Noisy Dogs
A dog that barks or howls a lot can be extremely annoying to a nearby resident. An owner may not be aware that his/her dog is making any noise, particularly if it happens when the owner is at work.
Why dogs bark
There are a number of reasons why a dog may bark a lot. Perhaps it
- is suddenly left on its own during the day when it has not been left alone before. This can be very distressing for the animal
- does not get enough physical exercise
- does not get enough mental exercise
- sees or hears people or other animals close by
- has been encouraged to bark by the owner, a previous owner or maybe local children
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 it is an offence to cause a statutory nuisance to another resident. Most dogs bark at sometime or other but if this barking is noisy and regular enough it can be a statutory nuisance. Following a complaint, a dog warden and/or member of the Environmental Health team would investigate and make a decision on whether this case would qualify.
What would happen
Where it is decided the barking does count as a statutory nuisance, the owner of the dog would be served with an abatement notice requiring him to stop the dog causing the nuisance within a set time period. Failure to heed this notice could lead to prosecution and heavy fines.
Check to make sure there is no problem
Ask your neighbours if there is a noise problem when you leave your dog. It is better to find out sooner than later if there is.
Do not be afraid to ask for advice from the dog warden if you think your dog is causing a problem. We will do all we can to work with you and your neighbours to come up with a solution. We would rather sort out the problem amicably than use legal action.
Contact the dog warden if you are having problems with a barking dog and wish to make a complaint or discuss the matter.