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Barking Dogs Breaking Your Peace? Some Alternatives To Calling The Cops First - plus - Why Not Put A Shock Collar On The Owner Instead? - plus - Sonic Blasts & Citronella...Or A Class C Misdemeanor
April 4, 2002
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 Dear Ben: My neighbors across the street have two dogs that are kept for extended periods outside, behind a wrought-iron fence. They see everything that goes on and goes by out front and bark at anything that moves. If they hear a siren in the distance, they'll harmonize and really break the peace. It seems like they always find a reason to bark/howl in the middle of the night or early weekend mornings. I can't understand how the owner can be so oblivious to this racket. I've tried to write them a letter several times, but have yet to send it. My anger really comes through and I don't want to come on too strong, especially since we're neighbors and I'd like to be able to co-exist peacefully. A few nights ago I called the owner at around midnight and [without identifying myself] asked him to silence the dogs...then hung up. I resent having to do this and want a permanent solution...suggestions?
Nameless in Fort Worth
Dear Nameless: I feel your pain...as do many others. According to Lt. Duane Paul of the Fort Worth Police Department: "I urge you to contact the police so an officer can be dispatched to the location to witness the offense. It's a Class C misdemeanor and would requires an officer witness the offense prior to issuing a citation. However, this type of call falls into a "Priority 3" classification, which makes it the last call to be dispatched. In other words, depending on the call load, it could take awhile to get an officer to the scene."
Those found guilty of Class C misdemeanors in Texas face fines of up to $500 for each offense; let's hope you can get your neighbor's attention before you have to start ratting them out to Fort Worth's finest. Barking dogs are apparently a major problem nation-wide if the number of remedies available on the Internet is any indicator. I was amazed by the assortment of anti-barking fixes offered: Shock Collars are pretty well-known behavior modification devices that seem to have fallen out of favor thanks to the animal-rights crowd. Selling for around $100 a copy, they're a pretty-pricey option considering each dog would require its own collar. (Frankly, the dog's owners should be the ones forced to wear these collars since they're the ones allowing their pets to create the nuisance!)
The second of the three popular "behavior modification" devices being sold appears to be a more kinder, gentler option called the Gentle Spray Citronella Collar. One sales site explains how it works: "When your dog barks, the collar sprays a burst of harmless citronella under his nose. While most people enjoy the fresh citrus fragrance of citronella, most dogs don't like it. They're also distracted by the "pssssst" sound of the collar as it sprays. When your dog barks, Citronella sprays in front of his nose! When it barks again, the scent and sound mysteriously reappear!" With a price tag of $129.95 a collar, I'm hoping it doubles as an anti-mosquito device.
The third anti-barking remedy device sounds like a new spin on an item you've probably seen in one of those mail order catalogs or inserts in Sunday's "Parade" magazine. Claiming to utilize ultra-sonic technology and sold under several different names for $45-$60, here's their description of how it works: "When a dog barks within 25 feet of this device it responds by blasting the offending dog with a strong ultrasonic (sound) wave of up to 120 dB. To the dog, it sounds like an airliner coming in for a landing...it's emitted for only a few seconds. After the barking stops, it resets itself." I've got a better idea: Keep your irritating mutt indoors or I'll call the cops!
Dose of Dover For The Week: Two final ideas on this topic, with the first available at most bookstores or on the web; Nolo Press (known for its library of self-help/legal advice books) covers the civil aspects of this neighborly challenge in Dog Law and at $14.95, is cheaper than hiring an attorney. Or you can do what I've done: Keep "the Master's phone number" at your bedside and give them a call whenever their dog has broken the peace long enough: consider it the last straw before calling the law.
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