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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To report my neighbour to environmental health because her dog always barks?

20 replies

CelticPixie · 13/03/2013 09:32

The family who live over the back from me have a dog and it barks constantly. It's barking now and its set my dog off which in turn has set off every other dog on the bloody street. I know all dogs bark but this one literally barks all day, every day and its driving me mad. They go out, I'm assuming to work, and leave the dog in the garden on its own. I can't see it through the fence.

Normally I'd just tell her quietly "do you know that your dog is barking all. the time?" But this family, the woman in particular, have a habit of complaining to their neighbours about everything including barking dogs. A few years ago she made the life of a lovely, mentally ill man a living hell. He had a few dogs, and yes they barked a bit but not as much as hers is doing now. She continually harassed him about the noise, making threats about reporting him etc until in the end he had to give his dogs away which broke his heart. He's since passed away sadly. I also know for a fact that she humbugged another woman who lives a few doors down from me because her Yorkshire terrier very occasionally barks when she lets it into the garden for a wee.

Other complaints include her whinging about other people's children playing on a trampoline in a garden and moaning about my next door neighbours conifer trees and trying to force them to cut them down. Not because they were blocking the light from her home but because birds were nesting in it and they were waking her up early in the morning.

So as you can see she's all to eager to complain when other people's noise impacts on her life, but obviously doesn't give a shit when she's does the same to other people. I suppose I want to report her to get one over on her, especially for the way she hounded the mentally ill man. But I'm wondering if its a little bit childish at the same time? She's such a stuck up cow as well. She looks like someone is holding a piece of dog shit under nose most of the time.

OP posts:
wannabedomesticgoddess · 13/03/2013 09:37

If the dog truely is barking all the time then report it.

If its purely to get back at her, just ignore her and get on with your life.

Greydog · 13/03/2013 09:41

report it, but keep a diary of everything, what time and how long, be scrupulous in doing this. Have a look at this www.gov.uk/how-to-resolve-neighbour-disputes/complain-about-noise-to-the-council. Apart from anything else it's not fair to the animal

CelticPixie · 13/03/2013 09:43

Greydog. I think they've had the dog a while, but its only recently started barking. Probably because Thev've suddenly started to leave it outside in the garden! I do think its a bit cruel as well.

OP posts:
Nancy66 · 13/03/2013 09:46

is the neighbour in a private residence?

Hate to say it but if she is there's very little that will happen. We live next door to people with dogs that bark constantly and all our complaints have come to nothing.

Greydog · 13/03/2013 09:48

it's a bit cold to be left out - maybe the RSPCA? The came pretty quickly when we made a report.

Nancy66 · 13/03/2013 09:50

RSPCA told me that unless dogs are left alone for more than 24 hours they don't intervene.

Greydog · 13/03/2013 10:02

Pixie, how long does it bark for? What about at night? You might be best keeping a record before you go anywhere. Nancy, I agree that the RSPCA can be really wishy washy (unless the TV cameras are with them), but surely if it's out in the cold then they should at least look into it. Maybe they're too busy making adverts.

wannabedomesticgoddess · 13/03/2013 10:08

Its not cold to be left out.

We had a neighbour (dont know what her problem is as our dog genuinely does not bark) phoned council and RSPCA. Neither found any issues.

We actually wanted them to put sound equipment in so that her arguements, slamming doors and constant parties would get recorded. Oh and she was whistling at our dog to get him to bark at her. He just did the head tilt.

Anyway, its nonsense to suggest its too cold to leave a dog out. RSPCA expect a dog to have access to shelter at all times though, so if there is no provision for that they will give the owner some time to sort that out. But its not law that dogs must be kept indoors.

Enigmosaurus · 13/03/2013 10:12

Yanbu.

We lived with a barking dog next year for 4 years and I wish I had complained sooner. It barked constantly - 30 times a minute for hours and hours and hours day and night because it was left alone for long, long periods.

I reported it to the council who asked me to fill out their forms for 2 weeks. I filled 5 sides in three days. It got to the stage where he was on a final warning before prosecution and he had no choice but to stop it. It is never left alone now and rarely barks.

Don't put up with it. You don't have to.

Greydog · 13/03/2013 10:14

But, Wanna, I don't know if it has any shelter? The 2006 Animal Welfare act says that they must have suitable shelter - www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13333-cop-dogs-091204.pdf

wannabedomesticgoddess · 13/03/2013 10:17

I dont know if the kids down the street get fed or clothed properly.

Should I call SS??

wannabedomesticgoddess · 13/03/2013 10:18

Oh and "shelter" could be a kennel. Doesnt have to be a centrally heated kennel though.

Greydog · 13/03/2013 10:19

If you're concerned about the kids, then yes!

wannabedomesticgoddess · 13/03/2013 10:20

Well they walk past my house now and then. But the mum is a right cow. She goes around gossiping about her mates brothers cousin.

wannabedomesticgoddess · 13/03/2013 10:24

I suppose I want to report her to get one over on her, especially for the way she hounded the mentally ill man. But I'm wondering if its a little bit childish at the same time? She's such a stuck up cow as well. She looks like someone is holding a piece of dog shit under nose most of the time.

This is what I take issue with.

The majority of the OP is about how awful the woman is. Not about the dog.

In answer to your question OP, yes you are being childish.

Greydog · 13/03/2013 10:30

But it sounds like this woman is a horror any way-She continually harassed him about the noise, making threats about reporting him etc until in the end he had to give his dogs away which broke his heart. He's since passed away sadly. and if the dog is barking all day then something needs to be done

wannabedomesticgoddess · 13/03/2013 10:32

As I said in my first post, if the dog is barking all day, report it.

But stop bitching about the neighbour.

wannabedomesticgoddess · 13/03/2013 10:34

Being a "horror" is not good enough reason to do anything to anyone.

Society has gone mad. Just get on with your own lives and let others be unless there is a real reason to speak out.

hoodoo12345 · 13/03/2013 10:39

I would be very careful about setting off down the road you are considering, if she is as bad as you say she could turn her attention on you.

RatPants · 13/03/2013 17:16

Dogs bark sometimes. It happens.

Is it really affecting you enough to waste your time and energy reporting and monitoring your neighbours for possibly months?

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