Neighbours barking dogs driving us crazy. Advice needed please

[barkingdogs]

Firstly we're not dog owners and have never had dogs so am turning to you all as you obviously have some experience of them. Also I've name changed just in case neighbour is on here.

A neighbour has 5 dogs. The numbers have crept up over time. Recently they spend all day in the garden barking - one main offender but the others sometimes join in. The barking sounds as if the animal is getting distressed TBH and he is almost hoarse by the end of the day. They also jump into the surrounding gardens of the neighbours -I'm worried they'll get into our garden when my little one is out there.

The dog owning neighbours are out at work and school all day but the dogs do also bark when they're around so its not as if they don't know what they are capable of.

IMO the neighbour doesn't walk them enough (they only seem to get one brief walk a day) -they are all quite big, active dogs -the sorts that need exercise and stimulation so presumably this is why they are barking a lot? (bored, understimulated?).

Approaching neighbour about noise etc is not an option unless I want to be screamed at face to face.

Environmental Health Noise Pollution is an option but I'm wondering if its an animal welfare issue too? If so would EH involve them if they see fit?

Any thoughts anyone.

Thanks

Phone your local council and speak to the dog warden. They will pay a visit and if necessary get RSPCA involved if there are any welfare issues.

Thanks Isla.

I did look at the local councils website but the dog warden bit seemed to concentrate on stray dogs, dangerous dogs and fouling. I guess theres no harm in phoning them to discuss though.

Do you think they would act on it based on the info I've given

It's a noise issue speak to envtl health

So is it just a noise issue then SixtyFootDoll with no welfare issue?

Is it acceptable to leave dogs for that amount of time regularly and not exercise them enough?

(BTW those are genuine questions and I don't mean it in an arsey way -I read it back and thought it could sound a bit "off" IYSWIM)

I had the same issue - our local countil has a policy on it and I had to keep a 'noise diary' of when/how long dog was barking etc. Have you checked your local council website? IME, RSPCA aren't interested if dogs are fed/have shelter etc and whether or not they are exercised properly isn't a concern. Good luck - I know how soul destroying it can be. For what it's worth, I screwed up courage and approached neighbour, who had no idea what a nuisance they were. Dogs are now much quieter, and things are ok with neighbour (though we are not at the popping round for coffee stage!)

I don't know much about dogs, but if they are fed, watered and generally well cared for then don't think RSPCA would do much.
For me the noise would be the biggest issue.

harriet -I'm not brave enough to speak to her. I'm no wuss but she is a scary lady!

My gut feeling is that they aren't being cared for properly but they aren't being cruelly neglected IYSWIM.

Do you know anyone else living near you who might be brave enough to broach the subject? Any other family member?

If you are nice about it and say "I just wondered if you are aware...", I can't see she can take too much offence. As she's not there in the day she may not know the fuss they are creating. A good owner would be grateful for letting them know the dogs were distressed.....but you can't bank on that one .

If not, I guess the council, but personally, I'd be far less upset if someone spoke to me than phoned the council about me. It may be that you need to summon up courage. Would a friendly note be an option, saying you really don't want to ring the council? Good luck!

musicposy -I'm afraid its really not an option. She has shouted down people before and has not responded well to friendly advice about the dogs in the past .

I think its going to have to be Environmental Health and I suppose they may possibly involve the dog warden as they are both local council depts. and no doubt have crossovers in the cases they deal with.

Thanks everyone who has commented so far. Any more comments more than welcome.

Just realised that I omitted to mention that the house is a standard terrace with a small garden/yard with no grass in case this makes a difference to the welfare side.

We have had the same problem int he past and complained to environmental health, kept and diary and the person was warned and the noise has reduced although the dog does still bark occasionally... I can cope with occasionally! There is no way I could cope with 5 dogs barking all day, the stress would literally drive me mental, i'm feeling anxious just thinking about it!

Your neighbour is a selfish fuckwit, as dog owners like this usually are. I suggest you get on to env health and If her house is a council/HA house you could complain direct to them too.

The house is privately owned.

On a positive as its the weekend and they are currently home the barking is only occasional at the moment (but its that awful feeling of waiting for it all to start again )

Keep a diary and go to env health. Start today with the diary. Even if the weekend is quiet, you can't be expected to live with it 5 days a week.It does look as this is your only option. You'll be doing to dogs a favour by the sound of it.

I've been there, four dogs next door, owner out all day, Non stop barking 24 hours of it.
RSPCA wont do anything as the dogs aren't being mistreated.
Enviromental health fitted sound recorders and we filled in noise diaries.
We spoke to neightbours and so did EH.
Neighbour got totally arsy and made even more noise.
We sold up.

No way would we want to sell up

Noise diary started