Dogsey

I guess but the council, police and a local councillor dont have to live in their house

we are in a little terrace of 3 cottages on 1 end the other end live 4 spaniels who have free access out into their garden most of the time. Even opening the cutlery drawer/flicking on the kettle will have them racingout of their house barking their heads off

some days i have actually left my garden and gone out somewhere as it drives me nuts. not to mention the smell that comes from the garden in warm weather as the owner doesnt clean up after them on a regular basis and they never go any further than the garden

As someone dealing with a neighbour who's dogs bark constantly I can sympathize. The dogs here are barking at all hours of the day and night and for hours on end. I am currently working with the environmental health team to try and get a resolve but it will be a long slog before my house will feel like a home again. I spend most evening very stressed as it is impossible to relax. If the council didn't work, I am sure I would also go to court as I want some peace and quite back. I can't enjoy my own garden as they bark whenever I go out and it make life pretty miserable. I am now also constantly tired and it is make my health worse dealing with all the stress. Hopefully there is an end in sight.

I had thought that when a complaint is made about dogs barking [or any other excessive noise] it would be checked by a noise meter before any action was taken by the authorities, and if they did not take action it was because they decided that the noise was not excessive.

Hence my comment following the article, but obviously I was incorrect

When you live next to or own a dog yourself a certain amount of barking is expected obviously.Think most people would be fair about that,but speaking from experience,even if the noise is not considered excessive,the constant yapping morning noon and night would drive you bonkers!!
Thankfully our neighbours with the poor dog who never got exercised,was spooked by his own shadow and was verbal 24/7 have now moved.It was really bad,didn't actually realise how bad Untill I started to enjoy the silence,its heaven.
Mine isn't a barker,other neighbour's dog barks a little,that's fine by me.
Understand what you are saying MALKA,you are right in what you are saying,I do believe there is a procedure to prove the level of noise and disturbance before action is taken.In some cases though,like in mine for example,it wasn't so much noisy as it was constant and seriously grating on your nerves!!Reason I didn't complain was it wasn't actually the dog's fault,the owners would have promised the moon and the stars and nothing would have changed.Besides the For Sale sign in their garden,meant they would be leaving soon.They finally did...yeah!!