Dog Barking Nuisance Law

Dog Barking Nuisance Law - If your neighbor barking a dog drives you crazy, or your barking dog pushes your neighbor crazy, what will happen next depends on your city's ordinances.

While public disturbance laws vary, most describe the specific situation in which you can file a complaint against your neighbor or vice versa.

Barking by Minutes
Dogs bark That's their nature. They tell the owner to the people on the property or any unusual events. Reasonable people put up with a bunch of barks, but outside of a certain time frame it is excessive and annoying. In some jurisdictions, after a dog barks continuously for twenty minutes in a row, you can simply contact a nearby animal control officer to conduct an investigation or you may file a complaint. In Centennial, Colorado, your dog is on the hook if he barks continuously for 10 minutes during the day and five minutes at night.

Process
Depending on the municipality, neighbors should call and complain or lodge written and formal complaints. Generally, barking dog owners get warning from the animal control officer after the initial complaint. He was given some time, usually five days a week, to fix the problem. If there are other complaints, he is likely to face fines. In many jurisdictions, violating an interference rule is considered a class 1 violation.

Punishment
Violation laws usually give prison time in their laws, but that usually does not happen unless the situation is completely out of control and the dog owner ignores the situation. Penalties increase with each violation. In Massachusetts, officers responsible for animal control may order a dog's "disposal" after the investigation, but the owner also has the right to petition the local court for trial. While most complaints against barking disorders may be legitimate, animal control officers and other officials know that these problems can also arise from "neighboring wars."

Solution
Chances are the animal control officer is a dog lover and will be willing to work with you. Many city websites offer information to address your dog's barking problem. Phoenix, Arizona, recommends speaking with your neighbor about the nature of the problem, including time, duration and possible reasons for barking. San Diego, California, advises dog owners to not leave their canine teeth outside if they are not at home. Livermore, California, recommends leaving a low-volume radio when you're out to muffle outside sounds that can stop your dog. Of course, you should often train your dog, if necessary, by using a skin correction collar can eliminate barking disorders. If your dog is barking because of separation anxiety, the visit to the vet is regular. He may prescribe medication to address the problem.