Because he worked the night shift, Jim Wilson spent most of his daylight hours sleeping. Unfortunately, it was usually around the same time his head would hit the pillow that his neighbor’s Boston terrier, Jax, would start barking. Often times the barking would continue for several hours interfering with Jim’s much needed sleep. Exhausted and frustrated, Jim was not sure what to do to quiet his neighbor’s very vocal pet. Here’s how four cities in the U.S. handle the loud issue of nuisance barking:
Los Angeles, California
In Los Angeles, California it is illegal for dog owners to allow their pet to continue to bark or make other persistent animal noises, such as howling or whining, after the pet owner has been given a written warning. Allowing your pet to do so could result in a hearing. Typically the owner or owners of the problem pooch are expected to appear before the hearing once a second warning has been received. In some cases an owner may lose the right to own a dog.
For more information visit LA Animal services:
http://www.laanimalservices.com/laws-policies/nuisance-barking/
New York City, New York
New York City makes it pretty easy to complain about problem barking. They provide an online form that the offended party can fill out. Once the Department of Environmental Protection, otherwise known as the DEP, has received the complaint, they will send a letter to the dog’s owner within seven days. If this is not the first time the offending pet owner has received notice of their pup’s persistent barking, then the DEP has the right to do a noise inspection.
For more information feel free to visit NYC 311 at:
http://www1.nyc.gov/nyc-resources/service/1187/noise-from-dog
Anchorage, Alaska
The municipality of Anchorage provides a fairly comprehensive guide on what to do about barking, which also includes a link to a helpful pamphlet and insights into why dogs bark in the first place. Interestingly, it is recommended that the offended party first reach out to the dog owner and explain, in a neighborly and polite way, how the dog’s barking has interfered with their quality of life. This approach suggests that by being friendly and understanding a feud between neighbors can be avoided. However, if approaching the neighbor fails to result in less barking, residents can contact Anchorage Animal Control.
For more information on Anchorage Animal Control please visit:
http://www.muni.org/Departments/health/Admin/animal_control/Pages/BarkingDogs.aspx
Miami, Florida
In Miami, it is illegal to harbor not only a dog, but any pet that makes continuous noise that is easily heard within 100 feet of a home or other building in which said animal is dwelling. This ordinance is in effect 24 hours a day.
For more information on Miami’s loud animal ordinance please visit:
http://www.miamidade.gov/animals/loud-pets.asp
