Hi

Any (sensible!) suggestions appreciated!

We have new neighbours, whose dog barks constantly when left alone, locked in the kitchen. This is really starting to get on our nerves, as we can hear it from anywhere in our house.

We don't notice it in the week as much as we're at home less in the day. However on a weekend, it seems to happen most of the time.

It barked constantly for over 12 hours yesterday in the daytime, and then on the night (as normal). It kicked off again today, as soon as they went out.

We've already had several discussions with them, as they had some dodgy workmen living there for 2 months who partied till 4 in the morning and did loud work till 10-11pm on a night (regardless of the fact they had agreed to stop by 8pm as our toddler is in bed by 7-8am).

We largely put up with the builders as everyone needs to get work done from time to time, and we wanted to have a good relationship with them going forward. However, I don't really feel that our consideration is reciprocated at the moment.

I therefore want to find out if we have any rights before discussing the problem with them.

Please can anyone tell me if they have had experience of this themselves, and what our rights are?

I've done some internet seaches, but the policies all seem a bit wishy washy or only apply to council tenants.

Cheers

Tigs

Hi

Any (sensible!) suggestions appreciated!

We have new neighbours, whose dog barks constantly when left alone, locked in the kitchen. This is really starting to get on our nerves, as we can hear it from anywhere in our house.

We don't notice it in the week as much as we're at home less in the day. However on a weekend, it seems to happen most of the time.

It barked constantly for over 12 hours yesterday in the daytime, and then on the night (as normal). It kicked off again today, as soon as they went out.

We've already had several discussions with them, as they had some dodgy workmen living there for 2 months who partied till 4 in the morning and did loud work till 10-11pm on a night (regardless of the fact they had agreed to stop by 8pm as our toddler is in bed by 7-8am).

We largely put up with the builders as everyone needs to get work done from time to time, and we wanted to have a good relationship with them going forward. However, I don't really feel that our consideration is reciprocated at the moment.

I therefore want to find out if we have any rights before discussing the problem with them.

Please can anyone tell me if they have had experience of this themselves, and what our rights are?

I've done some internet seaches, but the policies all seem a bit wishy washy or only apply to council tenants.

Cheers

Tigs

R.S.P.C.A would be my first call, then the envomental health. if the dog is barking for 12 hours solid then it's obviously not happy.

R.S.P.C.A would be my first call, then the envomental health. if the dog is barking for 12 hours solid then it's obviously not happy.

true R.S.P.C.A that poor dog to be alone 24/7 by the sounds of it its no life for a dog bless it and you if you get no joy keep a diary of every time it happens xgood luck

A friend of mine once phoned the R.S.P.C.A and Sheffield Homes regarding her neighbours dogs, they are basically locked outside 24 hrs a day and constantly barked. She was genuinely concerned as the only contact they have with people is once a day when they are fed (outside), she told them all about this and they basically said as long as they had food (at least once a day), water and a shelter they couldn't do much about it and also they couldn't see how a dog could "bark 24hrs a day"
I am sure that these agencies can do something but not so sure what you have to say to them to take it seriously.

I seem to recall hearing somwhere that the R.S.P.C.A are obliged to look into every report of maltreatment they get

Me too H.P I'm sure there was a big campaign last year or something and there were posters everywhere of what rights pets have. I'm not sure why they didn't take her seriously I just know that they didn't and the poor dogs are still to this day living outside in all weathers and not socialising with anyone or anything and barking and whining at all hours day and night :(

I think my first job would be to speak to them about it, I mean, do they even realise that the dog is barking like this? If no-ones told them how can you expect them to do anything.
Then I think I`d speak to the rspca, I`m pretty certain that they would send someone to see them even if only to advise them on how to keep the dog happy and how longs acceptable for him to be left.

I can not understand why these sorts of people buy dogs, it's a crime to leave them penned up outside in all weather or locked in a room for 12 hours a day alone.. :(

rspca will come out but only if the dog is been mistreated

We have neighbours with a rottweiler in their garden 24 hours a day - I have lived next door to it for over 2 years and I have never seen them take it for a walk. Its a nightmare, it barks all the time and if we go up to the top of the garden it goes mental. Its has escaped into my garden twice! Its a good job I haven't got kids! Why people have these pets I will never know. Someone called the RSPCA and they didn't do anything (the neighbours thought it was me who called them and their son threatened to 'give me a slap!!' - nice).

Although I dont know which is worse, the dog or my neighbours!

can't the council help? Isn't it noise pollution? What about ring ing 101 (if it's still active) they deal with nuisance neighbours..

our neighbour as a japan akita and is very nasty last week it got out of his garden and went after the neighbour whos garden it got into lucky he manged to get into his house before the dog bite him
we phoned the rspca who said nothing we can do contact the police if and when it bites someone :loopy::loopy:

How long is it since the dog moved in? If it hasn't been there that long then it might settle down after a while, just needs some chance to get into it's new lifestyle and house move. Moving house can really upset a dog. Talk to your neighbours too, how have they any idea that the dog is barking when they are not there (because they are not there). Is it really 12 hours without them being in? Are you sure they are not there? If so and it continues then maybe a call to the RSPCA might be the way forward, but without any evidence, I'm afraid there are a lot worse cases the RSPCA have their time and money to spend on. Phoning 101 might be another way forward, but probably wont get you anywhere.
Talking to them about it, find out if they know it is happening, say you are a) concerned because the dog sounds in distress, and b) annoyed because it is all you can hear. See if you can't get them to tackle the situation (might be as simple as them leaving the radio on to get it settled, but it might be that they need to make other arrangements with the dog if they need to leave it for long periods of time).

It is noise pollution. When I had this problem I was advised to keep a diary for as long as possible as it was much easier to prove when it is written down. Then tell the SCC about it and they send someone along to listen to the noise (although you can guarantee the dog will stop the second they get there!). No-one should have to put up with unreasonable noise.

I never got as far as reporting them myself as I managed to get into conversation with the owner's mum and told her how it was affecting me. It stopped the next day!

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