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Original poster

Help - how to deal with idiot neighbours

13 replies

countrylass · 10/01/2006 13:12

Can anybody please give any advice regarding how to deal with the idiots I live near!

We have some neighbours whose garden is only about 10 metres from our house. They own a dog, who they never take out, but put outside for hours on end to bark incessantly. It doesn't happen every day but goes in fits and starts, for example, one week it will bark every day, then a week with nothing. This has been going on for months and I've contacted the Environmental Health who say that because it is intermittent, it will be difficult to prove that it is a real nuisance. The environmental health have contacted them but they were completely aggressive, rude and unreasonable. A few months ago, dp went round a couple of times to ask them politely to shut the dog up - one occasion was at midnight and it stopped for a short while but then starts up again. Now, I am normally the sort of person to let rip about things like this. The problem is that these neighbours are a family, and go to the same school as my child. We live in a village and I see the mum most days walking backwards and forwards. I know that if I go round there I'll totally lose it, and, although I don't care what she thinks personally, I am reluctant to start World War 3 with someone I have to see so often. I am debating taking the environmental health route again, but have been told that this involves a long process with little chance of an outcome because the family involved are so unreasonable.

Has anyone been in this situation and been able to resolve it? Do you think it would be best to go round and let rip, or (childish I know) play them at their own game and be completely unreasonable about whatever I can think of?

I work from a home alot and today the dog has barked for about three hours. I feel like I'm losing it....

Please help!

OP posts:
PrettyCandles · 10/01/2006 13:15

What about RSPCA?

Avalon · 10/01/2006 13:16

My local council tells you to keep a diary of when the dog barks and for how long. Then they can do something about it.

You could try recording it, I guess? Proof of the loudness and duration.

Or contact the RSPCA - don't dogs only bark continously when they're bored?

flashingnose · 10/01/2006 13:16

What happened when DP went round there and asked them politely? How were they with him?

Original poster
countrylass · 10/01/2006 13:17

Hi

I've tried the RSPCA and they state that as long as the dog is fed and watered every 24 hours and has some form of shelter there is nothing they can do about it. I have kept a diary before, but nothing came of it. The EH seem to limited in what they are able to do.

OP posts:
Mirage · 10/01/2006 13:21

You have my sympathy-we had this problem for years & I am quite sensitized to dogs barking as a result.

Have you tried ringing the dog warden at the local council.Apparently they can get involved if it causes a nuisance.

I hope you get it resolved-it can make life utterly miserable.

Original poster
countrylass · 10/01/2006 13:21

Flashing nose

They told him that they were busy putting the kids to bed (at midnight!) and then to f**k off!! This is the problem - whereas I think some people have the intelligence and integrity to take on board the nuisance they are making of themselves, these people genuinely don't. One of my bedrooms overlooks their garden and they have big patio doors where you can see into their lounge. I've actually seen them sitting inside the house whilst the dog is continually barking. It defies belief!

OP posts:
flashingnose · 10/01/2006 13:26

I think you definitely need to write everything down - when you have approached them and what was said etc. Then from this point onwards, keep a detailed log of when the dog barks and for how long.

In the meantime, I would phone absolutely everyone you can think of, including the organisations you have already spoken to (sometimes by speaking to a different member of staff, you get a different answer).

Someone, somewhere will have responsibility for this - it's a case of finding that person and proving that there is a problem IYKWIM.

Good luck .

moschops · 10/01/2006 16:34

phone your local dog warden.........

when we moved into our house we brought our dog with us (he's now gone to live with the inlaws but that's by the by)..he was a barker, always had been and nothing we did made a difference.

one of our neighbours reported the barking to the dog warden and he came round. he apologised for disturbing me but said that once a complaint was lodged he was obliged to visit me, so the matter had been 'dealt with'.

fairyjay · 10/01/2006 16:56

Do you have any other neighbours that are affected? Could you invite dog owner round for a friendly chat over a coffee?

Having said that, if she was so rude to your dh, I don't think I would be too worried about telling her what you really feel, without consideration for her or her family's feelings!

Freckle · 10/01/2006 17:13

Do they live in rented accommodation? If so, you could complain to their landlord.

FrannyandZooey · 10/01/2006 17:32

The environmental health route is a long one but it's worth pursuing. If you can prove a noise nuisance they can be taken to court and fined - it doesn't matter if they are co-operative people or not.

The other thing I wish I'd done when we were in this situation is get support from neighbours. Other people will be disturbed by the dog too - if you can get a group of people (ok, a lynch mob ) to go round at midnight it is harder to tell them to f off than your poor dp standing politely by himself.

Original poster
countrylass · 10/01/2006 17:48

Thanks for all your suggestions.

They don't live in rented accommodation so can't go down that route.

Funnily enough, this family's direct neighbours moved out a few months ago - because of the noise! They said that the family were also pretty noisy in the house. Perhaps I'll have to befriend their new neighbours. A couple of people nearby have said that they're fed up with hearing the noise, but, they're worried to complain in case the family find out! People round here seem very reluctant to stand up for themselves!

Also, I think I notice it the most because I work from home alot and my 'office' isn't far from their garden. It just amazes me that people have dogs and put them outside for other people to hear. The most annoying thing is that I'm a real animal lover and own a dog myself. I always find time to take him out every day and wouldn't dream of imposing any noise he made on the neighbours. Needless to say, he's really settled indoors because he gets exercised reguarly.

OP posts:
FrannyandZooey · 10/01/2006 18:19
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