WichitaFallsComplete.com
Imagine getting on a bus, train or airplane and playing your personal music device without earphones. It's wouldn't be a few seconds before someone in authority asked you to either use earphones or turn the blasted gizmo off. It has always been recognized that we do not have a right to invade the space of others on a regular basis without good cause.
When you buy or rent a home, you are purchasing the space shown on the survey. You are not purchasing the space to the left or right. You live on your property and your neighbors live on theirs. Under normal circumstances, the noise you make on your property should not be heard on your neighbor's property. Of course, I'm not talking about normal day to day noises, such as speech, mowing the yard, playing with the kids, starting the car, and the like. Every property owner has the right to the full use and enjoyment from their home and that means, among other things, being free from loud and unreasonable noise and disturbances.
So why is it that some people think they can let their dog(s) bark hour after hour, day after day, and all throughout the night? Are the owners of compulsive barking dogs themselves deaf? Doesn't the barking disturb their TV shows or quiet time, too? I've never understood that.
I sometimes hear dogs several blocks away barking incessantly. If I can hear them that far away, I can only imagine what the neighbors are going through.
If you have a serious problem with a barking dog, I suggest that you start by documenting the times, dates and duration of the barking episodes. Then, try talking with the dog owner. If that doesn't work, enlist the help of neighbors in talking with the owner. If that doesn't help, start calling the police. Have them generate a case number each time they have to respond, and ask them to talk to the dog owner, and to other affected neighbors.
If the problem continues after a few police responses, file a complaint in municipal court. If the problem is still not resolved, and you feel that you are unable to enjoy the home that you are paying for, it's time to talk to a lawyer about a civil lawsuit. or talk to your elected officials about enacting a barking dog ordinance like the one below!
Please be aware that your dog's barking may be having an irritating, annoying, and very frustrating effect on your neighbors, and an overall negative impact on the quality of life in your neighborhood.
Baltimore City noise ordinances prohibit incessant dog barking, with the following penalties:
1st Offense Visit and warning by Animal Control.
2nd Offense $100 fine.
3rd Offense $300 fine.
4th Offense Animal seized. Removal of the dog from the premises.
Complaints must be made in writing, to:
Bureau of Animal Control
301 Stockholm Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
Such disturbances of the peace may be occurring while you are not at home, but this is not an acceptable excuse for a gross lack of consideration. Please control your pets.
Maynard