We have an ongoing problem with a barking dog in our neighborhood — daytime, night-time, you name it. All dogs bark, but this one is persistent.
It is very stressful and disconcerting, not just for us but, I suspect, for the dog. I know, because I’ve been a dog lover all my life.
Barking dogs fall under the category of the “golden rule,” so when our dog barks, we just bring her in the house. Problem solved.
There’s also a barking dog ordinance on the books. It’s straightforward enough.
But finding a police officer or animal control officer willing to help you enforce it is another matter. They complain about being “understaffed,” so I hope the tax measures that just passed in both towns help.
I guess you could file a civil suit, but the courts already are tied up with bigger problems. It’s really a big waste of taxpayer money, especially when you already are paying for animal control officers and police officers.
In the end, it seems that the citizens who are vilified are the ones who complain — not the offenders. Nobody wants to be accountable; they twist it into a “personal liberty” argument.
It’s become the American way.
Jeff Pelline's Sierra Foothills Report 
I have had great response and service from the Grass Valley Animal Control folks here in GV on cronic barking issues and some neighbor dogs that are very aggrressive and have attacked people and other dogs. GV Animal Control has been very responsive and helpful and I thank them for that.
The sad reality is… it isn’t the dog, it’s bad owners that cause the problem when they fail to be good, responsible pet owners. The root cause of a “bad” dog is really a bad owner.
Steve,
No truer words were spoken. There is a certain percentage of dog owners in Nevada County who make it hard on the rest of us.
Actually, dog barking is the least of our worries. Out where I am we sometimes have roaming dog packs, or even single dogs, that kill livestock and endanger human safety. I have yet to encounter the right situation where a foreign dog on my property needs to be the recipient of deadly lead, but I am pretty sure that it will come someday.
Dogs need to stop trumping human needs, and that includes barking. Jeff, I would suggest a very aggressive course of action, on all fronts. Stop the barking; whatever it takes.
Michael A.
My Facebook post from June 28 is apt enough (Jeff and I even live in the same neighborhood) that I can’t resist pasting it below; hope you don’t mind, Jeff….
“Proof that I’m now living in a parallel world to the one I knew: A neighbor’s dog sometimes jumps her fence and charges and yaps at my sweet li’l Daisy as she and I stroll by. Back on Earth 1, that neighbor would apologize and either keep her dog inside, or leash it outside, or build a bigger fence. But here, after screaming at me, she calls the police – who urge me not to walk in front of her house anymore.
“On Earth 1, I might say my neighbor gives psychopaths a bad name. But I’m still trying to make sense of this new world, so I’ll withhold judgment.”
Stephen,
Good points, neighbor.
In agree with Steve, it is not the animal that is at fault here but the owner who remains, out-of-choice, unresponsive and in total denial as to their (her) responsibility with the equation. I have been an animal advocate most likely since birth and will gladly take the podium for their placement on this planet over humans any day. When I see any animal owner hide as victim behind their responsibility towards their dog or half-assed refusal in taking responsibility in their animals well being, I am unable to comprehend the mental ability of the human at hand. Admittedly this is a personal judgement call, but there are just some people who shouldn’t have animals unless they can really commit to the relationship of owning one. It’s more than just food and water or throwing a stick to the animal and then quickly moving inside. It’s about time! As with children & their different personalities, each breed of dog requires human intelligence & knowledge. If a dog is barking and has been barking non-stop for months, there’s a problem. If this is happening within a neighborhood and repeatedly has been brought to the attention of either the City police or Animal Control in accordance with “City Ordinance” (local law), and without improvement, the animal IS NOT the nuisance. This particular scenario scripts itself with a target dead-center (#1) at the dog’s human owner and (#2) the unfavorable follow up by those officials that our tax dollar supports.
My ongoing question has to do with the larger picture of responsibility in our culture and to this world in which we live. Does anyone have the balls and integrity to keep it functioning as a whole? Or has it become the the rule or thumb to simply whisper…”shussh!”
I live next to people who actually encourage their 2 “doxies” to bark all the time. These dogs are loud. In the city of Sacramento. They told me if I don’t like it to call the police. I agree that it does say something awful about our culture, that people don’t respect peace, privacy, and consideration among neighbors. It makes me very depressed about our future.
Plant a pot plant next to that dog, and they’ll be there in a jiffy! LOL!!!
Funny Brad!
You could always move to Lake of the Pines, where any dog outside has to be on a leash and there are substantial fines if your mutt barks all the time.
It’s been my experience that you need to get with a couple of your neighbors and voice a collective complaint. A lone wolf complainant seems to get shrugged off more easily. I would suggest sending them an anonymous, non-threatening letter stating your complaint/concern about the dogs barking first thing and see if that gets any legs. Good luck Jeff
I am so glad to see we are not the only ones having these problems. We are woke up at 4 am from neighbors dogs. We are so tired of it. Animal control has sent them letters so many time. We are at the point of sending the dog owners letter and if that don’t work we will take them to small claims. I quit my job because of the lack of sleep and not being able to function in my classes. Any