My dog has been reported for barking

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Kaylum

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Got a letter yesterday saying my dog was barking at 2 in the morning on Wednesday from the nuisance police. It was very patronising.

Well a few points here.

My dog never barks at night. She is very good and goes to sleep. If she was barking there would be something very wrong.

Secondly and much more importantly we were on holiday with her at the seaside all of last week.

Wouldnt it have been nice for them to ask the neighbour to come round and talk to us about it. Then all this drama could have been avoided. It has now caused upset and there was no need for it and we have never had a problem with any neighbour before.

Looking forward to tomorrow's phone call.
 
I have no idea but the letter was very patronising. So I am looking forward to the apology they will be sending me.

How on earth can you report a dog for barking at 2am one night on one occasion and the next day phone up the nuisance police and get a letter issued so quickly without even talking to your neighbour. I just dont get it. What if my dog had been barking for a reason like we were getting broken into or there was a problem.

I think its extremely rude of them.
 
If you were away and had the dog with you - and can prove it, then someone somewhere is obviously trying to make trouble for you.

We have someone here in the neighbourhood who all the local smallholders and sheep keepers, including myself, complained about as the dogs were being allowed to run loose and we were concerned for our stock.

The Dog Warden did apparently go and see the people concerned and we've been told to submit video evidence for the future as that is what they need to be able to bring firmer action.

I was therefore hugely irritated, nay bliddi fuming, when I had a phone call from the Dog Warden lady to say that someone had complained about ME!! Apparently I'd been out riding and my dog had chased this car....... The complainant had said it was a black and white horse. Yes guilty on that count coz I do indeed have one of those (profile pic) but the problem was that I was at work at the time the alleged incident was supposed to have occurred, and could prove it wasn't me therefore! Also the description of the dog was totally wrong, the person had said it was a JRT and I don't have one! I asked the Dog Warden woman if "the complainant" (ohh I knew damn well who it was!) had any more information such as anything like what the rider was wearing? Or the horse? I always wear hi viz and my pony has a bright orange synthetic bridle which would be instantly something someone not even horsey could pick up on!

I invited the Dog Warden to confirm with my workplace that I was indeed at work at the time; never heard anything back, but methinks she was a little too keen to think of my name firstly in connection with the incident...... not happy about that at all!!

Unfortunately OP it sounds like you've got a similar neighbour problem, the Dog Warden won't tell you who it is, they're not allowed to, but no doubt you will have your suspicions. There isn't anything you can do unfortunately if people are vindictive like this.

You suspect your neighbour, yes?? What you really don't want is for the bad feelings to escalate. Wonder if there's any way you could perhaps bump into them casually and - without referring to the letter you've had - just open a "normal" chatty conversation about something neutral like the weather?? I wouldn't mention doggy at all, I (obviously) don't know anything about your area or the prevailing culture but wonder whether it just might be they come from a background where keeping dogs as pets is an alien concept??? Just a thought. Or it could just be they've got a kiddie to get to sleep, and someone's dog in the area is barking at that time of the night, or perhaps someone working shifts and trying to sleep - there could be a whole lot of reasons that you might not know about, and yes whilst you know that it was definitely not your dog, it was obviously a dog, somewhere, that was barking and obviously causing a problem for them, for whatever reason. Hence their complaint - and it was unfortunate wasn't it that they've obviously blamed you!

But whatever has been going on behind the scenes, I do feel that it might, in the first instance, be worth gritting your teeth and endeavouring to "be nice", even though it might stick considerably in the craw........ you really don't want a long-term sense of ill-feeling to go on forever. Also, if they ARE being deliberately vindictive and trying to make trouble, then the "nice" approach is, IME, one of the best ways to counter it as they'll realise that despite their best efforts they're just having no effect on you at all! Whereas if you do respond in any negative way they'll realise that yes they have got your ire, and the whole thing can them escalate.

Unfortunately in the past we've had bad neighbours and its a nightmare, things can soooh easily escalate and get horrible. I'd try the peaceful/placid response, for now, and see how that goes.
 
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I very much doubt that one incident of barking would spark a letter from Environmental Health, who I assume the letter purports to have come from. I am guessing that you will be met with confusion tomorrow when you ring them up and tell them you and the dog were away at the time of the alleged incident. I wouldn't be surprised if someone else has written the letter - a neighbour who didn't know that you were away, maybe.

People do the oddest things. our neighbours are barking themselves.
 
It's very odd we get on with our neighbours fine but they are getting old so their hearing might not be good. Also we have loads of foxes.

It does say just one incident. We never hear any dogs barking at night but do hear the foxes
 
We have a neighbour who complains about everyone. The council have to send a letter you just ring them explain and that’s usually the end of it. To get an asbo is quite a long process.
I used to be on the village hall committee and the EHO has to take reading, the complainer has to provide a diary of events, so you would have heard about this.
Our serial complainer has complained about so many people, most of which are delt with a phone call,only one has had a visit, which was a complete waste of time.
Even the council workman know who does the complaining. It maddens me because each time they ring or write it’s costing us money, but they have to follow up ‘complaints’.
 
Yes they just need a better procedure and understand the stress this causes innocent people. I will be complaining that they have no protocol before issuing letters and will be putting it in writing for my own satisfaction. Thanks everyone for your support.
 
Only today have we managed to speak to someone about this. We were cutting our hedge at 9 in the morning that day as well when we were 80 miles away.

We said it needs removing from the records and we need an apology. Only to be told that is not possible. They are phoning us back with their options.
 
Totally off topic, but I am learning so much British slang from you all. I had to look up abso just now.
I was hoping for advice on keeping my youngster from barking on this thread. She does it when I'm outside with all of the dogs. The only thing that makes any difference is using a squirt bottle, which I hate and is inconvenient when I'm working in the yard. (That's garden for y'all.)
 
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