Neighbors dog is a nuisance!

[tiggerlover]

We have been having ongoing issues with our neighbors dog barking at all hours of the night and last night topped the cake. The dog barked from 12:30 - 6:45 a.m., DH and I got zero sleep and DS even woke up complaining about the dog. This dog barks EVERY night, usually between 12:30 and 2:30 and then stops, I just can't take the lack of sleep any more. I feel bad for the dog, I know it isn't his fault he is penned up outside in the freezing cold without a shelter or food, but I am starting to get resentful and I am just too darned tired anymore.

We live in Italy so #1 there is a language barrier. The way things are handled here are different and it seems like nothing can be done. One of our other neighbors told us someone tried to poison the dog a couple of weeks ago, that is how bad it is. Obviously the owners do not care what the neighbors think. When the problems first started around Easter last year neighbors wrote the owners a letter and the guy ripped up the letter and threw it in their yard. So I know others have complained to no avail. I have been told the police will do nothing (6 of my neighbors are police) and there isn't an SPCA or anything like that so I am in a no-win situation. The situation has gotten worse over the last two months and I suspect it is in part because of the very cold weather (and the fact that the neighbors are out until 2-3 a.m. all the time). All I want is to be able to sleep again at night.....any suggestions?

 

[poohandwendy]

WOW, that is mighty inconsiderate...


With all of the info you posted, the only thing I could suggest is finding a way to soundproof your bedroom. I have no idea how/if that could be done, but I would look into it....

what jerks!!!

Hope you find a solution soon...nuthin worse than lack of sleep!!!

 

[Dreamer04]

Have you tried to contact the local news? Maybe if the story is on TV or in the newspaper, this guy will be embarrased enough to take some action.

Good luck

 

[powellrj]

I would say we have the same neighbors, but ours are in Indiana. What we have been doing is running radios and TVs at night. When the weather was warmer we would run the air-conditioners. Even a month ago when the weather was in the teens, I had the air-conditioner on in the bedroom just to drown out the dogs barking.(these are window units). The kids now sleep with the radio on just loud enough to drown out the dogs barking. These dogs bark non stop all day and all night. I couldn't wait to go back to work when I was off at Christmas just to get away from the dogs barking. I won't even get into the dog doo we clean up out of our FENCED in back yard or the fact that I can't leave the house because of the burning that they do. Good luck, you have my sympthy.

 

[cgcw]

We went through this with our next door neighbors for several years. They had three Malamutes they left out continuiously -- 9' from our bedroom wall. It was terrible. I can certainly feel your pain. We use to lay in bed very frustrated loosing sleep or I'd move to the family room. It was torture.

Have you tried calling the police when the dog is out there barking? I know you posted that your neighbors said it won't do any good, but in all fairness, if the neighbor with the dog is that inconsiderate, maybe a knock on their door in the middle of the night would help the situation. Granted, we were not in another country but that's how we started to resolve our problem. Everytime the dogs would be out there barked, we'd call the non-emergency number. If an officer arrived and the dogs were causing a commotion, the neighbor was fined. After a while, they got tired of getting the tickets and started to keep the dogs inside. Then I went to the Village (because of another issue with one of the dogs biting someone in my yard and I wanted a higher fence. Long story but turned out the area the dogs were in was not up to code in the Village and the neighbors couldn't use it anymore). Anyway, the Village officials were very supportive of us and having the neighbors with the dogs do something about the situation. Many other neighbors thanked us after the fact for the new piece and quiet.

Fortunately for us, we no longer have the same neighbors. And, the new neighbors are not dog people so we know we won't have an issue again.

Best of luck.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Maybe feed the dog, perhaps he could be bribed to be quiet? That would drive me bonkers, I would have to move.

 

[DisneyMim]

I know what you mean and I feel so sorry for you. We had neighbors (they have since moved) who were deaf and had three dogs. The dogs were out all hours of the night I think because he could not hear them and they barked all night long. We tried calling the animal control officer in our town, but they did nothing. Long story, but I felt as though nobody cared about us at all. I don't really know what to tell you, maybe try calling the police or some kind of animal control person. It's not as easy issue. I just wanted you to know that you are not alone. Maybe they will move like our neighbors did!! You can only hope!!

Good Luck!!

 

[peg2001]

Ear plugs and white noise! If you can't affect the situation, you can at least minimize the effect on you!

Use the soft foam ear plugs and use a TV, radio, or noise machine to help block out the sounds.

Good luck.
Peggy

 

[Jockaroo]

I feel sorry for both your family and this poor unloved little dog. The dog deserves better treatment than he is getting from his family. And that is the real problem. It sounds like you are limited in your options from the legal standpoint. It is a shame there is not an SPCA where you are. Try running an airfilter, humidifier and/or fan to minimize the outside noise.

I don't know that I would want to give this dog food since someone has tried to poison it--if the dog is poisoned his owners might think you were responsible. But if this dog has no water, shelter, etc. it could be a crime and the owners cited...But that could be a U.S. thing.

Best of luck. Can you take naps during the day? (Although you should not have too because of your neighbors.)

-Jockaroo