present this card to each household he visits. It is the responsibility of the door-to-door salesperson to make sufficient copies of the information card to furnish to each household he visits. Such card shall contain information as required by the business license supervisor.

(b)  The door-to-door salesperson is not to enter a home except at the express invitation of the occupant.

(c)  The occupant has the right to refuse entry or to ask the door-to-door salesperson to leave the premises, and, if the salesperson should fail to leave the premises after such instructions, he shall be in violation of the laws of this state and ordinances of the county.

(d)  Any discourteous conduct should be reported to the business license office of the county.

(e)   If a person purchases the product of the door-to-door salesperson, the person has the right to cancel a home solicitation service agreement any time until midnight on the business day after the day on which he signs the agreement, provided he gives notice of the cancellation to the seller at the place of business as set forth in the agreement or by certified mail, return receipt requested, which shall be posted not later than midnight on the day following execution of the agreement.

(f)  door-to-door salesperson shall place his name and permit number in the blank provided on the card and shall present it to the occupant of each home that he visits.

(Ord. of 10-25-94; Code 1977, § 3-7-79; Ord. of 9-10-02)

DOG  WALKING  ETIQUETTE

Follow these four basic ground rules when walking the dog.

By Angela Brittain, Andrea Servadio, May 2018, Updated January 2021

Having a dog gives you a sense of connection to other dog people within your community. It can also lead you to assume that all dog-walkers have the same goal, whether it’s to make friends or just to allow dogs to do their business and be done. If you use dog walking for socialization but keep finding yourself curbed by others, you may be committing a canine etiquette faux pas. While everyone walks their dogs in their own ways for their own reasons, following a few ground rules will help you stay on good terms with your neighbors and fellow dog owners.

 1. Use A Leash.

This is a cardinal rule. If you are not in an off-leash area, such as a dog park, you should always have your dog on a leash during your walk. While your dog may have excellent recall, there’s no telling what might trigger him to bolt or involve him in a contentious situation with either another dog or a person. At the end of the day, not everyone wants to be approached by your dog, no matter how cute he is. Keeping him on leash is an easy way to maintain peace. (Recall training is best done in a contained area such as your backyard or a dog park, places that offer space without the risk of cars, joggers or evil mailmen.)

 2. Be Respectful.

This goes for people and property alike. When it comes to other people, don’t let your dog run up to or jump on them—frankly, it’s just rude. Also, refrain from clotheslining your fellow pedestrians: keep your dog close so others can pass you without fear of falling.

 And while we understand how specific dogs can be about where they potty, keep them off neighborhood lawns. Landscaping is expensive and time-consuming, and dog pee is a lawn killer.

 3. Pick Up Your Dog’s Poop.

Seriously. Just do it. It’s not fertilizer, it’s damaging to the environment and nobody wants to step in it. People who fail to pick up after their dogs give all of us a bad name. Don’t be that person.

 4. Be Cognizant.

You are responsible for your dog, so be aware of his behavior and interactions. If he’s jumpy, gets in another dog’s face, barks or wraps his leash around others, stop him. Know when a situation is getting unfriendly and act accordingly.

Basically, when it comes to being social, try to keep other people’s prerogatives in mind. Don’t let your dog approach other dogs while they are eliminating—it’s distracting for the dog and frustrating for the owner, who’s no doubt keen on her dog completing this function. Keep meet-and-sniffs brief, and don’t take it personally when people keep their pace, since you don’t know what kind of schedule they’re on.

 While walking your dog might not be the time to socialize, there are other places to mingle with fellow dog lovers. Keep on keeping on, social butterfly, just keep your dog on a leash.

 Article first appeared in The Bark, Issue 93: Spring 2018

Dog Walking Etiquette

Cobb County Code 

Animals are required to be on a leash when outside unless contained by a fence. Pet owners are responsible for collecting animal waste and disposing of it properly. Contact Cobb County Animal Control at (770) 499-4136 to report violations.