Thursday, December 12, 2013

This Month's Barking News Roundup - 11/12/13

Starting this Roundup with a couple of recent dog shootings. From Canada, we have a report of people trying to sleep during the wee hours of a Sunday morning. And someone getting fed up with the noise.

From the suburbs of Detroit, there was the pit bull left in the care of an elderly man with dementia. Its owner had gone to work. Dog was left outside to roam the neighborhood, a barkathon ensued, and noise-weary neighbors called the police. Dog charged at the officers, who responded with deadly force.

A WXYZ-TV report on the incident said, "The Saint Clair Shores Police Chief didn’t want to go on camera, but said police worked for hours to catch the dog with a dog stick.  He says they only shot when they felt the dog posed a danger to them – and kids out on their way to school.  He says neighbors reported the dog running at people in the neighborhood earlier in the morning."

Moral of the Story: If you allow a dog to run loose and threaten your neighbors, don't be surprised if one of them calls the police. Who are armed.

And lest you think that barking and crime don't have a connection, there's this from Virginia:

Complaint about barking dogs in Alexandria leads to dog-fighting arrest

To which I say: Too bad those crooks couldn't teach their dogs to fight quietly.

And how about this story from New York? Tip: If you're on the lam, it's best to keep quiet. And train your dog to do the same.

And, finally, from The Washington Post, we have this advice: Neglectful neighbor shouldn’t have pets. Agreed. And remember, it's okay to be pet-free.

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Tired of all the excuses? Head over to my QuietBarkingDogs store. It's an oasis of peace and quiet.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 11/12/13

Family: Man who killed 4 in Ariz. had own demons

Excerpt: Authorities and neighbors speculate that the incessant noise of barking dogs possibly drove him to kill.

Demons notwithstanding, the man was subjected to uncontrolled barking. No one should have to suffer through that. He tried to get the noise stopped. Including "advising people of pet ordinances and fines." This is what authorities keep telling us to do: Talk to the neighbors. Fat lotta good that did.

Tent city proposed to ease dog overcrowding

Excerpt: A tent city, built with taxpayer money, will go to the dogs next year.

I pity the nearby neighbors. Because tents won't stop barking noise from pouring into their living spaces. BTW, the county board of supervisors unanimously approved this project.

Morris: Are barking dogs causing trouble or unfairly being blamed?

Excerpt: One of my neighbors mentioned the barking was so bad that it's had a negative effect upon his blood pressure and health.

The article writer's advice is full of platitudes like "Dogs bark. That's what they do." Call it the Dog Owner Entitlement Mentality.

But the online commentariat isn't buying it. Here's a comment excerpt:

This may be some of the worst advice ever given. NO, people do not have a right to put their dogs outside to bark all day (let alone all night) long. It disturbs the quiet of the neighborhood. Dogs may bark. But it's the responsibility of the dog owner to keep a constantly barking dog indoors by whatever means necessary, or the dog goes. Too many dog owners allow their dogs to bark all day or night, or run unleashed. It creates enormous tension, enormous ill will. If your dog belongs to you, then take responsibility. We don't want to hear it.

And, no. Your dog is not your child. If your child stood on the front porch and barked for 8-10 straight hours at the top of his lungs, you'd be arrested.

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. If the Dog Owner Entitlement Mentality is getting on your nerves, head over to the QuietBarkingDogs store.  Plenty of clothing and bumper stickers that quietly make our viewpoint known.

Friday, October 25, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 10/25/13

Should dog barking really be a punishable crime?

Excerpt: [A]nimal control in League City says that her "children" are breaking the law by barking too loud!

To which I say: The dog owner needs to grow up. For one thing, her dogs are NOT children. They're dogs. Always have been. Always will be.

For another thing, dog ownership is a privilege, not a right. As part of this privilege, a dog owner must manage his/her dogs so that they are not a nuisance to others. That includes keeping the barking noise from becoming a public disturbance.

Can't handle these responsibilities? Then don't have a dog. It's that simple.

Barking dogs just beginning of the problem

Excerpt: I ask you then, if a dog barks loudly and obnoxiously for a few minutes at 2:30 a.m. and wakes up the neighborhood, is that a valid complaint that should trigger a violation? According to animal control, the answer is, probably not. I was told there should be “tolerance” on my part, and it seems like they make the decision as to what is tolerable.

To which I say: As long as animal control is funded by taxpaying humans, then humans should come first.

Fines for dog barking low in Brisbane City despite thousands of complaints

Excerpt: BARKING dogs are driving thousands of complaints across Brisbane but just three infringement notices have been issued last financial year by Brisbane City Council.

Woman faces losing barking dog

Excerpt: Three nearby neighbours have complained to council saying the dog barks for more than 30 minutes at a time between midnight and 5.30am, causing disruption to their sleep.

I’m Calling About a Barking Dog

Excerpt: In those dark predawn hours the delicate stillness of our treasured sanctuary would often be replaced by the shrill continual barking of a small dog, quickly followed by an angry chorus of shouts and threats by abruptly awakened neighbors. This boisterous interchange between man and dog would continue for upward of 45 nerve-shattering minutes.

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. You can advocate for peace and quiet without making a sound. Check out the QuietBarkingDogs store. Clothing and bumper stickers that do the talking for you.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 10/08/13

Barking dog is stabbed in Hialeah; suspect under arrest

Excerpt: As [the stabber] passed by, [the barker] tried to jump the fence several times. She barked. And barked some more.

And she probably barks and barks and barks and barks all day and all night. Must be fun to live in that neighborhood.

Barking dog leads to man threatened with gun outside Flint home

Excerpt: A man was threatened with a gun after two other men standing in his driveway told him to keep his dog quiet, according to a police report.

No word on whether this dog owner got the hint and, y'know, kept the barker quiet.

Barking dogs get a temporary reprieve

Excerpt: Under the proposed ordinance, complaints of excessive dog barking – a continuous period of 30 minutes or more – could be reported to the county constable's office between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Justice of the Peace courts would have jurisdiction over violations. Fines would be from $25 to $75 for a first offense up to as much as $300 for multiple offenses.

Coming up next: Dogs learn how to tell time!

Dog-lover fined and told to part company with more of his 10 barking dogs

Excerpt: He had already pleaded guilty to an earlier breach, which occurred in February.

Let me guess: This guy hasn't the first clue about how to get along with people. So, he surrounds himself with dogs and can't imagine why anyone would have a problem with them.

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Does all this useless noise just make you wanna holler? Check out the QuietBarkingDogs store. Clothing and bumper stickers that get the point across. Quietly.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 09/12/13

This one goes out to the asshole neighbors who left their robo-barking dog out in the wee hours of this morning. Since I can't say FU in person, here's a blog post for ya...

Dog Owner Cited After Neighbor Videotapes Barking

Excerpt: Longmont man says he had enough of his neighbor’s barking dog, so he videotaped the dog and turned the evidence over to police.

Hooray!

Wolverhampton couple fined £1,200 each after nightmare of barking dogs

Excerpt: The council mediation service was called in without success and both defendants were served with an abatement notice ordering them to stop the animals barking so loudly. This was repeatedly broken up to April 16 and the pair were officially warned on April 24 that legal action had been started against them, the court was told.

Yet another example of why mediation is a waste of time and tax money.

Conflict over dogs barking leads to tense council meeting 

Excerpt: The 17 dogs that call the Wadena Humane Society shelter home have been barking to a point where neighbors say they’ve had enough.

I guess the definition of "humane" doesn't extend to being courteous to the neighbors.

ANOTHER VIEW: Neighbors Want Barking Stopped
Excerpt: We are experiencing daily barking that goes on two or more hours at a time throughout the day, every day. Those representing the city of Long Beach have been somewhat effective in reducing the duration of the barking, but have been equally ineffective at ceasing the barking and correcting the behavior of this neighbor.

New initiatives for barking dogs

Excerpt: [W]andering and barking dogs were the main animal control complaints and most came from south Invercargill.

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Looking for something fun to wear at your next barking dog mediation session?. Check out the QuietBarkingDogs store. Clothing and bumper stickers that quietly make your point.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 08/21/13

This Roundup is dedicated to that bullshit excuse that is often lobbed at us: It's Not The Dog's Fault. Meaning that while our houses are filled with the sonic sewage that is nonstop barking, we must not even think of hurting the poor doggie-woggie.

What are we to do about this worthless POS of an excuse? Lob it right back. Ask this question: If it's not the dog's fault, then whose fault is it and why is nothing being done about it?

Sussex County: 'Excessive' dog barking ordinance introduced

Excerpt: As presented, the ordinance defines excessive barking as any dog, male or female, that barks for a continuous period of 30 minutes or more.

Bullshit ordinances like this lead to the bullshit excuse given above.

Summerhill couple fined £6,000 plus costs over barking dogs nuisance

Excerpt: Environmental health officers were sent to investigate and found there was a noise nuisance caused by the excessive barking of the couple’s two German Shepherds.

They were issued with a noise abatement notice which was breached on several occasions between November 2012 and March 2013, resulting in their prosecution.

Occasionally, justice is served. Here's another example...

Man acquitted after firing airgun over dog barking

Excerpt: Experts were unable to determine when and how the dog was hurt, meaning the charge of cruelty to animals could not be proven beyond reasonable doubt.

But remember, it's not the dog's fault. Barking NEVER is!

Barking dogs are a nuisance and councils are right to increase fines for owners who don't control pets

Excerpt: A barking dog is a responsibility that needs to be dealt with, not a right that can be ignored.

Right on!

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. So, who's fault is it? Who cares! Just stop the damn noise! Check out the QuietBarkingDogs store. Clothing and bumper stickers that noiselessly get the point across.

Friday, July 26, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 07/26/13

Q: Barking Dog In Starbucks: What Would You Do?

A: I'd walk out of the store while saying "Your dog's BARKING isn't music to my ears!" And you can buy that tee shirt in my my QuietBarkingDogs store.

Morris: Barking dogs have neighbors on edge

Excerpt: They live in their backyard full time, rain or shine. They have a sheltered place to sleep plus food and water, but that's it. No human contact except for when the owner shouts "Shut up!" at them. No walks, no play time. Just an endless existence of long days in an enclosure.

What was once my nice backyard -- coffee and newspaper on the patio, playing with my dogs, gardening -- has become off limits. When we go outside the neighbor dogs rush the fence, barking and howling.

It should be noted that this person tried to talk to then dogs' owner. Fat lotta good that did. And Morris the columnist notes, "Your options are limited." Isn't that lovely? I think I'd be screaming "Shut up!" at the top of my lungs. Matter of fact, I've done that. In one case, it worked so well I had blessed peace and quiet for months.

Sussex County Council requests more time in addressing possible ‘excessive’ barking dog ordinance

Excerpt: “Say our constable is called out at 2 o’clock in the morning … a barking dog. Does he (constable) have to sit there for a half hour?”

And that, people, is the essence of a dog barking law that's designed to fail. No cop is going to sit there and witness barking. Only sleep-deprived citizens must do that.

Friday, July 19, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 07/19/13

Dumb Dog... STOP BARKING!

Excerpt: Now I'm stuck with this dog that barks every time I click something. Please, this is senseless, irritating noise and the game would be better off without it.

And let me guess: You play this online game to escape the barking in the rest of your life, right?

Woman rescued from house fire that kills nearly 100 cats; barking dog woke her up

Excerpt: She woke up to the sound of her lone dog barking after her fire alarm failed to sound and saw smoke billowing from a bedroom.

Ever been in a house with more than a dozen cats? I have. It's NOT healthy. What this lady was doing shouldn't be called rescue. It's hoarding. And it endangers the health of the hoarder and the surrounding community.

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Tired of the din? Head over to my QuietBarkingDogs store. It's an oasis of peace and quiet.

Friday, July 12, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 07/12/13

Fourth of July sounds of freedom cause some dogs to bark and whine and others to bolt
Excerpt: Dogs have more sensitive ears than humans do and while some dogs don’t appear to mind the noise, others will bark, whine, howl, hide, cower or run into furniture and walls...

I'll never forget July 4th back in 2006, when I was forced to don earmuffs to blunt the noise assault launched by the neighbors' pug during Tucson's fireworks show. 

Well, wouldn't you know it, the same neighbors left their robo-barker out for this year's Independence Day. So, I launched a hammering counter-assault. Dog barked? I hammered. Dog went yap-yap-yap? I went tap-tap-TAP! 

I think the idiot neighbors got the point. By the time our city's 2013 fireworks started, that dog was back in the house, where it belonged all along.

Barking dogs could get costly

Excerpt: The residents complained that barking from five hunting dogs owned by Mr. Clueless makes it difficult to sleep at night and to enjoy their backyards. Clueless, who also attended the meeting, responded defensively at first, telling his neighbors, “If you have a problem come to me.” The neighbors said they had come to him, noting that he no longer regularly lives at the house with the kennels.

I can't IMAGINE why he no longer regularly lives at the house with the kennels.

Neighbor Assaulted Over Barking Dog Complaint

Excerpt: The victim was ambushed and repeatedly kicked in the head after he visited his neighbors a few doors down and asked they keep their noisy dog quiet.

WA laws aim to silence barking dogs

Excerpt: The Western Australian government has unleashed an ambitious plan to help councils stop dogs from barking. At least barking so much that they make a nuisance of themselves in populated areas.

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. My QuietBarkingDogs store is where you can find the perfect bumper sticker for talking back to those who say you are too sensitive. Tell them how you feel with "Yes I Do Mind If Your Dog Barks." Don't have a car? Well, you still have a body. Put a "Curb Your Dog - And Its Barking" tee shirt on it.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 06/26/13

Ruling to remove barking dogs from Marshfield stands

Excerpt: Plymouth Country magistrate Philip McCue upheld a decision by the Marshfield Board of Selectmen to have five Tibetan mastiffs removed from the premises of their home after being deemed a nuisance.

Tip: This story is open for comments. Follow the above link and add yours.

Barking dog may have led to stabbing death

Excerpt: A fatal stabbing at an Albuquerque gas station may have started over a barking dog. 

Tip: This story is open for comments via Facebook. Here's my favorite:

"Of course incidents like this would be rare if Animal Control did their frigging job and ticketed people for noisy and freeroaming dogs with large fines; and took dogs away from the people who neglect them to the point of non-stop barking. Dog owners are so used to getting away with anything -- not picking up, not leashing, not controlling their animal that it’s become normal for them to think they can get away with everything."

It’s time to give animal ordinances some teeth

Excerpt: Enough’s enough. Sixty-five years have slid by, and no city council has tackled the issue of loose or aggressive dogs once and for all. I challenge this city council to be the one that does. If they’re truly too busy, then let’s form an Animal Services Commission to develop pet ownership ordinances that address the entire scope of animal related problems — leash laws, licensing, spay/neuter ordinances, abuse, neglect, and another of my pet (haha) peeves, excessive barking. (Yes, I wrote about that recently too.)

Tip: This story is open for comments. Follow the above link and add yours.

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Do you wish that your local officials would get a clue about the harm caused by barking dog noise? Well, head over to my QuietBarkingDogs store. It has tee shirts and bumper stickers that quietly and firmly get our point across.

Friday, June 14, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 06/14/13

It's Flag Day in America. So far, it has been a quiet one. May it continue to be quiet.

Barking maddens neighbours

Excerpt: A woman has been ordered to pay nearly £900 after allowing her barking dogs to make neighbours’ lives a misery, following a prosecution by Doncaster Council.

Woman admits tying dogs' mouths to stop barking: Shau Kei Wan resident was trying to reduce noise disturbance to neighbours, court told

Excerpt:  A woman pleaded guilty to silencing four of her dogs late last year by tying rubber straps round their mouths after neighbours in Shau Kei Wan complained of their barking.

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. You can advocate for peace and quiet without making a sound. Check out the QuietBarkingDogs store. Clothing and bumper stickers that do the talking for you.

Friday, June 7, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 06/07/13

People howling over dog complaint process

Excerpt: As it stands now, a person complaining must keep a five-day log detailing when the dog is barking. One city councillor said the process doesn’t seem fair.

To which I say: It may not be fair, but the process doesn't appear to require mediation. What a waste of time that is!

Intruders beat up barking dog in Wallington burglary

Excerpt: Burglars beat up a German Shepherd dog before raiding a house in broad daylight. Three men are believed to have broken into the house in Woodcote Road, Wallington, and attacked the animal to stop it barking yesterday (Tuesday, June 4), at about 2.20pm.

To which I say: So much for barking dogs as a crime deterrent. BTW, this story is open for comments.

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Had it up to here with useless barking noise complaint processes? Sound off without making a sound via the tee shirts and bumper stickers in the QuietBarkingDogs store. Be sure to wear 'em to your next city council meeting!

Thursday, May 30, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 05/30/13

Jury convicts Flagler Beach man of killing neighbor

Excerpt: A Flagler County jury on Friday convicted a man of murder in the shooting death of his neighbor after an ongoing dispute prosecutors say was over a barking dog and rude remarks.

‘Irritated’ by its constant barking, three kill stray dog

Excerpt: Two men who allegedly killed a stray dog near Inlaks Hospital in Chembur, were arrested Sunday, while a third suspect is absconding. The two confessed they were irritated by the canine's constant barking and killed it, police said.

Tip: This story is open for comments. Follow the above link and add yours.

The bark stops with dog's owner

Excerpt: Barking and howling dogs get under New Zealanders' skins more than lawnmowers, power saws and crying babies. That is one of the findings of a doctoral thesis.

Tip: This story is open for comments. Follow the above link and add yours. And be sure to vote in the online poll.

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. If the Dog Owner Entitlement Mentality is getting on your nerves, head over to the QuietBarkingDogs store.  Plenty of clothing and bumper stickers that quietly make our viewpoint known.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 05/22/13

Man asks council for help with barking dogs

Excerpt: A Bainbridge man who has taken his neighbor to Municipal Court over constantly barking dogs has asked the City Council for its help.

Tip: This story is open for comments. Follow the above link and add yours.

"Hey, Shut Up Your Dog!"

Excerpt:  Barking is the main reason I despise dogs and their owners so much.  It’s insufferable at times in my neighborhood, and there’s not much I can do about it.  My local animal control agency doesn’t care, unless the dog is barking because it’s neglected.  And the police don’t care if a robo-yapper keeps me awake at night.

Tip: This blog post is open for comments. Follow the above link and add yours.

Judge: No linguist needed in dog-barking murder case

Excerpt: A linguistic expert will not be allowed to testify about what a Flagler Beach man meant when he said the neighbor he had just shot to death in an argument over barking dogs had “begged” him to shoot him.

As Seen On TV "Bark Off" Product Tested At Kanawha Animal Shelter

Excerpt: When flipped on high and placed within 20 feet of a barking dog, the Bark Off worked for 10 seconds before the barking resumed.

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Do you just wish that your neighbor's dog would shut up? Express your displeasure quietly with the tee shirts and bumper stickers in my QuietBarkingDogs store.

Monday, May 13, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 05/13/13

Brawl over barking dog ends in man’s murder

A dispute between two neighbours over the barking of a dog ended up in the murder of one of them here on Sunday night.

Tip: This story is open for comments. Follow the above link and add yours.

Monroe woman reports earlier run-in with dog

Excerpt: A dog that [fatally] mauled a 4-year-old girl this week in Prairie City has a history of aggressive behavior, according to a woman who had an encounter with the animal about four years ago.

Neighbors had called police four times in 2011 to complain about barking dogs or dogs that had escaped from the home where the [owners] lived.

Tip: This story is open for comments via Facebook. Log into your account and add yours.

Silencing barking dogs in Fort Collins: New law lets residents make anonymous complaints

Excerpt:  The city has changed the way animal control officers deal with complaints about barking dogs, making it easier for residents to anonymously complain. In the past, residents generally were required to provide a series of specific details about whose dogs were barking, what they looked like, where they lived and how often they were a problem. They also usually were required to sign the complaint.

Tip: This story is open for comments via Facebook. Log into your account and add yours.

Wareham Town Meeting puts teeth in new dog bylaws

Excerpt: Under the new laws, a dog owner will be in violation if their animal is disruptive between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. or if the dog continually barks for longer than 20 minutes at a time during the day.

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Well, the Roundup is back after taking a week off for a huge work-related project. Want some peace and quiet in your locale? Me too! So, check out the tee shirts and bumper stickers from the QuietBarkingDogs store.  They quietly make our viewpoint known.

Monday, April 29, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 04/29/13

Neighbors having a ruff time dealing with barking dog issue

Excerpt: "We have a barking dog next door. I have tried to contact the owner but they will not answer the door. When we contacted the Morgan Hill Police they asked if we were willing to sign a complaint. This seems to be the same as suing my neighbor. The police stated that the neighbor could sue me for false arrest if the charges can't be proved or if the dog isn't barking all night. Is this the only way I can get the police to enforce the ordinance? Do I need a video of the dog barking and for how many hours at a time?"

Tip: This story is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.

Barking dog? Angry cat? There's an app for that

Excerpt: Ever wish you could make sure your barking dog isn't terrorizing the cat or the mailman when you're not at home? There's an app for that. 

Tip: This story is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.

Surfside Beach doesn't muzzle barking at dog park

Excerpt: Dogs are welcome in the Surfside Beach park designed specifically for them.
But some residents aren’t too excited with the loud barking.

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Had it up to here with stupid dog owners and all the  barking noise? Sound off without making a sound via the tee shirts and bumper stickers in the QuietBarkingDogs store.

Monday, April 22, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 04/22/13

Well, this day started bright -n- way too early, thanks to an idiot neighbor's barking dogs. I'd like to have whatever he's had in order to sleep through the racket.

This dog’s bark was worse than his bite

Excerpt: They may be man’s best friend, but not keeping your pet dog under control could be disasterous. In a curious case, a man lost his life and six others sustained injuries after an argument over the constant barking of a dog in Kotherapally, Ranga Reddy district.

Tip: This story is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.

Homeowner growls over neighbor’s barking pets

Excerpt: We have a new neighbor who has three dogs that bark incessantly, both during the day and at night. We asked the owner to try to keep them quiet, but he just shrugged and said: "All dogs bark. That's just what they do." What are our options here? We can't even sleep at night because of the noise!

Tip: You can comment via Facebook. So, if you're one of the billion people with a Facebook account, fire away!

Noise report: Barking dogs still a problem!

Excerpt: Complaints from neighbours about dogs barking are still ‘top of the pops’ with people in Fermanagh, but it seems that officers in the Townhall are also at the top of their game in handling them.

From the TWBNR Advice Column Department, we have this question:

I have a new neighbor that moved in about 8 months ago. They have a dog that they keep outside 24 hours a day. I don't think that its ever been in the house. This dog barks non stop at night. It seriously wakes my wife and I up every night at some point. I have talked with the neighbors about this, they refuse to do anything.

Tip: This discussion is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Want to give those clueless neighbors a clue? Check out the QuietBarkingDogs store. Clothing and bumper stickers that pack a punch.

Friday, April 12, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 04/12/13

Started this day with the sound of barking during the 4 a.m. hour. Memo to the neighbors who left their dogs out: Did it ever occur to you that other people might be trying to sleep? Just sayin'...

White Sulphur Council puts a leash on barking dog ordinance

Excerpt: [A council member] said she has concerns about the clarity of the new ordinance’s wording, citing its failure to define what constitutes an acceptable level of noise or to place a time limit on dogs’ vocalizations.

[The council member] also noted that in looking at similar ordinances from other municipalities, she had discovered that some require written complaints from multiple sources to avoid the possibility of a person with a grudge using the law to harass a neighbor.

To which I say: Here we go again. The grudge meme. It's about time that this one received the proper burial that it richly deserves.

Why? Because I know of very few cases where a neighbor has a grudge, and then decides to complain about the barking.

Most of the time, it's a matter of having barking force-fed into your residence, you try to talk to your neighbor about the problem, the neighbor does nothing, and you turn to the law for help. And the law is of no help.

The grudge meme and the multiple household rule is just another way in which officialdom dodges the responsibility of protecting their constituents from the negative effects of unwanted noise.

Want an ordinance that works? Here's what Dr. Craig Mixon, creator of the BarkingDogs.net website, has to say on this subject.

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Got clueless officials in your town? Help them see the point of our movement via the shirts and stickers in the QuietBarkingDogs store.

Friday, April 5, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 04/05/13

Another week, another very short Barking News Roundup. And I do like the sound of this one. Oh, do I ever. It points to a larger trend. Might be that chronic barking is indeed becoming as unfashionable as secondhand smoke. We can only hope!

How to Stop Barking Dogs 

Excerpt: Some people will make the argument that a dog barking is natural, but there’s a big difference between an occasional yelp and just yapping away.

Next time bring your dog in, get it trained, and don’t be that guy.

Tip: If you're not that guy or gal, good for you. Go ahead and add your comments to this opinion piece. Follow the above link and fire away!

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. You can avoid That Guy or That Gal status via the shirts and stickers in the QuietBarkingDogs store.

Friday, March 29, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 03/29/13

Another good night's sleep ruined by barking dogs. Hence, this post goes out to all of those idiot neighbors who can't seem to keep the dogs inside. Oh, if you can't handle the dogs inside your house, here's a suggestion: Don't bother having a dog. Because it's obvious that you can't take responsibility for one.

Mariaville approves barking dog ordinance

Excerpt: Anyone bothered by a barking dog can make a written complaint to the town's animal control officer or to a law enforcement official. That official can then investigate the complaint, and issue the owner a warning if needed.

A second incident will result in the owner being summoned for a civil violation. Upon conviction, that person will be fined $25. Additional convictions will result in fines of $50 for each incident.

Tip: If I owned a barking dog in Mariaville, I'd be laughing my butt off. Because this new ordinance has no teeth whatsoever. This story is open for comments. Let 'em have it!

[Elected official's] help with barking dogs offers example of his leadership

Excerpt: [The official] takes the initiative to keep our neighborhood great. For instance, over the years, there have been several nuisances with barking dogs in the neighborhood. [He] would work with residents to help reduce the noise.

Tip: Here's an elected official who's worthy of support. And this letter to the editor is open for your comments. Follow the above link and share.

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Show the idiot dog owners what you think of the endless noise. Check out the QuietBarkingDogs store. Clothing and bumper stickers that make your point. Quietly.

Friday, March 22, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 03/22/13

Slow news week last week. Hence, no Barking News Roundup. But don't think for a minute that peace and quiet have broken out. Because the Roundup is back.

Barking Dog Log' Triggered following Complaint

Excerpt: The complainant, a resident of [Non-Stop Noise Assault] Lane, must keep up the 14-day log in order for police to assess a fine for the owner of three dogs nearby.

Tip: This story is open for comments.

My favorite: "
No one wants to listen to three dogs barking on a regular basis, sad that the responsibility falls on the neighbor to prove it. Furthermore, the dog owners must be aware of the situation, why don't they correct it?"

Follow the above link to share your experience with logs and other non-solutions to the barking noise problem.


From the TWBNR Advice Column Department, we have these two questions:

I have a new neighbour directly behind me who has a large dog who is left outside all the time--in a completely paved in backyard--even in the cold weather we've been having. Consequently it barks a lot, in fact it's barking right now. I was so fed up with it at one point last week that I knocked on the owner's door at 12:30 in the morning to ask him to let his dog in the house, or at least get it to be quiet.

Tip: This discussion is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.

Yesterday I had my windows opened and had to listen to that [bleep] for 4 hours straight, with windows closed I can still can hear the [bleeper].

Tip: Another discussion that's just itchin' for your comments. You know what to do.

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. You can advocate for peace and quiet without making a sound. Check out the QuietBarkingDogs store. Clothing and bumper stickers that do the talking for you.

Monday, March 18, 2013

A Police Department That Gets It

In many communities, calling the police to report chronic barking is an exercise in futility. It might even expose you to retaliation, not just by your neighbors, but by the police.

That happened to me a year ago today. It was a Sunday evening, and I called to report a nearby neighbor's robo-barking pit bull. When the police finally came out, that dog was as quiet as could be. Officers threatened me with arrest for false reporting if I made such a call in the future.

If any good came out of this situation, it was that the pit bull owners bailed out of this neighborhood the very next day. We haven't seen them or their vicious little noisemaker since then. And we don't miss them.

Here's what I think led these neighbors to flee: I'll admit that I made a lot of calls about this robo-barker. I figured that the calling route was safer than attempting to talk to the neighbors, who didn't appear to be the most law-abiding of people. And, in case you're wondering, ownership of pit bulls and other dangerous dogs has a close correlation with criminality.

Furthermore, if you're a crook, you don't want the cops to keep coming around to chat you up about the barking dog noise. Heck, you don't want the cops coming around at all.

Okay, so that's how things work with the police in this municipality. Not all police departments are like ours. Take, for example, Canby, Oregon. The local police department has an entire web page devoted to barking dog noise. Here's an excerpt:

[W]hen a dog engages in excessive barking it stands a greater chance of being ignored if there really is an intruder. Instead of the neighbors calling the police because their neighbor’s dog is clearly upset about something they just think “that *%&^# dog is barking again!”

It gets better, and I encourage you to read the entire page. Better yet, share it with your local officials.

Friday, March 8, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 03/08/13

Daphne City Council cracks down on barking dogs

Excerpt: To muzzle the noise, Daphne’s city council greatly increased the fines dog owners could face if their dogs disturb neighbors.

Tip: This news story is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.

Barking Dogs May Lead to Woman's Deportation


Excerpt: [The dogs' owner] said she stepped out of her Bakersfield home on New Year’s Eve to buy ingredients for a dinner she was planning. She said she returned to her trailer to find six police cars and close to 10 police officers, two who she claims harassed her. The officers told [the owner] her two small dogs – a Chihuahua and a poodle – were disturbing the neighbors.

Tip: This news story is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.

From the TWBNR Advice Column Department, we have this question:

I live inside the city limits and have to listen to dogs bark all night. I'm completely sick of it, I really don't get how someone can let their mutt bark all f*cking night. What actions can be taken in order to get the owners to better control their dogs?

Tip: This discussion is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.

Creative Barking Dog Solutions

Enjoy this list of eight fun-filled solutions. Everything from greeting cards to video!

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Want even more solutions? Check out the QuietBarkingDogs store. Clothing and bumper stickers that pack a quiet and powerful punch.

Friday, March 1, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 03/01/13

From the TWBNR Advice Column Department, we have this question:

Fortunately, I don't live next to any houses in which the owner just lets their dogs outside all day to bark. But believe me, there are some spots in this neighborhood where there is some serious dog barking going on and I feel sorry for the people who have to live next to that.

Tip: This discussion is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.

Although I don't usually cover the topic of dog training, I will this week. Why? Because it's easy to get the mistaken impression that the owners of barking dogs are allowing the racket to persist just so they can annoy the rest of us. They may be as fed up with the noise as we are, so they put the barking dog outside. Where it keeps on barking.

How to Get a Dog to Stop Barking Excessively

Excerpt: If you have a dog, you must be OK with the fact that it will bark. That said, excessive barking should be addressed, especially if it is a new and troublesome behavior.

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. When it comes to training dogs, the tee shirts and bumper stickers in the QuietBarkingDogs store aren't going to help very much. Training their owners? Different story. Those shirts and stickers will get your point across. Quietly.

Friday, February 22, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 02/22/13

Laws prohibit annoying, barking dogs

Excerpt: I moved to my present home last September. My next door neighbor, who seems very nice, has four rescue dogs that bark all day long. They bark at me, at passersby, or just bark at nothing. At first, it mildly bothered me but now it’s driving me crazy.

The advice given to this bark-beleaguered  person is typical. Talk to the neighbor. (Might as well talk to a brick wall.) Try mediation. (Equally useless.) Call the police at their non-emergency number. (Which means that you'll get a response when hell freezes over.)

 Want to offer your own advice? Click the above link to comment on the article.

Pretty short News Roundup this week. But, as far as people wishing to live in peace getting any sort of help, it's the same-old same-old. Had enough? Don't yell at the barking dogs. Or their owners. You'll just lose your voice and add more noise pollution to your neighborhood. Instead, why not try the tee shirts and bumper stickers in the QuietBarkingDogs store. They'll get your point across. Quietly.

Friday, February 15, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 02/15/13

Happy Day After Valentine's Day! My Day After started bright -n- early during the 3 a.m. hour. 

Special shout-out to those thoughtless neighbors who left their bellowing hounds out to awaken the whole neighborhood. How, pray tell, do you manage to sleep through the noise? Because we sure can't!

And, now, without any further ado, let's get to our weekly dose of barking idiocy...

Council asks owner to quiet barking dogs

Excerpt: [A neighbor] said the barking isn’t every day and isn’t all of the time, but he said he’d heard the dogs bark for 14 hours straight.

“We’re just asking for respect,” said another neighbor. “They bark constantly.”

To which I say: Sorry, neighbors, but expecting respect from officialdom and the dogs' owner is a vain hope. Because there's nothing more important than allowing dogs to pump their non-stop barking noise pollution into your homes.

Barking dogs annoy neighbors

Excerpt: I hope you can help me. We have a neighbor who raises beagles. I’ve called the authorities for the past three years about their barking. Apparently they don’t care.

Tip: This story is followed by the usual excuses from an animal non-control officer. And it's open for comments. Follow the above link to share yours.

In conclusion, I'd like to share my recent experience at the library:

I was bicycling across the parking lot and aiming toward the bike rack when a nasty-barking German Shepherd mix took umbrage to my presence. It was in the back of a pickup and didn't appear to be tied up. It also did the nasty barking thing at several people walking near -- but not next to -- the truck.

So, I locked my bike to the rack and went into the library. Told the front desk about the nasty-barker and the lady said she'd mention it to the security guard.

Well, I spotted the guard and I told him about the dog. Another patron pointed out the owner.

Guard went over and spoke to him, he wasn't happy about being told to restrain the dog, so he went outside and got in his truck and left.

Here's the good part: The guard came over and thanked me.

Why? Because dogs are not to be unattended on library property. I said that if the dog got out of the truck and attacked somebody, it would be Pima County's problem.*

He agreed.

_______________

*The ultimate liability for a dog attack would rest with us, the taxpayers of Pima County, Arizona.

Friday, February 8, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 02/08/13

Neighbors bring feud over barking dogs to City Hall

Excerpt: The neighbor, however, said his bedroom was only about 11 feet away from the family’s barking dogs. He said the dogs made more noise than the family admitted. He said he had post-traumatic stress disorder and the barking dogs had adversely affected his health, leading to more stress. His medication had to be increased, he said. “I can’t stand it,” he told the commission.

Tip: This news story is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.

Barking Dogs Put on Curfew


Excerpt: The dogs were declared a nuisance in June after several neighbors complained about barking.

Tip: This news story is open for comments via Facebook. Log in and give 'em a piece of your mind.

How to Handle Noisy Neighbors & Dogs

Excerpt: There is nothing more infuriating than to constantly have noise created by your neighbor or their dog(s) invade your home. It completely ruins a person’s ability to listen to music, watch a movie, read a book, meditate, study for a class, work on a speech, take a nap, and countless other things. If you are reading this because you are experiencing a noise problem right now, you know exactly what I am talking about.

Tip: This blog post includes PDF and Word versions of letters that you can send to the neighbors. Here's hoping that they will open and read them, and then apply their reading comprehension skills to solving the barking noise problem.

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. In addition to sending letters, you can also send a message when you're out and about. Check out the QuietBarkingDogs store. Clothing and bumper stickers that quietly make your point.

Friday, February 1, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 02/01/13

Judge bars vet's barking service dog

Excerpt: A judge barred a combat veteran attending a trial from bringing his service dog into a Detroit courthouse after the miniature poodle barked at jurors.

You'll love this part of the story: "The dog, prescribed for post-traumatic stress disorder, has been trained to bark when strangers approach."

Which means this poodle must be a non-stop yapping machine. After all, there are a lot of strangers out there.

From the TWBNR Advice Column Department, we have this question:

my neighbor has her dog tied up about 10 feet from my childs window. the stupid thing sits out there and barks 24/7..ive called the cops...they do nothing..left the neighbor notes...im at my wits end....any other suggestions?

Tip: This discussion is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. If you think that service dogs serve best when they don't engage in needless barking, check out the QuietBarkingDogs store. Clothing and bumper stickers that noiselessly get the point across.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 01/24/13

Speak up for barking dog

Excerpt: The dog is crying out in its language. "Why am I not treated as a companion? Why am I not part of your pack? I'm lonely and bored. What is my crime that you keep me in solitary confinement?"

Tip: This letter to the editor is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.

From the TWBNR Advice Column Department, we have this question:

What to do about a neigbors barking dog

Excerpt: The dog was also left outside for 10-12 hrs yesterday with no shelter and if there was water it had to be frozen(it was only 20 degrees or less out). This is not a northern breed either. It has a pretty thin coat. It barked the entire 10-12 hrs it was out there with maybe a 10 min break every hr between the barking. I called the police and they called back saying no one was home so they couldn't do anything.  

Tip: This discussion is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.

Bonus Tip: A guide to taking the owners of barking dogs to small claims court. And winning your lawsuit.

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Yet another week of neglectful dog owners and law enforcement passing the buck. Had enough of this malarkey? Silently express your feelings with the clothing and bumper stickers at the QuietBarkingDogs store.

Friday, January 18, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 01/18/13

Florida governor RETURNED the rescue dog he adopted for his 2010 election campaign... AFTER he'd won

Excerpt: On Monday, reporters confronted Scott about the case of the vanishing dog. The governor said that Reagan ‘scared the living daylights’ out of everyone living at his Tallahassee mansion and that it wasn’t working out.

The dog, he said, would not stop barking if he saw a person carrying something.

Is your dog barking mad or just feeling ruff?

Excerpt: In an effort to determine what is normal woofing, an Auckland animal behaviourist has bugged the houses of 60 dogs and recorded how much they barked when their owners were out.

To which I say: The results were not surprising. The dogs did much more barking than was expected. Which means that those of us who complain about the noise should be treated with more respect by the authorities.

In case you're wondering why we're treated so disrespectfully, here's a clue: Animal control agencies have been hijacked by extremists who couldn't care less about human health and safety. We're just the lowly taxpayers who foot the bill for their "animals above all else" agenda.

Friday, January 11, 2013

This Week's Barking News Roundup - 01/11/13

Happy New Year to everyone! The Roundup is back from holiday break, and I wish you a quiet, peaceful New Year. If you're looking for a resolution at this late date, here's one:

Read Alexandra Semyonova's book, The 100 Silliest Things People Say About Dogs. She doesn't talk at great length about barking, but she dispels a lot of doggie myths. Such as the one about dogs being descended from wolves. Didn't happen. Likewise, the one about human-canine relationships being an ongoing struggle to establish dominance.

And now, the news...

Ohio man arrested for barking at police dog

Excerpt: A 22-year-old Ohio man was arrested after authorities say he barked at a police dog during a traffic stop.

Tip: This news story is open for comments. You know what to do -- start by following the above link.

Owners to blame for barking dogs

Excerpt: I'm writing this letter about the barking dog problem the people on South Hickory Street are having.

I have lived at the Mid-Rise for almost two years and I know for a fact that many people have written letters to the mayor, called the police and complained about four dogs that bark constantly. We have received many excuses why nothing is being done, but we are citizens and have rights, too. The dogs in Mount Carmel seem to have more rights than the people.

Tip: This letter to the editor is open for comments. Click the above link and fire away!

The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Have you resolved to be more vocal about unnecessary barking? Start your campaign with the clothing and bumper stickers at the QuietBarkingDogs store.