The new merged all-barking dog thread

[Birch]

On the north side of the 2200 block of Catherine Street is a german shepard that has barely stopped barking in the four years I've lived nearby. I've called the SPCA, the Animal Control Board, the Police all to no avail. I've walked over to the house and knocked on the door to try and speak with the owner. They never answer. This poor dog is left outside most of the year. I feel sorry for the dog, but it is driving me and the rest of my neighbors crazy! It barks day and night. Isn't there a noise ordinance or some legal precedent that could be used to demand something be done? It is ridiculous that one household can so negatively affect the quality of life for so many.

It is barking as I am typing! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

[Marianne]

There is a noise ordinance that provides, in relevant part,
" Animal Sounds. No person shall cause or permit more than 5 expressions of sound from one or more animals (such as individual barks from one or more dogs) during a five minute period from any property audible at a distance greater than 50 feet from the property boundary. This shall not apply to zoos, veterinary hospitals or clinics, animal shelters, a circus or other licensed entertainment venue, or a facility used for educational or scientific purposes, such as schools and laboratories."

I've heard that the noise enforced is enforced almost never, though.

I know this is really annoying to you, but it's even worse for that poor dog. http://www.cuhumane.org/topics/bark.html
Whoever that dog belongs to probably should not have a dog, or needs some serious education.

[Lolly]

http://www.ultimatebarkcontrol.com/

[R.L. Yacht]

I had a problem with a dog (more specifically, it's poop) and I would call PAWS every other day, and keep a call log to track how many times I called. Finally I got someone other than the normal phone person, and lo and behold, my complaint was in the system as calling only twice.

So here is what I did:

I looked up the PAWS President, and the Board of Directors president, and copied them on a letter that I sent to the PSPCA. (by then the dog was starting to look horrible). My letter stated how I was ignored for so long, and now the dog was sick.

Two days later...dog gone, and in the hands of the PSPCA getting treatment.

I also suggest copying the councilman that is an advocate of animal rights (Jack Kelly), and maybe even the Philly Inquirer.

Keep a copy. Keep sending letters. The rules are the rules, and it sounds like the dog isn't being treated well, so you have a moral obligation to do this. You must. Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? No, so you shouldn't stop at making calls. Get pen and paper handy and start writing!!! Hooooohah!

--To be fair, I called now and again for two years with no results. It took my coworker, who overheard the calls, to get me to write the letter.

[radically4peace]

I agree that this is not just a nuisance and a noise violation but a case of animal neglect, as well.

As someone else suggested, keep making official complaints, and have your neighbors do so as well.

It could be a really good dog, but it is in a state of stress from being left outside in the cold and probably isn't getting any attention, love, and perhaps not enough food or water. Poor thing! I'd probably make a big racket if I was locked in a city yard in all kinds of weather.

No one deserves to have a pet. It is a privilege. Too many people in this city think it's cool to get a German Shepherd or a Pit Bull and train it as a guard dog but not treat it with respect. These are the dogs that wind up hurting someone. And this is why the SPCA is overflowing with these breeds of dog.

I hope to hear this gets resolved. There is most likely someone out there who would love to adopt that dog if they removed him from the home and got him some TLC. Shepherds are really smart and need to interact with other animals and people. He's probably cold, hungry, and bored!

[roxyfoxy]

We used to have people in a house behind us who would put their two dogs out early morning before 6a.m.. These dogs would bark continuously, probably because they were done doing what they had to do, and wanted to go in, but the owners would take their old sweet time and let them back in whenever they felt like it. A few of the neighbors mentioned this to the owners, but got nowhere.We called animal control but got nowhere.The dogs were out early morning before 6a.m., barking up a storm. My neighbor called the police and was told that they would actually have to hear the dogs barking; so she or I would call at the time the barking started. The police came out once or twice, heard the barking and told the people that they would be issued a fine if it continued. Of course, it stopped for a while. But then it started again, so we called the police again, it was no use talking to the owners at this point. The police came out again, about 2 or 3 times and then it stopped for good. Thank goodness, not long after this, the people finally moved away.
The poor dog needs to be helped. He shouldn't be out most of the time. That's neglect and abuse. I'm surprised the SPCA hasn't done anything.
I don't mind if a dog barks once or twice and then becomes quiet, or if a dog is barking with good reason, e.g., intruders, injury, being provoked by snotty kids, but these two would just bark for nothing at all for long periods of time. I am a dog owner myself and as soon as my dog barks, I hurry to let him in, I don't want to disturb the neighbors, plus the fact that his barking annoys ME! What I could never understand is why this incessant barking didn't annoy the owners...

[WhizKid]

Hi all,
I'm in the process of trying to get certain neighbors to comply with chronic barking/noise laws. Certain addresses have been a recurring problem for years and is seriously affecting my 'quality of life' at home.
Yes, animals only reacting to stimulus and needs but owner is disturbing the peace by proxy and it should be dealt with as such in my mind - arrest 'em up for disturbing the peace.

pacca/paws no help, police sympathetic but also no lasting solution.

Going to Don Schwartz office soon to register complaint and seek possibly new enforcement laws.

Lolly,
I wouldn't pay @ 100 bucks total for that sonic device you linked to - but what about those old steel dog whistles?
Available anywhere? Legal in PA?

RL Yacht - we need more responsible pet owners like you.
Thanks,
- Tom
an animal/peace lover

[ObliviousBliss]

Did you know that it's legal for someone to leave their dog/s out all day and night barking and there's nothing the police will do about it? They told me it's seen the same as a baby crying. When's the last time you heard a baby crying, looked out your window and saw a baby all by itself in a yard in very cold temperatures?
I don't get this. And then they expect us not to retaliate against these people with some kind of vandalism. I'm not into hurting dogs so I take it out on their house and not the dog.
What do you think about this? Am I totally crazy for thinking this is crazy?

[ObliviousBliss]

Try www.goodlifecompany.com They have Dog Silencers. I just got one and it seems to be working but they say it takes two weeks to "train" them. I got a 30 day money back guarantee. I guess it wouldn't hurt to try?
It'd work best with someone who lives close to the dog and where he/she is barking.

[ObliviousBliss]

Oh, I'm sorry, someone else already had suggested it.