Constant dog barking can be really annoying for most people – sometimes we try to ignore it, especially if it is unusual and the owner/s are not home. I had to resort to wearing earplugs at one time when my neighbour worked at night, so did her dog work at letting us all know he was not happy. Then there are dog owners who are just oblivious to their dog’s barking, not attempting to quieten the animal. The most distressing sound is when a dog is howling.

The advice from Councils is to firstly contact the owner: maybe they are not aware that Rover barks when nobody is home, although some owners just shrug their shoulders and say “Well, dogs bark.” True, but only for short periods, usually when something is going on around their property, a dog that barks a lot is either very bored, frustrated or distressed. Council offers a dispute resolution: apparently around 90% of mediations result in an agreement between two parties. Should further complaints be received, a diary sheet is given to the complainant to record barking incidents over a 7-day period. The written record is required if evidence is needed for possible court action. Once the diary/survey sheet is returned, a Council officer may conduct site visits to the property based on the information provided and determine if a noise nuisance exists. The dog’s owners can be served with a compliance notice and, or a fine.
Then there are the escapees – dogs that wander the streets, get lost or just get into mischief.
A pet dog escaping or a gate left open happens to most owners at some time or other, but there are the regulars. These dogs are in danger of being hit by a car or causing an accident. If a wandering dog is regular and you do not know where it lives, it is best to report it to Council, for the dog and everyone’s safety. The dog may be impounded, but is a wake-up call for owners to either secure their fencing, exercise and spend more time with the dog. Many loose dogs will not let a stranger near them, while some can respond aggressively. I have taken a few dogs to the vet surgery on the Mountain who are very helpful: they will read the microchip, phone the owner and hold the dog for a period of time. Most dogs are microchipped and collected by their owners.
Please consider all the humane responsibilities of having a dog before getting one, we ought to care about all aspects of their welfare and safety for the life of the dog, which could be many years.
Pam Brandis
Dip. Canine.Prac.