to think that having 15 chihuahuas in one flat is not acceptable...

[suggestionsplease1]

I'm in Glasgow in a tenement flat and one of my neighbours has about 15 chihuahuas in their flat! They breed from them and the racket they make at all times of day and night is unbearable. The owners have occasionally had them outside in the back court area in the past but they are out of control and one bit a resident on the calf, so now they are pretty much cooped up in the flat the entire time.

It's a welfare issue as well as a noise issue.

How do we get a solution to this? SSPCA either aren't interested (they think we are complaining about the noise more than animal welfare- which isn't their remit, or they aren't given access by the owners, who seem to know they can not check on the animals without permission to go in.) We have recorded the noise and complained to the relevant people at the Council, but they don't seem to take it seriously either! They speak to the owners who make promises but nothing changes.

What do we do next?

I dont think youre allowed to run a business (if breeding is for selling and you can prove it. Lots of people coming in and out with money and puppies) from a council property so i d be onto the council again.
Envoiremental health dept too, that many dogs in a tenement flat is going to cause noise and mess. Smell too i bet.
Here (council house) we 're only allowed 2 furry animals, 2 cats or 2 dogs or one of each or youre breaking the tenancy agreement.

Have you approached it with Council from a licensing perspective rather than a noise perspective ?

www.gov.uk/dog-breeding-licence-england-scotland-wales

Have you got a tenement's association? If not, who organises the common stair cleaning/lighting?

I'd start with them and your fellow tenement neighbours.

You actually need planning permission to have more than 6 dogs so you could report to local council planning enforcement.

Many thanks for the suggestions - the flats are privately owned by individual owners. We have previously contacted the factor of the building who we jointly pay for services and insurance, but they have been unable to achieve anything either . These are freehold properties rather than leasehold, as per 100% of Scotland I believe.

I am trying to investigate it from a licensing perspective, but needless to say the phone number sends me in a loop of recorded messages, none of which are relevant for my enquiry, and the online contact forms are similarly all about getting a license or renewing. Glasgow City Council seems to do all it can to avoid actually speaking to you or allowing you to contact them about more nuanced info that doesn't already fit into one of their neat categories, I will persevere!

Inland revenue would be a good place to start - if they are breeding them then I'd guess they sell the pups and make money? I'd be willing to bet they don't report the income..