Complaining about noisy dog next door. Who do I contact?

Saskia · 09-11-2006 11:33AM #1

Ok my second rant in the space of ten mins but this is one thats been bugging me for weeks. Ive tried dropping hints to a neighbour about a dog of hers that barks out the back NON STOP and still the noisy barstard yelps day and night. My sleep cycle is absolutely fcuked because of this and I need to do something through the right channels about it before I fall out severely with the neighbour.

Is there anyway I can complain about this mutt anonymously?

Lynfo · 09-11-2006 11:38AM

Maybe the ISPCA? imo it's cruel to leave a dog outside like that for so long, i have the same problem with a neighbour across the road. especially on halloween night, you could hear the fear in the poor dog with all the bangers going off.

b0bsquish · 09-11-2006 11:40AM

Think happy thoughts, be kind to the dog, give it a sandwich..... with a valium in it, dogs happy, your happy....everyones happy!

Saskia · 09-11-2006 11:40AM

Wouldnt be the ISPCA in this case as its environmental noise control thing. Or something. Anyone?

Saskia · 09-11-2006 11:43AM

b0bsquish wrote:

Think happy thoughts, be kind to the dog, give it a sandwich..... with a valium in it, dogs happy, your happy....everyones happy!

I was thinking more along the lines of rat poison. Ahem. Joke. No really. A Joke. :cool:

User45701 · 09-11-2006 11:44AM

if the dogs bark is above the legal noise limit then contact the gardai they will inform her to keep the dog inside, but worst case scenario she dosent and the dog is taken by the RSPCA

i remember a few years back a blind woman who lived behind my dads house when i was a kid had a dog (obsivally) and the dog was not treated that well it was kept in the back garden and would bark and yelp you if it saw you and would only stop if you went over and gave it some pets and attention though the small gap in the fence between the gardens

Saskia · 09-11-2006 11:47AM

User45701 wrote:

if the dogs bark is above the legal noise limit then contact the gardai they will inform her to keep the dog inside

She's obviously going to know its one of her neighbours in this scenario. Cant I just throw it under a bus? Joke. No really. A Joke. Honestly. :cool:

biko · 09-11-2006 11:47AM

Go into a Garda station and ask. There are breach of peace laws, maybe this falls under that.

Rb · 09-11-2006 11:48AM

Buy earplugs.

the evil belly · 09-11-2006 11:55AM

isn't all this a bit last resort? you've said you've dropped hints, why don't you come straight out and talk to your neighbour. simply explain the problem and ask if it would be possible for them to keep the dog in or something. i'm sure the guards have better things to worry about then barking dogs and you haven't tried to sort it yourself. i'd say by all means contact someone about it if after trying the direct approach nothing changes. they might be genuinely unaware how big a problem this is for you.

which would you prefer if it was your dog?

Saskia · 09-11-2006 11:55AM

rb_ie wrote:

Buy earplugs.

I think they're breaking the law. Why should I? Dog Kebab anyone?

Saskia · 09-11-2006 12:06PM

the evil belly wrote:

isn't all this a bit last resort? you've said you've dropped hints, why don't you come straight out and talk to your neighbour

Ive tried that too and to be honest we've lived beside too long for me to be too blunt with them. The neighbours are retired and its an akward situation Id rather deal with anonymously. The reason I asked here is there was a radio ad a couple of months ago giving people a number to complain about such domestic environmental noise problems but I havent heard it recently and Google isnt coming up with any pecific watchdog (pardon the pun) for this kind of thing.

petes · 09-11-2006 12:15PM

Saskia wrote:

Ive tried that too and to be honest we've lived beside too long for me to be too blunt with them. The neighbours are retired and its an akward situation Id rather deal with anonymously. The reason I asked here is there was a radio ad a couple of months ago giving people a number to complain about such domestic environmental noise problems but I havent heard it recently and Google isnt coming up with any pecific watchdog (pardon the pun) for this kind of thing.

Surely since you have lived beside them for some time you should be able to talk rationally to them without coming off as blunt?

TwoShedsJackson · 09-11-2006 12:18PM

Why would you want to be blunt with them? If you've lived beside them that long, just rationally explain your problem and see if they can/will sort it out for you. It's amazing what actually speaking to people can accomplish you know.

If that doesn't work and you need to take it further, ring the Environment Dept. of the local Council, they're the ones in charge of noise nuisances, uncontrolled animals etc. The Gardai won't give a ****e about it.

Rb · 09-11-2006 12:18PM

petes wrote:

Surely since you have lived beside them for some time you should be able to talk rationally to them without coming off as blunt?

Exactly. Confronting them is a lot better than going behind their backs and reporting them, which frankly (imo) is a little pathetic, without having talked to them about it first anyway.

Saskia · 09-11-2006 12:26PM

TwoShedsJackson wrote:

ring the Environment Dept. of the local Council, they're the ones in charge of noise nuisances, uncontrolled animals etc

Thats the answer I was looking for. Thanks

tbh · 09-11-2006 12:52PM

unfortuantely, the CoCo will only get involved if you have already complained to the neighbours and they have not done anything.

http://www.oasis.gov.ie/environment/control_of_dogs.html

Excessive dog barking that causes a nuisance is an offence. Your District Court can make an order requiring the reduction of excessive barking by a dog, can limit the number of dogs that can be kept on a premises or can direct that a dog be delivered to a dog warden as an unwanted dog.

You can make a complaint about excessive barking to the District Court under Noise Regulations. Before you do this, you must first inform the dog owner of your intention by downloading and completing a special form under the Control of Dogs Act, 1986.

Making a complaint

You should approach the person or business causing the noise and explain that it is a nuisance and try to come to a mutually acceptable solution. If this does not work, your local authority has the same power as individuals to bring noise complaints to the District Court. In addition, local authorities have similar powers to the Environmental Protection Agency in relation to premises, processes and works other than those that require licensing under the Environmental Protection Agency Act. The Environmental Protection Agency can require the person or body to take specific measures to prevent or limit noise. Anyone required to take such specific measures by the Environmental Protection Agency must do so or face prosecution.

If you wish to make a complaint to the District Court, you are not required to be represented by a solicitor, however, you may engage the assistance of a solicitor to help prepare your noise complaint and present this in court. You should consult with the Clerk of your local District Court about an appointment for the hearing of your case and refer precisely to the law relating to your case (Section 108 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 and the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 (Noise) Regulations 1994 (SI No. 179 of 1994).

The appointment for the hearing of your case must be at least 7 days later than the date on which you inform the person responsible for the noise nuisance that you will be taking your case to court. You must use a Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 - noise form of notice to inform the person or business that you will be taking them to court. It is important that you use this form of notice only and that you complete it fully and accurately.

The District Court will call both parties together and listens to both sides of the case. If the court finds in your favour, it can order the person or body to limit the noise, reduce the level of noise or stop the noise completely. Any Orders made by the court must be complied with.

Environmental Protection Agency
P.O. Box 3000,
Johnstown Castle Estate
Co. Wexford.
Tel: (053) 60600
Fax: (053) 60699
E-mail: info@epa.ie

suggestion: talk to your neighbours, and explain the situation. You are not being unreasonable. If they act the dick, you owe them nothing.

SmoothyG · 09-11-2006 01:06PM

IMO you should say it to your neighbours, its not like they are being perticluarly considerate to you so you shouldnt worry about them not liking it.
At the end of the day you have to grow some cajones and be direct, doing it annomously is being sneaky, and contacting the ISPCA, for the sake of being cowardly, might have thier dog taken away, if you say it to them personally then they will at least have a chance to fix it before taking things further.

tbh · 09-11-2006 01:13PM

don't assume that your neighbours are in the house thinking "the dogs barking again but **** the neighbours, they'll just have to lump it" - If you talk to them about it, they may be very appreciative of the fact that you talked to them rather than just rang the cops.

the house next to mine has been unoccupied for the last two weeks, and is being sold. The alarm has been going on and off pretty much all the time in those two weeks, and the owner lives in Portlaoise. I was getting pissed off, I tried ringing the estate agent but nothing happened. Rang again and asked for the owner's number - estate agent wouldn't give it till I told him I'd be ringing the cops. Gave me the number, rang the owner and he was falling over himself to apologise, and it's sorted now.

daymobrew · 09-11-2006 01:15PM

tbh wrote:

unfortuantely, the CoCo will only get involved if you have already complained to the neighbours and they have not done anything.

I contacted the Dog Warden for my CoCo without requiring that I contact the neighbours. The dog's exercise consisted of the front door being open and the dog run around the nearby green space area. He barked at and intimidated many people (despite being a small dog). It was not leashed and did not have a tag.
The Dog Wadern visited the owner a few times. Eventually the owner got rid of the dog.

Kipperhell · 09-11-2006 01:53PM

daymobrew wrote:

I contacted the Dog Warden for my CoCo without requiring that I contact the neighbours. The dog's exercise consisted of the front door being open and the dog run around the nearby green space area. He barked at and intimidated many people (despite being a small dog). It was not leashed and did not have a tag.
The Dog Wadern visited the owner a few times. Eventually the owner got rid of the dog.

That is actually against the law so that is why that action would work.
With a dog just barking it is quite clear you must approch the owner first before making a complaint. No way around it and quite reasonable really.
It doesn't sound like the OP is going to be attacked as a result of pointing out the problem.
I pointed out to a neighbour (one street over)that the stuff the left out for the bonfire was dumped by my house and would they mind picking it up and disposing it correctly. I was then followed by their hulking son who threatened me and then followed me home to point out he new where I lived and would "get me" if the rubbish came near there house again. I get there can be discomfort in saying things to neighbours.

Saskia · 09-11-2006 09:45PM

Kipperhell wrote:

I get there can be discomfort in saying things to neighbours.

Therein lies the problem. It could cause problems with my parents, the rest of the house and them. Id rather just do it anonymously tbh.

admiralofthefleet · 10-11-2006 05:15AM

Saskia wrote:

Ok my second rant in the space of ten mins but this is one thats been bugging me for weeks. Ive tried dropping hints to a neighbour about a dog of hers that barks out the back NON STOP and still the noisy barstard yelps day and night. My sleep cycle is absolutely fcuked because of this and I need to do something through the right channels about it before I fall out severely with the neighbour.

Is there anyway I can complain about this mutt anonymously?

i know exactly what your going through, my next door neighbour has 2 adult and 3 boxer pups and lets them out into the back garden at half 5 every morning, the noise is unbearable and me and the missus have moved into the room at the front but then at 6 the owner of the dogs is out screaming at her kids to 'GET INTO THE FUC*ING CAR OR YOU WILL LATE FOR SCHOOL'. its gotten to the stage now where we cant take any more,as i usually work nights and go to bed around 7 am but the dogs do be let into the front garden at about 9 and bark their balls off there too, i cant win. ive said it to her but it just goes in one ear and out the other, ill have to get the police involved but its very difficult as we get on very well with them.

daymobrew · 10-11-2006 10:29AM

Saskia wrote:

Therein lies the problem. It could cause problems with my parents, the rest of the house and them. Id rather just do it anonymously tbh.

I suggest you phone the Dog Warden/ISPCA and ask their advice. They will know the options much better than any of us here.

Kipperhell · 10-11-2006 03:39PM

Saskia wrote:

Therein lies the problem. It could cause problems with my parents, the rest of the house and them. Id rather just do it anonymously tbh.

I undederstand but as clearly pointed out you can't complain without talking to the neighbours. Calling the ISPCA is absolutley riddiculious unless you actually think they are harming the dog. I think you would be wasting their time and acting irresposnsible to do so becasue you think their dog should be quite. You simply can't complain anonymously because people would do so out of spite and without the reasonable belief you should talk to your neighbour first.

Have you spoken to your parents about this? If they think you are overreacting maybe you are. I can't even imagine my parents neighbours getting mad if I pointed out their dog was causing me lack of sleep. I own dogs and we make sure our dogs don't bother people but are very open to complaints and have acted where there have been issues. How long have you lived there?

In the last house the neighbour complained about are dog keeping their child awake. When we tired to figure out why they were barking it was thier child banging on the window and shouting at the dogs. He picked this habit up after seeing his father winding our dogs up for a laugh which we caught him doing 3 days later.

senordingdong · 10-11-2006 10:54PM

Shoot the ****er.

Vorsprung · 10-11-2006 11:02PM

Saskia wrote:

Ok my second rant in the space of ten mins but this is one thats been bugging me for weeks. Ive tried dropping hints to a neighbour about a dog of hers that barks out the back NON STOP and still the noisy barstard yelps day and night. My sleep cycle is absolutely fcuked because of this and I need to do something through the right channels about it before I fall out severely with the neighbour.

Is there anyway I can complain about this mutt anonymously?

The A-Team

Plug · 10-11-2006 11:03PM

I know how you feel i have 2 dogs next door and they won't stop barking(there actually at it now), might want to invest in a bit of rat poisin, that'll shut them up!
*walks to the shop*

biko · 10-11-2006 11:56PM

Look out from behind the net curtains, clench your fist in your pocket and mutter under your breath.

vorbis · 11-11-2006 12:24AM

its a pet hate of mine where people won't tell someone directly about a problem but will instead try and avoid the confrontation. Going directly to the council is imo plain nasty behaviour.

Tomorrow evening, walk up to their door, knock on it, when they answer, explain calmly that the dog is barking at all hours and its disrupting your sleep. Suggest to the neightbours that a barking collar can be bought for about 50 euro in a pet shop if they're not sure what to do about it. Why do people feel the need to be so evasive?

Plug · 11-11-2006 12:40AM

You can't exactly tell a dog to stop barking, some people are pure egnorent if you call to there house about dogs.
Them dog collars, what are they?

Complaining about noisy dog next door. Who do I contact?

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