I'm going to have to go to court

with my neighbors upstairs about their dogs .  Last night they barked until 2:15 AM.  I happened to be up because I'd gone to bed early since I was falling asleep on the couch.  I got up again around 10:30 and that's when the fun started.  They were even barking when I went back to bed at 2:30 and still barking at 3:00.

 

I went to  Animal Control today and presented them 2 1/2 pages of a log they had sent me to document when the dogs were barking.  We have a noisie ordinance in our city and it covers residences, as well as anything going on outside. 

 

I'm not sure my neighbors were home, but I wasn't about to go outside in my PJs to find out.  Point is, those dogs (at least 45 pounds each) shouldn't be living in a 900 sq foot apartment in the first place.  It's fine for me and my two cats, but certainly not for two dogs that large and two people as well, but this morning took the cake!

 

This afternoon I went to a friend's house then stopped by WalMart to pick up a couple things for supper and when I got back there was an animal control officer there so I asked him what the next step would be since the last time I contacted the apartment office about this they didn't do anything about it.  He suggested I got to the Municipal Court and do the paperwork there and I would be given a court date, then I could sort it out with him and the judge.  I also have a witness who's heard these darned dogs bark so she's going to go with me. 

Nice PLL..nothing worse than a barking dog.. I know what youre going thru...good luck

I certainly don't envy you.  Such a big deal (mess) to go through over such a little (yet annoying) thing.  Hoping for all the best that it works out for you. 

Roen1969:

..nothing worse than a barking dog

 Except maybe an irate neighbor. LOL but I know barking dogs are irritating.

Good luck! I would suggest you be very careful. You dont know these neighbors well at all,and you never know how they'll react to court papers.

4boysmom:

I certainly don't envy you.  Such a big deal (mess) to go through over such a little (yet annoying) thing.  Hoping for all the best that it works out for you. 

When things like this happen, you lose sleep and your enviorment is disturbed over inconsiderate neighbors.  It is a big thing.  I am sorry this is happening to you.....

I wonder what they bark at. An inside dog, i mean. My dogs bark a lot at night, but, i am used to it, and I figure if it is one of our wonderful burglars, they can bark their heads off at them. LOL

 

But, I do feel for my niece, because Zayne likes to go up there and bark at their dogs. Or , maybe at something else, I am hoping.

I would invest in a tape recorder and tape all the activity that is going on upstairs, that would be your proof. Seems they allow pets in the complex so landlord may be off the hook, it's going to be messy but also check with other renters and see if they feel the same way. 900 sq feet even the dog whisper would say the reason they bark is because they are bored. You need some kind of proof, just going to court wouldn't be enough without some proof. Also take pics of the dogs if you can.

Catmint_WV_49F:

I wonder what they bark at. An inside dog, i mean. My dogs bark a lot at night, but, i am used to it, and I figure if it is one of our wonderful burglars, they can bark their heads off at them. LOL

 

But, I do feel for my niece, because Zayne likes to go up there and bark at their dogs. Or , maybe at something else, I am hoping.

 

They bark at everything.  They bark when someone is outside getting in/out of their cars or doing anything else outside that they think is their "territory".  I can't imagine what they were doing last night, but I don't care either.  2:15 in the morning is totally ridiculous, in particular to ones that live in a 900 sq foot apartment.

 

I also DO have proof.  I have a log that Animal Services gave me to fill out for documentation of when these dogs bark.  No, I don't know the neighbors, but it seems to me that they should be able to control their dogs.  I realize that dogs will be dogs, but I deserve the right to get some peace and quiet in my own  home.  I'm still taking them to court, and I have a witness who will attest to what she's heard as well.  This is against the noise ordninace and they have to abide by that law or suffer the consequences.

Documentation will be the best evidence in court. Way to go, Mer.

 I always wonder, when dogs bark like that, and neighbors are kept awake and disturbed by it, don't the owners hear it?  It must be all the more loud for them!

Starchild -- We had neighbors once who babysat their grandchildren.  One of those kids would be in the backyard screaming for up to an hour.  Not the squealing, having fun kid of screaming but REAL screaming.  One summer day I had a headache and was trying to nap.  We didn't have air conditioning so I had the windows open.  I finally had to go to their house (three houses down) and ask them to please do something for that child. 

Grandma apologized and said the child was autistic and there wasn't anything they could do for him so they just turned up the TV and left him in the backyard with his siblings. 

So, obviously people find a way to ignore or tolerate the noise.

Wow, that's something about the autistic child screaming in the backyard and they turned up the TV! I wonder if other neighbors were bothered by it? That's what I would think of, like is it bothering people, will they call the police, etc! I think if I heard a child screaming for hours I might call the police anyway, thinking something might be wrong.

 good...it will be an ordeal but you will get thru it....people are so rude about their pets when they don't control them....

Good for you for standing up for yourself..

 

The log is a good start--but it's still just your word against theirs.  Just to be on the safe side, I'd also record the dogs barking--with something like the local news station playing in the background so it identifies the day and time of each incident.  A little extra insurance never hurts.  Good luck and let us know how it all comes out.