Can you sue the owner of the barking dog that's driving you nuts? You sure can! Here's what a Florida real estate attorney has to say:
Homeowner could sue neighbor over barking dog
Now, here's the downside. You could win your case, but your neighbor may appeal. Happened in this case, which began in 2002:
Owners must surgically 'debark' loud dogs, court rules
Here's the money quote from the story:
"The Appeals Court upheld the $238,000 verdict and Gerking’s ruling, reasoning that the Kreins shouldn't have to file lawsuit after lawsuit to recover compensation as the problem continues. In his written opinion, Appeals Judge Joel DeVore likened that to a 'judicial merry-go-round.'"
Thank you, Your Honor. And let's be aware of the fact that merry-go-round has an on/off switch. It can't run forever. Nor should it.
Showing posts with label barking excuses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label barking excuses. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Lies Dog Owners Tell
Ever had an owner tell you that his dear, sweet little doggie doesn't bark? Oh, no. Not ever.
Well, Mr. Dog Owner, what was that sound we heard when we were trying to sleep? Was that your dog, whispering outside our bedroom window?
Then there's that perennial classic: My dog barks because he's doing his job.
And what job might that be? Creating noise pollution? If so, your dog is doing fantastic work! Give him a raise!
Oh, here's another one: No one else has complained about the barking.
Well, maybe not to you, exalted dog owner. And there's a reason for that. It's called futility. We've learned (the hard way) that trying to talk to you about your dog's sacred utterances isn't worth our time.
The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. If those lying dog owners are getting on your nerves, head over to the QuietBarkingDogs store. Plenty of clothing and bumper stickers that quietly make our viewpoint known.
Well, Mr. Dog Owner, what was that sound we heard when we were trying to sleep? Was that your dog, whispering outside our bedroom window?
Then there's that perennial classic: My dog barks because he's doing his job.
And what job might that be? Creating noise pollution? If so, your dog is doing fantastic work! Give him a raise!
Oh, here's another one: No one else has complained about the barking.
Well, maybe not to you, exalted dog owner. And there's a reason for that. It's called futility. We've learned (the hard way) that trying to talk to you about your dog's sacred utterances isn't worth our time.
The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. If those lying dog owners are getting on your nerves, head over to the QuietBarkingDogs store. Plenty of clothing and bumper stickers that quietly make our viewpoint known.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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, 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.
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.
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.
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.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
This Week's Barking News Roundup - 11/29/12
Dear Abby: Barking dog is keeping couple apart
Excerpt: "Princess" is a 2-year-old rat terrier/mini-pinscher mix. She weighs nine pounds and is spoiled. She barks at anyone and anything she sees. Her barks are shrill and can be annoying. But I live alone and feel she is protecting me.
Richard can no longer tolerate Princess' barking and has curbed his visits considerably. Except for this issue, he is my dream guy, and I feel lucky to have found him. I feel Richard should understand my attachment to Princess, especially when he’s not around.
Your Quiet Neighbor's personal to Richard: Get out of this relationship while you still can. Don't walk away from this drama queen and her spoiled Princess. Run, Richard, run!
Dog Owners Turn To ‘Debarking’ Surgery To Keep Their Dogs
Excerpt: Most cities have a noise ordinance and [the owner] had already received complaints, fines and even a court summons about her barking dog. She doesn’t care who thinks she’s cruel; she simply didn’t want her dog taken away from her.
Tip: This story is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.
Barking law shuts up humans
Excerpt: The City of Cape Town says it has received fewer complaints about barking dogs since a controversial bylaw came into effect last year.
But dog trainers say the bylaw, which fines owners if their dogs bark for more than six minutes in an hour, is difficult, if not impossible, to police.
The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Well, the Roundup is back after taking a week off for Thanksgiving. Would you like to give thanks for 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.
Excerpt: "Princess" is a 2-year-old rat terrier/mini-pinscher mix. She weighs nine pounds and is spoiled. She barks at anyone and anything she sees. Her barks are shrill and can be annoying. But I live alone and feel she is protecting me.
Richard can no longer tolerate Princess' barking and has curbed his visits considerably. Except for this issue, he is my dream guy, and I feel lucky to have found him. I feel Richard should understand my attachment to Princess, especially when he’s not around.
Your Quiet Neighbor's personal to Richard: Get out of this relationship while you still can. Don't walk away from this drama queen and her spoiled Princess. Run, Richard, run!
Dog Owners Turn To ‘Debarking’ Surgery To Keep Their Dogs
Excerpt: Most cities have a noise ordinance and [the owner] had already received complaints, fines and even a court summons about her barking dog. She doesn’t care who thinks she’s cruel; she simply didn’t want her dog taken away from her.
Tip: This story is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.
Barking law shuts up humans
Excerpt: The City of Cape Town says it has received fewer complaints about barking dogs since a controversial bylaw came into effect last year.
But dog trainers say the bylaw, which fines owners if their dogs bark for more than six minutes in an hour, is difficult, if not impossible, to police.
The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Well, the Roundup is back after taking a week off for Thanksgiving. Would you like to give thanks for 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.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Leaving Money on the Table
If you've been wondering why it's so hard to get nuisance barking under control, wonder no more. The inaction of tax-supported officialdom isn't just a bug, it's a feature.
And it's not just us, the barking-beleagured, who are trying to enjoy quiet evenings at home or hoping that tonight may be the night when we finally get a restful sleep. Think about the victims of dog attacks.
Many have heard animal control authorities say that what has happened to them was just an unfortunate accident. Too bad that you're seriously injured and facing medical bills that you can't possibly pay. Sorry, case closed. We're not even going to bother with an investigation. Matter of fact, we're giving the poor doggie that mauled you back to its owner.
In a recent post, the Occupy Maul Street blog questions the usefulness of animal control agencies. Quoting from the post:
"In an example of the current trend in Animal Control Departments across the country, San Diego County Animal Services recently launched the controversial 'Dare to Bull-ieve' free Pit Bull Adoption program. San Diego just experienced one of the bloodiest years for any Animal Control District in memory, yet they seem to feel adopting out Pit Bulls to those who can't afford the $69 adoption fee is good policy."
Mind you, this is the very type of dog that kills, maims, and causes serious injury at much higher rates than any other dog. So, why is a tax-supported agency giving them out for free?
Can you get a free gun over at the San Diego Police Department? I don't think so. How about a free loaner car provided by the bar where you've been drinking the night away? I doubt it.
Here in Pima County, Arizona, the animal noise complaint process starts with letters. Yes, that's right. Letters. You've had barking blasted into your living space without your consent and your irresponsible dog owner neighbor gets a letter from the Pima Animal Care Center.
Quoting from this letter:
"Animals make noise for a variety of reasons, including protection of their owner's property, response to new or unusual stimulus or from being left alone. However, animals that make noise routinely over periods of time, or at disruptive times can create hard feelings among neighbors and cause them undue stress and irritability."
Undue stress and irritability. That's the understatement of the year, Animal Care. And hard feelings among neighbors. Talk about sugar-coating the reality.
If you've lived in Pima County for any length of time, you're probably aware that Animal Care loves to cry poor about its funding. Seems that they just don't have enough money.
Well, I'm of the mind that they're leaving money on the table. If they were really serious about abating nuisance barking, they could make a fortune. Tucson Police Department, I'm looking at you too. If you issued barking tickets the way you issue traffic tickets, this city's budget problems would evaporate.
Useful (and fun) reference: Dr. Craig Mixon's BarkingDogs.net site includes an essay, "A Cash Cow, Waiting to be Milked." And, for your reading pleasure, here's Dr. Mixon's money quote:
"Try this for yourself. Go out your front door and walk in any direction. Within ten minutes you will walk by at least four dogs that bark at every pedestrian that passes. (If you take a dog with you on your walk you will find that three times that number of canines bark as you pass by.) In twenty minutes on the job a noise enforcement officer could write a one-hundred-dollar ticket to each of those irresponsible dog owners. That's four hundred dollars he could bring in in twenty minutes. In a single day he could easily generate thousands of dollars for the city coffers.
"Now, in addition to citing irresponsible dog owners, imagine that your town also assigned officers to write tickets for motorized skateboards, car alarms, insanely loud car engines, blaring music systems and motorcycles that can be heard from blocks away. That could add up to a considerable sum for the city. It should easily be enough to hire back some of the teachers that have been laid off, or open some of the parks, playgrounds and clinics that have been closed in these times of budget cuts."
Do I hear the mooing of a herd of cash cows?
And it's not just us, the barking-beleagured, who are trying to enjoy quiet evenings at home or hoping that tonight may be the night when we finally get a restful sleep. Think about the victims of dog attacks.
Many have heard animal control authorities say that what has happened to them was just an unfortunate accident. Too bad that you're seriously injured and facing medical bills that you can't possibly pay. Sorry, case closed. We're not even going to bother with an investigation. Matter of fact, we're giving the poor doggie that mauled you back to its owner.
In a recent post, the Occupy Maul Street blog questions the usefulness of animal control agencies. Quoting from the post:
"In an example of the current trend in Animal Control Departments across the country, San Diego County Animal Services recently launched the controversial 'Dare to Bull-ieve' free Pit Bull Adoption program. San Diego just experienced one of the bloodiest years for any Animal Control District in memory, yet they seem to feel adopting out Pit Bulls to those who can't afford the $69 adoption fee is good policy."
Mind you, this is the very type of dog that kills, maims, and causes serious injury at much higher rates than any other dog. So, why is a tax-supported agency giving them out for free?
Can you get a free gun over at the San Diego Police Department? I don't think so. How about a free loaner car provided by the bar where you've been drinking the night away? I doubt it.
Here in Pima County, Arizona, the animal noise complaint process starts with letters. Yes, that's right. Letters. You've had barking blasted into your living space without your consent and your irresponsible dog owner neighbor gets a letter from the Pima Animal Care Center.
Quoting from this letter:
"Animals make noise for a variety of reasons, including protection of their owner's property, response to new or unusual stimulus or from being left alone. However, animals that make noise routinely over periods of time, or at disruptive times can create hard feelings among neighbors and cause them undue stress and irritability."
Undue stress and irritability. That's the understatement of the year, Animal Care. And hard feelings among neighbors. Talk about sugar-coating the reality.
If you've lived in Pima County for any length of time, you're probably aware that Animal Care loves to cry poor about its funding. Seems that they just don't have enough money.
Well, I'm of the mind that they're leaving money on the table. If they were really serious about abating nuisance barking, they could make a fortune. Tucson Police Department, I'm looking at you too. If you issued barking tickets the way you issue traffic tickets, this city's budget problems would evaporate.
Useful (and fun) reference: Dr. Craig Mixon's BarkingDogs.net site includes an essay, "A Cash Cow, Waiting to be Milked." And, for your reading pleasure, here's Dr. Mixon's money quote:
"Try this for yourself. Go out your front door and walk in any direction. Within ten minutes you will walk by at least four dogs that bark at every pedestrian that passes. (If you take a dog with you on your walk you will find that three times that number of canines bark as you pass by.) In twenty minutes on the job a noise enforcement officer could write a one-hundred-dollar ticket to each of those irresponsible dog owners. That's four hundred dollars he could bring in in twenty minutes. In a single day he could easily generate thousands of dollars for the city coffers.
"Now, in addition to citing irresponsible dog owners, imagine that your town also assigned officers to write tickets for motorized skateboards, car alarms, insanely loud car engines, blaring music systems and motorcycles that can be heard from blocks away. That could add up to a considerable sum for the city. It should easily be enough to hire back some of the teachers that have been laid off, or open some of the parks, playgrounds and clinics that have been closed in these times of budget cuts."
Do I hear the mooing of a herd of cash cows?
Friday, October 26, 2012
This Week's Barking News Roundup - 10/26/12
This week's edition of the Barking News Roundup is dedicated to the hellhound across the street. Thanks for barking me out of a sound sleep at 6 a.m. this morning. I was hoping to sleep in. Oh, I have the same low opinion of your owner.
Barks vs. sirens dog Washougal
Excerpt: The city has a vested interest in reaching middle ground in the noisy conflict. It owns the property on which the Humane Society is located and acts as the shelter's landlord.
City officials say they hope to clear the air and bring peace between the two neighbors. The shelter has been in the same location for more than a decade. [The tax-paying business next to the barkophony] moved into its building about five months ago.
City officials say the two parties need to reach an understanding both sides can live with.
My take: How about this for an understanding? Keep the dogs quiet so that the employees of the tax-paying business next door can get their work done. You can share your thoughts on this story via Facebook.
Dogs beware: County proposing barking ban
Excerpt: The proposed barking dog ordinance says owners of dogs that howl or bark for more than 10 minutes during any half hour period after midnight and before 6 a.m. are subject to fines of $100 for a first offense. A second offense within 12 months means a $250 fine, and additional offenses after that are subject to $500 fines.
Tip: This story is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.
My life, or lack thereof, with dogs
Excerpt: Perhaps someone more Buddhist than I, perhaps someone with more tolerance and generosity of spirit, can put up with spasms of pointless barking throughout the day. But for me, it has the effect of applying a cheese grater to my cerebellum. Not to show my prejudice, but most of the dogs I hear are small dogs and -- I'm pretty sure I read this somewhere -- the barks of "yip dogs" as I call them are scientifically proven to be more deadly to peace of mind than the barks of larger dogs.
Tip: This opinion piece is open for comments via Facebook.
This Week's Barking News Roundup wouldn't be complete without an advice column question. Here goes...
Question: I have new neighbors that moved in up Stairs. They leave their dog alone all day long. The dog is barking non stop, my wife works night shift and it's impossible to sleep. Can they do this, and is there anything I can do? thank you
Found among the answers: I own the place, and people up stairs are renting. I spoke with the owner but it seems they don't care.
To which I say: This is why that oft-heard "talk to your neighbor" advice is so useless. You'll probably have a more productive conversation with a brick wall. Here's what Dr. Craig Mixon, creator of the BarkingDogs.net website, has to say on this subject:
"In my experience, better than 45% of those who maintain noisy dogs are reflexively obstinate people who ignore polite requests and pathetic pleas, and will quiet their dogs only if you hound them for an extended period of time. Incredibly, an equal percentage are dig-in-your-heels, never-give-an-inch, hard core, incorrigibles whose perspective parallels that of Charleton Heston: i.e. you can have quiet when you pry it out of their cold, dead hands.
"At first blush, it doesn't seem possible that the rate of recalcitrance could be that high. After all, if you randomly selected ten people on the street and did a psychological work-up on them, you might find that one or two of them are chronically oppositional. But you would never expect to find that 90% of those whom you randomly evaluated, were predisposed to that kind of behavior. Nonetheless, if you take a close look at those who keep chronically barking dogs, the rate of recalcitrance does indeed seem to be that high."
The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Still want to try talking to your neighbor? I didn't think so. But, on the off chance that they can read, you might want to start walking and driving around with the tee shirts and bumper stickers from the QuietBarkingDogs store. Who knows, they might just get a clue.
Barks vs. sirens dog Washougal
Excerpt: The city has a vested interest in reaching middle ground in the noisy conflict. It owns the property on which the Humane Society is located and acts as the shelter's landlord.
City officials say they hope to clear the air and bring peace between the two neighbors. The shelter has been in the same location for more than a decade. [The tax-paying business next to the barkophony] moved into its building about five months ago.
City officials say the two parties need to reach an understanding both sides can live with.
My take: How about this for an understanding? Keep the dogs quiet so that the employees of the tax-paying business next door can get their work done. You can share your thoughts on this story via Facebook.
Dogs beware: County proposing barking ban
Excerpt: The proposed barking dog ordinance says owners of dogs that howl or bark for more than 10 minutes during any half hour period after midnight and before 6 a.m. are subject to fines of $100 for a first offense. A second offense within 12 months means a $250 fine, and additional offenses after that are subject to $500 fines.
Tip: This story is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.
My life, or lack thereof, with dogs
Excerpt: Perhaps someone more Buddhist than I, perhaps someone with more tolerance and generosity of spirit, can put up with spasms of pointless barking throughout the day. But for me, it has the effect of applying a cheese grater to my cerebellum. Not to show my prejudice, but most of the dogs I hear are small dogs and -- I'm pretty sure I read this somewhere -- the barks of "yip dogs" as I call them are scientifically proven to be more deadly to peace of mind than the barks of larger dogs.
Tip: This opinion piece is open for comments via Facebook.
This Week's Barking News Roundup wouldn't be complete without an advice column question. Here goes...
Question: I have new neighbors that moved in up Stairs. They leave their dog alone all day long. The dog is barking non stop, my wife works night shift and it's impossible to sleep. Can they do this, and is there anything I can do? thank you
Found among the answers: I own the place, and people up stairs are renting. I spoke with the owner but it seems they don't care.
To which I say: This is why that oft-heard "talk to your neighbor" advice is so useless. You'll probably have a more productive conversation with a brick wall. Here's what Dr. Craig Mixon, creator of the BarkingDogs.net website, has to say on this subject:
"In my experience, better than 45% of those who maintain noisy dogs are reflexively obstinate people who ignore polite requests and pathetic pleas, and will quiet their dogs only if you hound them for an extended period of time. Incredibly, an equal percentage are dig-in-your-heels, never-give-an-inch, hard core, incorrigibles whose perspective parallels that of Charleton Heston: i.e. you can have quiet when you pry it out of their cold, dead hands.
"At first blush, it doesn't seem possible that the rate of recalcitrance could be that high. After all, if you randomly selected ten people on the street and did a psychological work-up on them, you might find that one or two of them are chronically oppositional. But you would never expect to find that 90% of those whom you randomly evaluated, were predisposed to that kind of behavior. Nonetheless, if you take a close look at those who keep chronically barking dogs, the rate of recalcitrance does indeed seem to be that high."
The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Still want to try talking to your neighbor? I didn't think so. But, on the off chance that they can read, you might want to start walking and driving around with the tee shirts and bumper stickers from the QuietBarkingDogs store. Who knows, they might just get a clue.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
This Week's Barking News Roundup - 10/18/12
Attleboro man gets 35 years in barking dog murder
Excerpt: A Massachusetts man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after pleading no contest to fatally stabbing a man last year in a dispute over a barking dog.
Tip: This story is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.
Police Dispatch: The Pool is the Victim
Excerpt: A trailer-park couple's "kiddie pool" was stabbed into nonfunctionality, according to a Pima County Sheriff's Department report.
A woman told deputies that she'd recently received a handwritten note—tacked to her trailer's door—from the people occupying the neighboring trailer. The note had reportedly complained about the woman's dogs, which "barked too much," and about a small plastic wading pool that the woman and her husband kept filled with water to let their dogs "cool off."
According to the note, the neighbors believed the pool had been attracting mosquitoes, the woman said. However, the woman claimed she and her husband dumped out the water and filled it with new water every other day or so.
Tip: This story is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.
Barking dogs a nuisance to the neighbors
Excerpt: The other dogs in the neighborhood don’t bark. I am retired and love my Westies dearly, but even I cannot stand the barking.
Tip: This advice column is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.
Animals in the House: A good watch dog
Excerpt: You may THINK he's "being a watch dog," but if he barks frequently, no one who hears him thinks, "I had better go see what Sparky is barking at!" Instead, they are likely thinking, "There goes that stupid dog again!
Tip: This opinion piece is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.
The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Just when we thought the owners of barking dogs were oblivious to the noise, we have this week's story about the Westies that just won't be quiet. Will wonders never cease. If you'd like to further the cause of peace and quiet, head over to the QuietBarkingDogs store. Plenty of tee shirts and bumper stickers that let people know where you stand.
Excerpt: A Massachusetts man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after pleading no contest to fatally stabbing a man last year in a dispute over a barking dog.
Tip: This story is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.
Police Dispatch: The Pool is the Victim
Excerpt: A trailer-park couple's "kiddie pool" was stabbed into nonfunctionality, according to a Pima County Sheriff's Department report.
A woman told deputies that she'd recently received a handwritten note—tacked to her trailer's door—from the people occupying the neighboring trailer. The note had reportedly complained about the woman's dogs, which "barked too much," and about a small plastic wading pool that the woman and her husband kept filled with water to let their dogs "cool off."
According to the note, the neighbors believed the pool had been attracting mosquitoes, the woman said. However, the woman claimed she and her husband dumped out the water and filled it with new water every other day or so.
Tip: This story is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.
Barking dogs a nuisance to the neighbors
Excerpt: The other dogs in the neighborhood don’t bark. I am retired and love my Westies dearly, but even I cannot stand the barking.
Tip: This advice column is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.
Animals in the House: A good watch dog
Excerpt: You may THINK he's "being a watch dog," but if he barks frequently, no one who hears him thinks, "I had better go see what Sparky is barking at!" Instead, they are likely thinking, "There goes that stupid dog again!
Tip: This opinion piece is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.
The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Just when we thought the owners of barking dogs were oblivious to the noise, we have this week's story about the Westies that just won't be quiet. Will wonders never cease. If you'd like to further the cause of peace and quiet, head over to the QuietBarkingDogs store. Plenty of tee shirts and bumper stickers that let people know where you stand.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
This Week's Barking News Roundup - 10/11/12
Oakley leaders waiting on county to put bite in barking dog ordinance
Excerpt: Both the city and county have rules on the books that are difficult to enforce. Oakley's ordinance stipulates that a dog must be barking incessantly for at least 15 minutes or intermittently for 30 minutes for the noise to be considered a violation. Proving that requires an officer to remain on site for that length of time, which city officials acknowledge is not feasible.
The county's ordinance is similarly problematic because it requires people in two separate households to file a complaint before authorities will issue a citation. Bona fide violations often go unpunished because only one neighbor is willing to sign the form...
Tip: This story is open for comments via Facebook.
Resident seeks solution to neighbours’ barking dogs issue
Excerpt: [The resident] said there are 12 acreages near her home, with nine of them owning dogs, not including a local animal rescue in the area.
Out of a total of 15 dogs on the nine acreages, six are allowed to run free with no containment and three are kept chained to a leash or are behind an electric fence.
She said six owners leave their dogs unattended from 24 to 96 hours at a time and in this case, barking never ceases.
Tip: This story is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.
Editorial: Letting dogs bark constantly is rude
Excerpt: Yes, we may, indeed, have greater things to worry about in our world today - war, the economy, poverty and on and on.
But shushing their barkings dog shouldn't be too much to ask of our neighbors.
It's a matter of respect for others and common courtesy.
Tip: This editorial is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.
Shelter: Horn to quiet dogs creating a racket
Excerpt: A company located behind an animal shelter put up a horn to try to discourage the dogs from barking. But, the West Columbia Gorge Humane Society said it's their neighbor making all the noise.
The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Had enough of the racket? Tired of yelling at those clueless neighbors and their barking dogs? Rest your voice and drop by the QuietBarkingDogs store. Plenty of tee shirts and bumper stickers that quietly and firmly get the point across.
Excerpt: Both the city and county have rules on the books that are difficult to enforce. Oakley's ordinance stipulates that a dog must be barking incessantly for at least 15 minutes or intermittently for 30 minutes for the noise to be considered a violation. Proving that requires an officer to remain on site for that length of time, which city officials acknowledge is not feasible.
The county's ordinance is similarly problematic because it requires people in two separate households to file a complaint before authorities will issue a citation. Bona fide violations often go unpunished because only one neighbor is willing to sign the form...
Tip: This story is open for comments via Facebook.
Resident seeks solution to neighbours’ barking dogs issue
Excerpt: [The resident] said there are 12 acreages near her home, with nine of them owning dogs, not including a local animal rescue in the area.
Out of a total of 15 dogs on the nine acreages, six are allowed to run free with no containment and three are kept chained to a leash or are behind an electric fence.
She said six owners leave their dogs unattended from 24 to 96 hours at a time and in this case, barking never ceases.
Tip: This story is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.
Editorial: Letting dogs bark constantly is rude
Excerpt: Yes, we may, indeed, have greater things to worry about in our world today - war, the economy, poverty and on and on.
But shushing their barkings dog shouldn't be too much to ask of our neighbors.
It's a matter of respect for others and common courtesy.
Tip: This editorial is open for comments. Follow the above link to add yours.
Shelter: Horn to quiet dogs creating a racket
Excerpt: A company located behind an animal shelter put up a horn to try to discourage the dogs from barking. But, the West Columbia Gorge Humane Society said it's their neighbor making all the noise.
The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Had enough of the racket? Tired of yelling at those clueless neighbors and their barking dogs? Rest your voice and drop by the QuietBarkingDogs store. Plenty of tee shirts and bumper stickers that quietly and firmly get the point across.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
This Week's Barking News Roundup - 10/03/12
Letter: Bark tax would provide stimulus
Excerpt: The Internal Revenue Service should set up sensors in neighborhoods that record the incidence of dog barking. The dogs' owners should then be taxed one penny per bark. The revenue gained would probably enable the national debt to be paid off within a year. The rechargeable bark-control dog collar business would probably boom, and within five years, America's neighborhoods would be quiet. Real estate values would also surge, work productivity would rise and the cost of animal control would plunge.
Tip: This letter to the editor is open for comments via Facebook. So far, there's a commenter asking the letter writer this question: "If you dislike barking dogs so much then why live in an area that has dogs?" Answer: Because it's hard to live anywhere on this planet without having to deal with barking dogs.
More training, collar ordered for barking dog
Excerpt: Selectmen have received more complaints about a barking dog on Worcester Road, more than 18 months after its owner was ordered to take steps to ease the noise concerns.
"The longer it [the barking] goes on, the more crazy it makes me," said [a neighbor]. The barking interferes with conversations in her own home, she said. Discussions with the [dog owners] have not produced results, she said.
My comment: Just goes to show you that there are some people who have no business owning a dog. Because they can't handle the responsibility. And I think that in cases like the one described above, the dog should have been confiscated. Neighbors shouldn't have to put up with this sonic garbage.
The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Got clueless neighbors with chronically barking dogs? Don't yell -- you'll just lose your voice. Instead, start a neighborhood fashion trend via the tee shirts and bumper stickers in the QuietBarkingDogs store.
Excerpt: The Internal Revenue Service should set up sensors in neighborhoods that record the incidence of dog barking. The dogs' owners should then be taxed one penny per bark. The revenue gained would probably enable the national debt to be paid off within a year. The rechargeable bark-control dog collar business would probably boom, and within five years, America's neighborhoods would be quiet. Real estate values would also surge, work productivity would rise and the cost of animal control would plunge.
Tip: This letter to the editor is open for comments via Facebook. So far, there's a commenter asking the letter writer this question: "If you dislike barking dogs so much then why live in an area that has dogs?" Answer: Because it's hard to live anywhere on this planet without having to deal with barking dogs.
More training, collar ordered for barking dog
Excerpt: Selectmen have received more complaints about a barking dog on Worcester Road, more than 18 months after its owner was ordered to take steps to ease the noise concerns.
"The longer it [the barking] goes on, the more crazy it makes me," said [a neighbor]. The barking interferes with conversations in her own home, she said. Discussions with the [dog owners] have not produced results, she said.
My comment: Just goes to show you that there are some people who have no business owning a dog. Because they can't handle the responsibility. And I think that in cases like the one described above, the dog should have been confiscated. Neighbors shouldn't have to put up with this sonic garbage.
The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Got clueless neighbors with chronically barking dogs? Don't yell -- you'll just lose your voice. Instead, start a neighborhood fashion trend via the tee shirts and bumper stickers in the QuietBarkingDogs store.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
This Week's Barking News Roundup - 09/20/12
Editor's Note: In this edition of the Barking News Roundup, we're going to take a special look at that oft-repeated advice to talk to the owners of barking dogs. Public officials and law enforcement are especially fond of offering it. Read on, and you'll quickly see how useless such advice really is.
Question: Why would killing neighbors barking dogs be considered illegal?
Excerpt: Polite requests from all surrounding neighbors have been ignored and laughed at by morons with caged dogs in back yard. These dogs bark ALL NIGHT long. There is no dog control due to local political incompetence. At this point, we are all at the boiling point. ALL local law enforcement ignores our complaints. I'm about to just take these dogs out.
Tip: This question awaits your response. And be advised that the question's creator says, "[T]o all you self-righteous responders just shut up the pie-hole. Also, we've all tried the useless dog bark stoppers on the market."
Question: Drug Dealer Neighbors With Barking Dogs
Excerpt: My neighbor's dogs wake me up at all hours of the night barking. It is taking its toll on my well being and capacity to work. It's actually a big big problem that is not fixed by ear plugs and multiple sources of white noise. I am literally surrounded by white noise. The big problem? I'm fairly certain they are drug dealers. I have tried to handle the noise in a low key straightforward manner, acting as if they wer not drug dealers. Someone tipped off the landlord though about the barking and they blame me for "tattling".
Tip: Another question that you can respond to. Have at it!
New research: playing classical music in kennels stops dogs barking
My suggestion: Cue up the 1812 Overture and aim it at the neighbors with the barking dogs. Or how about Ride of the Valkyries?
No dog control ordinance for Oxford Twp.
Excerpt: [A Township Supervisor] noted that normally, he doesn't believe in creating "excessive ordinances," but he can "empathize" with people disturbed by barking dogs because he has some personal experience with the issue. "I am bothered a lot by barking dogs," he said.
Barking dogs in Brooklyn fined by city
Excerpt: It's rare for New York City to issue citations over a barking dog. But two dogs in Marine Park, Brooklyn, were so loud that an inspector did act.
Both dogs fined live right next door to each other. Owners say the dogs egg each other on.
Hint to New York City: You're overlooking a cash cow that's just waiting to be milked. Start levying those fines. Your taxpaying, peace and quiet-loving residents will thank you.
The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Well, this sure is the Barking News Roundup that has it all. A neighbor driven to the point of contemplating the final solution to barking noise. Do-nothing law enforcement and clueless public officials. And a city that's missing out on a huge revenue opportunity. While Your Quiet Neighbor does not endorse violence against barking dogs or their owners, I do recommend a trip to the QuietBarkingDogs store. You'll find a nice, quiet array of tee shirts and bumper stickers that get our point across.
Question: Why would killing neighbors barking dogs be considered illegal?
Excerpt: Polite requests from all surrounding neighbors have been ignored and laughed at by morons with caged dogs in back yard. These dogs bark ALL NIGHT long. There is no dog control due to local political incompetence. At this point, we are all at the boiling point. ALL local law enforcement ignores our complaints. I'm about to just take these dogs out.
Tip: This question awaits your response. And be advised that the question's creator says, "[T]o all you self-righteous responders just shut up the pie-hole. Also, we've all tried the useless dog bark stoppers on the market."
Question: Drug Dealer Neighbors With Barking Dogs
Excerpt: My neighbor's dogs wake me up at all hours of the night barking. It is taking its toll on my well being and capacity to work. It's actually a big big problem that is not fixed by ear plugs and multiple sources of white noise. I am literally surrounded by white noise. The big problem? I'm fairly certain they are drug dealers. I have tried to handle the noise in a low key straightforward manner, acting as if they wer not drug dealers. Someone tipped off the landlord though about the barking and they blame me for "tattling".
Tip: Another question that you can respond to. Have at it!
New research: playing classical music in kennels stops dogs barking
My suggestion: Cue up the 1812 Overture and aim it at the neighbors with the barking dogs. Or how about Ride of the Valkyries?
No dog control ordinance for Oxford Twp.
Excerpt: [A Township Supervisor] noted that normally, he doesn't believe in creating "excessive ordinances," but he can "empathize" with people disturbed by barking dogs because he has some personal experience with the issue. "I am bothered a lot by barking dogs," he said.
Barking dogs in Brooklyn fined by city
Excerpt: It's rare for New York City to issue citations over a barking dog. But two dogs in Marine Park, Brooklyn, were so loud that an inspector did act.
Both dogs fined live right next door to each other. Owners say the dogs egg each other on.
Hint to New York City: You're overlooking a cash cow that's just waiting to be milked. Start levying those fines. Your taxpaying, peace and quiet-loving residents will thank you.
The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Well, this sure is the Barking News Roundup that has it all. A neighbor driven to the point of contemplating the final solution to barking noise. Do-nothing law enforcement and clueless public officials. And a city that's missing out on a huge revenue opportunity. While Your Quiet Neighbor does not endorse violence against barking dogs or their owners, I do recommend a trip to the QuietBarkingDogs store. You'll find a nice, quiet array of tee shirts and bumper stickers that get our point across.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
This Week's Barking News Roundup - 09/13/12
Ask A Cop: Can I Call the Police on a Barking Dog?
Question: When can a person call the cops on a neighbor's barking dog?
Answer: We don’t go out on barking dogs at all. It’s a nuisance complaint so we are not going to respond in person. If there is something else going on, like the person can see the dog and it doesn’t have food and water or it is tangled, that would be different. That would be a neglect call. But if it’s simply barking, we won’t respond in person.
Tip: This story is open for comments. A lot of commenters aren't too happy about how the police and animal control are handling this community's chronic barking noise. Follow the above link to share your experience.
Owner of Barking Dogs Receives Conditional Discharge
Excerpt: [That famously irresponsible Tonawanda dog owner] said she learned her lesson as she left Town of Tonawanda Court Wednesday night after a judge handed down a one year conditional discharge instead of sending the 77-year-old to jail for one day. Since 2009, she has been cited by town officials more than 30 times.
On a more positive note...
There are a few police departments that have a more enlightened approach than the one featured in this week's lead story. Here, for your reading pleasure, is the Canby, Oregon Police Department's Barking Dogs page.
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.
Question: When can a person call the cops on a neighbor's barking dog?
Answer: We don’t go out on barking dogs at all. It’s a nuisance complaint so we are not going to respond in person. If there is something else going on, like the person can see the dog and it doesn’t have food and water or it is tangled, that would be different. That would be a neglect call. But if it’s simply barking, we won’t respond in person.
Tip: This story is open for comments. A lot of commenters aren't too happy about how the police and animal control are handling this community's chronic barking noise. Follow the above link to share your experience.
Owner of Barking Dogs Receives Conditional Discharge
Excerpt: [That famously irresponsible Tonawanda dog owner] said she learned her lesson as she left Town of Tonawanda Court Wednesday night after a judge handed down a one year conditional discharge instead of sending the 77-year-old to jail for one day. Since 2009, she has been cited by town officials more than 30 times.
On a more positive note...
There are a few police departments that have a more enlightened approach than the one featured in this week's lead story. Here, for your reading pleasure, is the Canby, Oregon Police Department's Barking Dogs page.
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.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Protection From What?
Quite often, you'll hear the owners of barking dogs say that the dogs are there for protection. To which I say: Protection from what?
Around here, there are barking dogs that go ballistic at:
So, again, why all the noise? Is it a way of intimidating the rest of the neighborhood? Offering public proof of what a jerk you are?
To the dogs, I say that you're doing a great job. And the great job you're doing is preventing peace and quiet in the neighborhood.
The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. If you yearn to walk through your neighborhood without the non-stop barking assault, have I got a store for you! Check out the tee shirts and bumper stickers in my QuietBarkingDogs store.
Around here, there are barking dogs that go ballistic at:
- Joggers
- Walkers
- Bicyclists
- Children heading to or from the school bus stop
- Dogs being walked on leashes, and no, those dogs aren't barking
- People in wheelchairs and motorized scooters
- Families out for a stroll
So, again, why all the noise? Is it a way of intimidating the rest of the neighborhood? Offering public proof of what a jerk you are?
To the dogs, I say that you're doing a great job. And the great job you're doing is preventing peace and quiet in the neighborhood.
The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. If you yearn to walk through your neighborhood without the non-stop barking assault, have I got a store for you! Check out the tee shirts and bumper stickers in my QuietBarkingDogs store.
Friday, August 31, 2012
When someone tells you that dogs bark...
...respond by saying "Yeah, and some dogs barkandbarkandbarkandbarkandbark."
Feel free to add as many "andbark" repetitions as you need to get your point across. I guarantee that you won't need very many. I also guarantee that anyone listening will beg you to stop the chronic barking imitation.
At that point, you say "Welcome to my world."
The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Silence is golden. And so are the tee shirts and bumper stickers in my QuietBarkingDogs store.
Feel free to add as many "andbark" repetitions as you need to get your point across. I guarantee that you won't need very many. I also guarantee that anyone listening will beg you to stop the chronic barking imitation.
At that point, you say "Welcome to my world."
The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Silence is golden. And so are the tee shirts and bumper stickers in my QuietBarkingDogs store.
The Futility of Mediation
Introduction: In many areas, mediation is offered to people who are dealing with chronic barking. This means that you're supposed to take time out of your busy, barking-interrupted existence to sit down with the dog owner and work out some sort of agreement.
Or, maybe-just-maybe, the mediation session will uncover the real issue that underlies your problem with that barking dog. Perhaps the neighbor is of a different ethnic group. A different religion. A follower of different sports teams. Or something like that.
The following story recounts my one and only experience with mediation in the city of Tucson. The mediation took place on July 14, 2005. At that time, mediation was a mandatory step in the animal noise complaint process. There was no personal safety exemption. Which meant that if your neighbor was a gang-banger, a drug trafficker, a motorcycle gang member, or some other form of lowlife, you had to show your face in a mediation with him or her.
The animal noise complaint process was changed in 2010. These days, mediation is no longer mandatory. As you can see from this page, mediation is now optional. But I doubt that barking noise mediation is any more effective than it was when I experienced it.
Here's my morning-after-mediation story:
Among other things, my neighbor tried to suggest that it wasn't his dog that was engaging in the multi-hour barkathons that I find so annoying.
The most recent barkathon took place this past Sunday evening between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., and the barking was so loud and persistent that I had to resort to wearing earmuffs and earplugs in my house -- with all the doors and windows closed -- in order to fall asleep.
Every time he offered that "not my dog" argument, I took him and the mediators on a quick verbal tour of the houses around me, pointing out which ones had dogs and which ones didn't, and describing the behavior of the other dogs in the area. The other dogs are not chronic barkers, and, therefore, whose dog could it possibly be?
He had no answer to that question.
He also tried to paint me as a newcomer who wasn't used to the ways of this neighborhood, and hey, he and his parents had lived here for more than a decade and had never had anyone complain about their dogs. (They have two, a female pug, which is the chronic barker, and a male puppy of this dog.)
Furthermore, he insisted that the dogs are kept inside the house from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. But that still did not explain why the barking was so loud that I have to resort to wearing earmuffs and earplugs inside my house -- with all the doors and windows closed.
In addition, he implied that my making a barking dog complaint had to do with racial discrimination. One of the mediators was very quick to point out that she had observed nothing in my demeanor or manner of speaking that would indicate such a thing.
If anything, I tried very hard to keep my presentation focused on the use of facts and logic, rather than on the use of emotion.
Solutions:
The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. To my lovely, pug-neglecting neighbors, I have this to say: You have provided me with inspiration. Which I am now sharing with the world through this blog and the QuietBarkingDogs store. Thanks again, neighbor-jerks. I couldn't have done it without you.
Or, maybe-just-maybe, the mediation session will uncover the real issue that underlies your problem with that barking dog. Perhaps the neighbor is of a different ethnic group. A different religion. A follower of different sports teams. Or something like that.
The following story recounts my one and only experience with mediation in the city of Tucson. The mediation took place on July 14, 2005. At that time, mediation was a mandatory step in the animal noise complaint process. There was no personal safety exemption. Which meant that if your neighbor was a gang-banger, a drug trafficker, a motorcycle gang member, or some other form of lowlife, you had to show your face in a mediation with him or her.
The animal noise complaint process was changed in 2010. These days, mediation is no longer mandatory. As you can see from this page, mediation is now optional. But I doubt that barking noise mediation is any more effective than it was when I experienced it.
Here's my morning-after-mediation story:
Among other things, my neighbor tried to suggest that it wasn't his dog that was engaging in the multi-hour barkathons that I find so annoying.
The most recent barkathon took place this past Sunday evening between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., and the barking was so loud and persistent that I had to resort to wearing earmuffs and earplugs in my house -- with all the doors and windows closed -- in order to fall asleep.
Every time he offered that "not my dog" argument, I took him and the mediators on a quick verbal tour of the houses around me, pointing out which ones had dogs and which ones didn't, and describing the behavior of the other dogs in the area. The other dogs are not chronic barkers, and, therefore, whose dog could it possibly be?
He had no answer to that question.
He also tried to paint me as a newcomer who wasn't used to the ways of this neighborhood, and hey, he and his parents had lived here for more than a decade and had never had anyone complain about their dogs. (They have two, a female pug, which is the chronic barker, and a male puppy of this dog.)
Furthermore, he insisted that the dogs are kept inside the house from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. But that still did not explain why the barking was so loud that I have to resort to wearing earmuffs and earplugs inside my house -- with all the doors and windows closed.
In addition, he implied that my making a barking dog complaint had to do with racial discrimination. One of the mediators was very quick to point out that she had observed nothing in my demeanor or manner of speaking that would indicate such a thing.
If anything, I tried very hard to keep my presentation focused on the use of facts and logic, rather than on the use of emotion.
Solutions:
- He gave me his land and cell numbers and advised me to call whenever I'm bothered by the barking. I fully intend to do that.
- There are quite a few feral cats in this area, and none of the local dogs are happy about that. I've found that using Shake Away cat repellant has been quite effective in keeping cats off my property. I suggested that he also start using this product, in hopes that it will repel feline visitors from his place, and give his dogs one less thing to bark about.
- Since the dog seems to go into these barkathons when no one is home over there, I suggested that they provide some human sounds for the dogs. I told him and the mediators that I used to house-sit for a lady who told me to put the radio on whenever I left the house. She said that having music playing soothed the dog when all of his humans were gone.
- In the three years after the mediation, I called this man's land and cell phone numbers many times. During the day. During the evening. At midnight when the dog was left outside in the freezing cold. And during the wee hours of the morning. I'll never forget being rousted out of a sound sleep at 4:45 a.m. on an Easter Sunday. More than one call turned into a shouting match. Finally, on April 13, 2008, my call was met with a curt "I don't live there anymore!" response. So much for trying the telephone route.
- This neighborhood still has feral cats. I've tried all sorts of ways to keep them off this property, including Shake Away. Nothing has worked. And the cats are but one of many things that causes that pug to launch into a yapping frenzy.
- Music for the dog? I don't think they ever tried that. I've never been convinced that they have this dog for any other reason than making money from its puppies.
The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. To my lovely, pug-neglecting neighbors, I have this to say: You have provided me with inspiration. Which I am now sharing with the world through this blog and the QuietBarkingDogs store. Thanks again, neighbor-jerks. I couldn't have done it without you.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
This Week's Barking News Roundup - 08/30/12
Tucson Tails: Dog's 'Right To Bark' Upheld By Magistrate
In the Lousy Legal Decision Hall of Shame, we have this: [A] City Magistrate ruled yesterday that a dachshund has a right to bark providing the noise does not disturb persons "of ordinary tastes and average sensibilities."
Further in the story, the hyper-sensitive, complaining, cute little dachshund-hating neighbor is reported as saying, "[S]he heard the barks at night from a distance of 75 feet, even with the bedroom window closed."
Tip: You will be very pleased to know that the story commenters don't think highly of the magistrate's decision. Follow the above link to join the commenting fiesta.
Barking dog leads to civil dispute
All I can say is, what a surprise!
Vernon Looks To Tighten Barking Dog Policy
Excerpt: The town's animal control officer remains confident that recent changes in how barking dog complaints are handled should give the town a little more bite in court.
The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Yours Truly is writing this post from my currently quiet home in the great city of Tucson. How nice it is that all of the neighborhood dogs have decided not to bark for a few minutes.
You may not be at all surprised to learn that I've also been in court with neighbors over their inability to keep their dog inside so it wouldn't bark-bark-bark and disturb everyone living within two blocks of their front yard. And the judge hearing the case was every bit as clueless as the aforementioned magistrate. Long story short, I lost the case, even though I presented lots of evidence about the barking and its negative effects on my right to quiet use and peaceful enjoyment of my house.
Well, judge, it's our turn. I've set up a QuietBarkingDogs store for anyone who wishes to live without the constant barking noise. The store has bumper stickers and tee shirts for quietly making a point.
In the Lousy Legal Decision Hall of Shame, we have this: [A] City Magistrate ruled yesterday that a dachshund has a right to bark providing the noise does not disturb persons "of ordinary tastes and average sensibilities."
Further in the story, the hyper-sensitive, complaining, cute little dachshund-hating neighbor is reported as saying, "[S]he heard the barks at night from a distance of 75 feet, even with the bedroom window closed."
Tip: You will be very pleased to know that the story commenters don't think highly of the magistrate's decision. Follow the above link to join the commenting fiesta.
Barking dog leads to civil dispute
All I can say is, what a surprise!
Vernon Looks To Tighten Barking Dog Policy
Excerpt: The town's animal control officer remains confident that recent changes in how barking dog complaints are handled should give the town a little more bite in court.
The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Yours Truly is writing this post from my currently quiet home in the great city of Tucson. How nice it is that all of the neighborhood dogs have decided not to bark for a few minutes.
You may not be at all surprised to learn that I've also been in court with neighbors over their inability to keep their dog inside so it wouldn't bark-bark-bark and disturb everyone living within two blocks of their front yard. And the judge hearing the case was every bit as clueless as the aforementioned magistrate. Long story short, I lost the case, even though I presented lots of evidence about the barking and its negative effects on my right to quiet use and peaceful enjoyment of my house.
Well, judge, it's our turn. I've set up a QuietBarkingDogs store for anyone who wishes to live without the constant barking noise. The store has bumper stickers and tee shirts for quietly making a point.
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