A Port St. Lucie, Florida family thought they were asking for something simple: a strip of mesh along the bottom of their backyard fence to keep invasive cane toads from hopping into their yard and putting their dogs at risk. Instead, they ran into a familiar wall for plenty of homeowners—an HOA denial that left them feeling like basic safety was being treated as an “aesthetic” issue.
WPTV’s reporting in the original post lays out how the disagreement unfolded inside Valencia Walk at Riverland, a large residential community surrounded by lakes that residents say has become a welcoming environment for cane toads.
Why this family says the backyard stopped feeling safe
Rhoda and Fred Shulman told WPTV they have repeatedly spotted cane toads in their backyard. Cane toads are invasive, and the family said the species secretes a toxic venom that can be fatal to dogs within minutes if ingested.
“We’re worried about letting our dogs out in the backyard with those cane toads,” Rhoda Shulman said. “That’s why we wanted to try and prevent that from happening.” In other words, this wasn’t about upgrading a fence for looks. It was about being able to open the back door without feeling like you’re rolling the dice.
The fix they asked for: fence-bottom mesh that wouldn’t change the look
After seeing the toads, the Shulmans researched possible ways to block them and decided the best approach was to add mesh along the bottom portion of their fence. They described it as a modification that would help keep the toads out without changing the overall appearance of the fence…