Can you call the cops on a barking dog

Hi, Margret. Yes, you can call the police. However, I can tell you this will probably not fix your problem. Police need evidence and they will probably not take the time to stake the house and get the information they need to act accordingly. The police are there for emergencies. A barking dog does not qualify as an emergency. The best thing you can do is try and talk to your neighbor. So often we run to court or call the police before even addressing the issue directly.

Your neighbor may not even be aware of the incessant barking. Once the neighbor is aware of the problem they may be able to fix it! No police. First, it gives a specific city official or department—usually the health, police, or public safety department—responsibility for the problem. Otherwise, if it's not clear who's primarily responsible, someone with a complaint is likely to get shuffled from department to department, explaining the problem to six different people during each call.

A dog complaint program also lets everyone—dog owners and their neighbors—know what they can expect. A predictable system of warnings and sanctions tells dog owners what's expected of them and lets neighbors know what it will take to solve a problem before it drives everyone in the neighborhood batty.

Of course, it doesn't do much good unless these rules are published and readily available—which, unfortunately, is rare. When you call, don't just make your complaint and hang up.

If it's really a persistent problem, you need to be persistent, too. Find out how to follow up and get results. Ask the person you talk to—and write down his or her name, so you won't have to explain your problem every time you call—about the department's procedures. In particular, you'll want to find out what the department will do, and when. For a barking dog, the department might need to receive a certain number of complaints within a certain time before it will act.

If that's the case, you might want to discuss the problem with neighbors; if they feel as you do, enlist their help. The information provided on this site is not legal advice, does not constitute a lawyer referral service, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or will be formed by use of the site.

The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising. In some states, the information on this website may be considered a lawyer referral service. After several calls to animal control, it may be possible that the agency will take the dog into custody and impound it. In this case, it is a distraction, designed to interrupt a dog from doing unwanted behaviors. When the neighbor dog starts barking, you will need to get within 40 to 60 feet of the dog yes, the sound travels through walls.

June 17, Stick to the facts. You know how frustrating it can be to train a dog. Kill them with kindness. If you live in a neighborhood without an HOA To report a dog that is a nuisance because of its barking, check your local barking laws. Include the length of time the dog barks.

Give names and contact information of other people who might also have information about the abused animals. Before you call the police, however, keep a few things in mind: Calling the police could escalate an already unpleasant situation. See our section below on ultrasonic training devices to stop nuisance barking. Remember: You still have to live near your neighbors. The police may be limited with what they can do. Unless your neighbor is breaking laws and it may be up to you, the complainant, to show evidence , the police may not be effective.