How do I complain about neighbours dog?

[caggie3]

Next door neighbours bought a German shepherd a few months ago, it stays in their garage almost all the time and is constantly howling, crying and barking. Firstly I feel sorry for the dog, it's no life being stuck in a garage and not walked, he's occasionally loose in the garden for an hour but doesn't seem to even be allowed in the house. Secondly I don't want to hear a dog barking and crying all the time, not as bad now it's winter and the windows are shut but it's not the nicest thing to listen to.
Thirdly I am wary of large breeds, I'm sure some are gentle but as a rule of thumb I don't really like dogs that I couldn't defend my tiny children from and I worry that a dog being kept in this environment could easily become aggressive, their garage leads straight out on to the driveway not into their enclosed garden ( that is through a gate) so I do worry about the possibility of it ever making a break for it and attacking

I want to complain to be honest for the dogs sake and my own but not sure where to start?

I think firstly you need to separate out what is a genuine complaint, from what is your own distaste. Firstly to keep your complaints objective, but also so that if you do decide to go to a relevant authority they actually take your complaint seriously- so you don’t like large breeds and are wary has no place in this complaint- and if you go to the council with this they will just decide you don’t like dogs and want rid so will dismiss your complaint.

On the noise. Are they aware of the noise? Does it happen only when they are out, or is it constant? If they might reasonably not know you firstly need to politely make them aware.

then you need to start recording the incidence. Noise complaints aren’t just a dog barking, it needs to reach a threshold to be considered a nuisance; either for periods of longer that 30 minutes or for several minutes every hour. You can then when you have a record contact the council. Who will then write a warning letter, or come and visit and do spot checks to verify the level of the complaint. You need to make sure that your record is accurate- I’ve worked with someone who was subject to a noise complaint, but actually had their own camera on the dogs and proved the complaint was malicious.

on the welfare side, you need to first remember that some dogs are kennelled, if you look at the dog through that lens is the garage not appropriate? Have you seen the set up in there? Is it clean, with appropriate bedding and constant access to water? If you are concerned, then the RSPCA is your best bet here.

If the dog is a noise nuisance you need to speak to the owners and tell them that .

Go round and have a chat with them. If they are out all day then they might not be aware it howls and barks all day. Be friendly but make them aware it's not acceptable. Hopefully they will do something about it but if not you need to start recording times and noise if you can then speak to your local council. RSPCA won't do anything unless it doesn't have access to food / water.

Poor dog, some people shouldn't be allowed to be dog owners.

I personally would call the rspca. I think they might check the basics, food, water, heating at least.

Im not sure that if the neighbours keep the poor dog in the garage all day with no walks, they are the sort of people that will take kindly to you telling them how to treat their dog. Plus they will know you called rspca.

I would deal with the welfare of the dog first.

Keep notes of how often you can hear it.

The RSPCA are only interested if you can see that the dog doesn't have shelter and water. The council will write a letter but will not be interested in following anything through after this.
I've been writing to the council for over a year about NDN dog who's alone barking from 5:30am to late afternoon, and there's nothing they can do.

I've spoken to neighbours here about their dog barking incessantly, I've also done it where we lived previously. It worked well both times. Just polite, factual but firm. I also point out that I'm a dog lover, a dog owner and I don't allow my dog to continue barking.

Alternatively print out this thread and post it through their door!...

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4571292-surely-dog-barking-annoys-the-owners-too?reply=117975715

Unless your neighbours acknowledge the dog’s needs are not being met I don’t think anything will change.
I feel sorry for the dog, he’s clearly unhappy. I have a German Shepherd and they are a vocal breed but not to the extent you are hearing. That dog is communicating he is unhappy, he lacks stimulation and exercise which as a large, intelligent breed he absolutely needs lots of.
The owners are disgraceful and shouldn’t have a dog, they are creating problems now and greater ones for the future.