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Question
01 Mar 2004
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Pet owners responsibility?
My neighbours have dogs that bark constanly-3am or 10pm they bark & bark. I've shouted at them to keep quiet & they do-for about 5 minutes-then they start again. Now don't get me wrong-I love dogs-I have three of my own but they don't bark all night & if they do bark for no good reason I shush them. Isn't it the owners responsibility to keep their animals quiet so as not to disturb the peace?
CyberVet
Hi "Fed up!"
Yes, I believe it is the owners' responsibility to keep their animals reasonably quiet, especially at night. The law also provides for this and dog owners have been taken to court for disturbing the peace. However this is not a good idea and only makes for time and money wasted and bad neighbourliness. My suggestion is that you let them know about it in as nice a way as possible. Many owners are oblivious to their own dogs barking, or are out when they do, so they can't know. Once they are aware of it maybe they can do something about it. Suggest they consult an animal behaviourist or at least this forum to get some advice. Although some breeds do bark more than others the main reasons for barking are boredom and separation anxiety. Keeping the dogs inside at night is an obvious solution to the nighttime barking.
Karen Gray-Kilfoil
ANIMAL BEHAVIORIST
Yes, I believe it is the owners' responsibility to keep their animals reasonably quiet, especially at night. The law also provides for this and dog owners have been taken to court for disturbing the peace. However this is not a good idea and only makes for time and money wasted and bad neighbourliness. My suggestion is that you let them know about it in as nice a way as possible. Many owners are oblivious to their own dogs barking, or are out when they do, so they can't know. Once they are aware of it maybe they can do something about it. Suggest they consult an animal behaviourist or at least this forum to get some advice. Although some breeds do bark more than others the main reasons for barking are boredom and separation anxiety. Keeping the dogs inside at night is an obvious solution to the nighttime barking.
Karen Gray-Kilfoil
ANIMAL BEHAVIORIST
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