Barking dogs

[Guest in distress]

I read the disturbing the peace and noise ordinance. I have a nieghbor with a dog that barks all the time(disturbing the peace and quiet of our neighborhood, and the quiet enjoyment of my home.)

But, I am not going to call 911 for this situation. Rather, what number can I call, day or night, and get a live person who I can report this too.

The call would be coming at times like 11 00 pm at night, 2 am in the morning, 4 am in the morning, and times such as that, when the dogs wakes me up with its on and off barking.

Also, if there is a specific ordinance for dogs, please post the link or the ordinance in American Canyon.

Thanks

[Mel]

You have to call the non emergency number. You'd think you would be able to call the Animal Control, but it has to go through the police first. If the police don't hear them barking there is nothing they can do. (This is what I have been told when I had to call on dogs). In order to get something actually done, ticket or whatever, you have to have I think 3 other neighbors complaining.
I finally after 8 months of calling on these dogs, had an officer come out and he left a note with his card on the door. The dogs have been locked up in the garage ever since. Now mind you, these are big dogs who are starved for their owners attention as is usually the reason the dogs bark so much, but he keeps them now in the garage in a pen for up to 13 hours a day. That's not fair to the dogs. BUT barking ALL DAY LONG isn't fair to the neighbors either...ANYWAY
Here is the number I was calling- 648-0171
Maybe the wonderful officers on this board will correct me if I was wrong on any part...

Officer Roschester- I will make it down to the station for that neighbor hood watch info soon- I have been out of town!
Thanks

[ACPD Brownlee]

The city of American Canyon has the following ordinances:

8.06.030 Notice to Dog Owner:

Whenever any person complains to the police department that a dog that habitually barks, howls, or yelps is being kept by any person in the city, the police department shall notify the owner of the dog or the resident or tenant at the property where the dog is being kept that a complaint has been received and that the person shall take whatever steps necessary to alleviate the barking, howling, or yelping.

8.06.040 Failure to abate nuisance:

A. If the warning given to the dog or the tenant or resident at the property pursuant to Section 8.06.030 where the barking, howling, or yelping dog is being kept is ineffective, then a verified complaint of at least two citizens not from the same household may be presented to the police department, alleging that a dog that habitually barks, howls, or yelps is being kept by such a person within the city. The police department shall inform the owner of the dog or tenant of the property at which the dog is being kept that such a petition has been received and shall cite the owner of the dog for a violation of this chapter as alleged in the complaint.

B. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (A) of this section, if the police officer responds to a complaint from a resident and hears the barking, howling, or yelping, the officer shall give a warning for the first offense and shall issue a citation for any additional complaints received beyond the initial warning without the need for the petition from two or more citizens.

C. In the event the nuisance continues, citations will be issued in accordance with the provisions of the administrative ordinance.

Our normal practice is to respond to a complaint of a barking dog. On the first offense we will try to contact the dog owner. If they are not home then we have a notice that is left on their door. If additional complaints are received, we will contact the reporting party and obtain the two complaining party’s information for a complaint to be filed. If the matter is to be heard by a judge, the complaining parties will then appear in court and testify regarding the dog’s barking, howling, or yelping as outlined in the ordinance.

The Non Emergency number for the police is 648-0171. This is a local number that goes to our dispatch center.

[Distressed residents]

[quote="Mel"]
I finally after 8 months of calling on these dogs, had an officer come out and he left a note with his card on the door. The dogs have been locked up in the garage ever since. Now mind you, these are big dogs who are starved for their owners attention as is usually the reason the dogs bark so much, but he keeps them now in the garage in a pen for up to 13 hours a day. That's not fair to the dogs. BUT barking ALL DAY LONG isn't fair to the neighbors either...ANYWAY

You are the lucky one. We still have the noisy barking dogs after calling the police station for 15 months. Is there any law to protect the law-abiding citizens? We can't use our driveway, we can't use our back yard, we can't open our windows and we can't sleep in our own room. The dog owner leaves the dogs out in the back yard all day to bark at anything while they are out enjoying their life. Who can help us?

[Frankie G]

You NEED to get a complaint SIGNED by 3 or MORE of your neighbors. Then, if the police actually show up, they can and should issue a ticket. THIS IS WHAT I WAS TOLD BY THE POLICE DEPT. Hang in there- What neighborhood are you in? I have some barkers in my hood, I'd like to get rid of...PM me-

[Guest]

As a two-dog owner, I ask that you evaluate what the dogs could possibly be barking at. I too have dogs in the neighborhood that start barking between 1-3 a.m., and it can go on for enough time for you to be awake until about an hour before your alarm goes off to start the next day. Frustrating to say the least! This barking can also start other dogs barking - I think mine chime in to tell them to shut up and go to bed! - so which dog/owner would be at fault? (I stop my immediately, so probably not me, but you know what I mean.) I cannot tell where exactly this house is that the barking is coming from, otherwise I would have dropped them a note. Have you tried this approach? It may be worth a try and you can send it in the mail with no return address to remain anonymous. And if they are not home when this is going on, give them an idea of what is exactly happening so hopefully they can address it somehow, or at least they’ll know the severity because you took the time to do this. If they are home, perhaps they need to know that they have totally tuned out their animals and are causing others to be uncomfortable in their own home, and they need a wake up call! My neighbors know that if my dogs bark at night for more than what it would take for someone to walk by, they should look outside. (Remember, the dogs are telling those outside to keep walking - and maybe they are asking them why they are walking around so late in the first place!). My dogs have stopped theft of a neighbor’s property because he knew to look outside when he heard the urgency of the bark(s) they were giving, and found someone in his frontyard and about to walk off with items. The same neighbor another time heard the dogs and could see (I could not from my vantage point) two men by one of my vehicles supposedly relieving themselves, which I don’t believe to this date, so who knows what type of crime was stopped - I found my motion light broken the next day. The neighbors know that if my dogs bark continuously at night...CALL THE POLICE...because if I am home something IS wrong because I get up to see what they are barking at. That’s their job and why many of us own dogs. I realize too many owners just ignore what’s going on, and I cannot understand this. I just hope we don’t get a blanket law about the dogs barking because of bad owners. I hope you are able to resolve this issue soon!

[ACPD Brownlee]

Following up on the previous posting... Recently a complaint was sent to the District Attorney's Office for a similar incident, maybe even the two dogs you are referring to, and the complaint was rejected stating the need for a different complaint to be issued prior to a criminal complaint.

I am stating this so you know that we are trying to deal with the complaint regarding these matters, but unfortunately, it is not as easy as something like a speeding ticket, there is a long process we must prove was followed before a person is charged with the violation for their neglect on a nuisance dog. BUT we are working with the D.A. to get the process moved through so that future violations will be easier to prove and bring before the court if necessary.

[ME]

January 15, 2011
I live next door to two schanusers about 1 1/2 years old. They bark all day and all night. When the people moved in with the 2 dogs, as small puppies, I had to bring my 2 dogs into the house. No longer to live outside. Now I have to let my dogs in and out, due to the barking. I was told by the owner if I didn't like the barking, he would go to Mexico and bring back his doberman to control the problem. I am at a standstill. Now my neighbors are on vacation, (as they do each christmas and newyears time ) until about the 1st of February. They have someone living in the house, while they are gone, to feed the dogs. The barking has gone from bad to worse. I am beside myself. The barking is out of hand. I can't sleep at night, to complain, I don't speak spanish, so no one understands me, the police notes are not acknowledged, the barking continues. Please, where do I go from here. Looking for answers.

[Issa]

Perhaps bring it up in a city council meeting? Make them address the issue on the spot, maybe you can start some new ordinance.

[mattbb61]

January 15, 2011
I live next door to two schanusers about 1 1/2 years old. They bark all day and all night. When the people moved in with the 2 dogs, as small puppies, I had to bring my 2 dogs into the house. No longer to live outside. Now I have to let my dogs in and out, due to the barking. I was told by the owner if I didn't like the barking, he would go to Mexico and bring back his doberman to control the problem. I am at a standstill. Now my neighbors are on vacation, (as they do each christmas and newyears time ) until about the 1st of February. They have someone living in the house, while they are gone, to feed the dogs. The barking has gone from bad to worse. I am beside myself. The barking is out of hand. I can't sleep at night, to complain, I don't speak spanish, so no one understands me, the police notes are not acknowledged, the barking continues. Please, where do I go from here. Looking for answers.

Have you found an answer to your delima yet? Sounds liek you have a racist illegal alien living next door; I would like to help.

[jsc]

Are the laws & processes referenced by this thread still accurate? A few little yappy dogs moved in behind me about 8-9 months ago and since then my family can't go outside or leave windows open because the barking is constant. I've left kindly worded notes and have even bought an anti-barking device that had some effect at first but now doesn't seem to make a difference. I work from home and can't concentrate unless we close all of the windows & doors and keep the kids in the house. I feel like a prisoner in my own home. What else can I do? I am actually considering moving to the middle of nowhere just to get away from the things.

[MIKE]

I have a barking dog issue. This dog barks mostly all night long because the poor dog is left outside all night long. The residence is at 6 Tuscan Oak. Anyone else in this area hear this same dog at night. I'll sign along with anyone to resolve this issue. This dog has kept me up at all hours of the night.