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AIBU?

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Original poster

New neighbour

41 replies

Quornflakegirl · 14/02/2022 23:07

We have a new neighbour who moved in about 2 weeks ago, she’s very friendly and seems nice. The problem is her dog! He barks almost constantly when she leaves him alone, she works nights a few times a week and he just does not stop barking! Tonight he started barking at 8:30 and it is still continuing, I have just messaged her to let her know that he must be very unhappy being left alone. Last week he also some got over her high garden fence and chased my terrified cat over the fence and into the street. Our cat is now scared to go outside and hovers around the back door.

What can I do!? I really want a happy neighbourly atmosphere so need to tread lightly.

OP posts:
steppemum · 14/02/2022 23:15

she probably doesn't know.

So go and talk to her. Explain that you don't want to be a pain, but was she aware etc etc. But aslo be clear, he is keeping you awake, and it is not great.

No dog should be left for more than 4 hours, day or night. So if she is working a whole shift and then coming home I'm not surprised he barks.

GabriellaMontez · 14/02/2022 23:17

Speak to her. Leaving the dog to bark is unreasonable.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 14/02/2022 23:19

Dog shouldn’t be left alone all night.

Original poster
Quornflakegirl · 14/02/2022 23:23

He’s still barking and has done so for 3 consecutive hours! I messaged her this evening, a friendly heads up but I doubt there’s anything she can actually do. It’s highly unpleasant to listen to and the room the dogs are in backs onto our living room, we couldn’t even hear the tv this evening!

OP posts:
GettingThemFromHereToThere · 14/02/2022 23:26

Is she renting or the owner?

Unfortunately, if her lifestyle doesn't fit with having a dog, then she should think about rehoming. Obviously you can't tell her that but it's not something you should be expected to put up with and it's clearly not nice for the dog.

When does the dog tend to stop? I'd be going crazy if I were you.

But yes, she may be unaware I guess. I'd text her every night she's working and the dog is barking. She'll soon have to think of a solution (hopefully!)

Original poster
Quornflakegirl · 14/02/2022 23:29

He stops when she comes home and it crescendos with both of them howling like mad when she comes through the door! She’s only done 2 shifts so far but they have also done this once during the day when she was out.

OP posts:
PurplePansy05 · 14/02/2022 23:33

So there are two dogs, not one? Is only one of them problematic? I think you need to have a word with her, the dog can be trained appropriately. I'm guessing she has two to keep each other company, but one may have separation anxiety, for example.

Original poster
Quornflakegirl · 14/02/2022 23:36

Yes two but only one barks (thank god)

OP posts:
Elieza · 14/02/2022 23:42

My neighbours had a barky bastard.

For a decade I listened to 20 mins of howling after the last one left the house to go to work, followed by repeated barking for nine hours a day

I did staycations because I couldn’t afford to go abroad so every holiday I had for a decade was enjoyed in the garden to the sound of incessant bloody barking.

The only time I got a rest is when she was on mat leave. Unless she went out without the dog. In which case I had to listen to it then. And sometimes at weekends too if they went out.

It was a nightmare.

Get her told that you’re really sorry but it’s completely unacceptable and other neighbours are likely to complain too, so she really has to do something about it or someone is bound to involve the council noise police.

I feel sorry for the wee cat but I doubt she’ll put up higher fences to keep the beasts in the garden, so I doubt there is much you can do.

I hope she moves on soon.

DiddyHeck · 14/02/2022 23:42

@Quornflakegirl

He stops when she comes home and it crescendos with both of them howling like mad when she comes through the door! She’s only done 2 shifts so far but they have also done this once during the day when she was out.
He stops when she comes home and it crescendos with both of them howling like mad when she comes through the door!

I didn't realise there were two dogs.

I was thinking Why the fuck is your neighbour howling too?? 🤣🤣

Original poster
Quornflakegirl · 14/02/2022 23:46

DiddyHeck 😂😂😂

OP posts:
penguin23 · 15/02/2022 00:36

My neighbour has 2 dogs that bark constantly all day long, she leaves them all day for work and sometimes at night too when her and her partner go out. A number of neighbours approached her about it in a friendly way in the beginning, only to be met with a tirade of abuse. RSPCA or dog warden not interested either, so she knows she can get away with it. She also never walks them, they get walked once a week for 10 mins by her partner 🤷🏻‍♀️ I honestly don’t know why she has them! I hope you get a better reaction to your message than we did, it’s absolute torture to listen to and even worse when the owner couldn’t give a shit!

Original poster
Quornflakegirl · 15/02/2022 06:52

She responded that they are usually quiet when she’s out (not sure how she’d know that) and that she hopes it doesn’t wake me. It did, it kept me up until 1am!

OP posts:
KatherineofGaunt · 15/02/2022 07:10

Then you need to reply that yes, you were awake until 1am! Or text her at 1am next time saying the dog is still barking.

This would drive me insane.

user1471538283 · 15/02/2022 07:31

You need to explain this to her. I would also say that one of them chased your cat into the street and the next time the dog could be run over or bump over a child (not to be insensitive about your cat I would be livid if it were either of mine but she might be more receptive to your looking out for her dog). I would also explain that your cat is now terrified. Maybe she could look into doggy daycare? Give her some options.

If that doesn't work then I would call environmental health. They are rubbish in our city but because its a dog in distress they might do something? I know someone who did have her dog taken off her because it was howling when she was out and she hadn't taken any advice of the professionals.

Horst · 15/02/2022 07:37

Get the ball rolling with a noise report to the council. They will want you to keep a two week log before they do anything anyway.

She’s already doing oh they don’t normally which you know is total bs as they do it everytime she goes out.

Elieza · 15/02/2022 08:22

That’s a good point about keeping a diary of the barking times. The council have noise monitoring equipment they can use in these situations.

Sorry did you say she rents? If so the housing association would take your complaint seriously.

Blinkingheckythump · 15/02/2022 08:37

How exactly would she even know if they are quiet or loud when she's not there?! That's a very daft comment from her

SmolCat · 15/02/2022 08:44

@Quornflakegirl

She responded that they are usually quiet when she’s out (not sure how she’d know that) and that she hopes it doesn’t wake me. It did, it kept me up until 1am!
How would she know? 😂

Just stay polite but factual. ‘Unfortunately it did keep me up until 1am.’

It’s not like there’s nothing she can do about it. My dog would make lots of noise if I left it alone overnight. My doggy day care offers overnights so if I was doing night shifts in the short term I’d send him there. In the long term I’d get a behaviourist to help with separation anxiety, especially as they’re struggling when left in the day too.

AnEpisodeOfEastenders · 15/02/2022 08:45

Record it on video and take it round to her to show her how distressed the dog is getting. Dog owners don't know what their dog is really like when they're not with the dog so having a recording of it will show how distressed the dog is getting.

Kbyodjs · 15/02/2022 08:47

I thought it was your neighbour howling too when she came in!
I think you need to politely keep telling her, she probably doesn’t realise but it’s not fair on anyone including the dog

Laiste · 15/02/2022 08:48

@Quornflakegirl

She responded that they are usually quiet when she’s out (not sure how she’d know that) and that she hopes it doesn’t wake me. It did, it kept me up until 1am!
And tell her so.

While coms are open about the dog noise keep it going.

If she has all the facts and still does nothing about it then you can go to the council and talk to them about the noise as pp says.

It's lovely to all be jolly and friendly with our neighbours - but if she happily allows this to continue she's being a cunt, not a nice friendly neighbour!

Also - you wont be the only one hearing the dogs and getting annoyed. So she won't know for sure who reported her to the council if they get in touch with her.

Redwinestillfine · 15/02/2022 08:50

Keep a log,RSPCA complaint and if they don't take it seriously report it and them to the council c

LampLighter414 · 15/02/2022 08:50

Record noise and report to council

Report to rspca

Your mental health and wellbeing trumps her rights to poorly look after a dog

GabriellaMontez · 15/02/2022 08:51

If shes going to he unhelpful I'd go straight to the council and report a noise nuisance.