New Neighbor's Barking Dog!
Hi there! We just moved into a new house in Park Slope. Our neighbors are clearly renovating the house next door into what looks like apartments. The problem is they have a huge loud pit bull looking dog that they leave in the yard consistently and barks all the time. Since we’ve never seen the…
Hi there!
We just moved into a new house in Park Slope. Our neighbors are clearly renovating the house next door into what looks like apartments. The problem is they have a huge loud pit bull looking dog that they leave in the yard consistently and barks all the time. Since we’ve never seen the neighbors we don’t know if they leave the dog out when they are not home or what, but the dog spends a major part of everyday outside barking. When we come out on our deck, the dog barks and growls at us. Since we just moved in we don’t want to get things off on the wrong foot, but any ideas on this problem? Should we leave a note for the neighbors, call the city or something? What’s the protocol? It’s so annoying!
Does the neighbor have a permit posted in the windows for the renovation? If not call the nyc buildings dept.
Re: the dog. go to the neighbor’s and talk to them about the dog, explain nicely that the barking bothers you.
Reality #1: You may open up a friendly dialogue with your neighbor but that will NOT make the dog stop barking. Your neighbor has already proven that he/she has no control over the dog.
Reality #2: Calling the police/ASPCA won’t do much because of the current laws. A dog must bark for 5 minutes STRAIGHT. So when you record the dog barking and after 4:30 minutes he stops, the clock goes back to zero, even if the dog starts barking again, it’s not considered a nuisance till that 5 minutes of constant barking threshold is passed.
Real solution 1: Move
Real solution #2: take things into your own hands and …. well I’m pretty sure you can figure out the rest.
Be nice to the dog, poison the %^&^*& owner.
You could try 311 or the ASPCA, but if nothing changes try this approach.
Every time you see your neighbors, give them a smile and a wave. Maybe ask them some friendly innocuous questions. When they are around and the dog is in the yard, smile and say hello to the dog, ask it’s name. Act like you like the dog and think he’s cute. When you think you’ve reached a point where they will not deem some simple request rude or offensive (as most neighbors who have never spoken with one another often do), approach them with this:
“Spike [the dog] is so cute, but he always barks at me when I walk by. One time I tried to pet him and he snapped at me. Is it okay if I give him some snacks to try to make friends? Is there anything I can do to make him feel more comfortable around me?”
Ask what kind of snacks he likes or if he particularly likes his chin scratched or belly rubbed. Use this as an opportunity to segue into his constant barking. Suggest that perhaps they keep him inside on occasion.
Hopefully this will accomplish a few things:
1) Open dialog between you and your neighbor
2) Let them know that the dog is barking a lot when they are not home
3) Give you a way to quiet the dog when you are home
The knuckleheads telling you to call 311 are either hermits or sissies. Pay no attention to their antisocial and frankly, bad advice. Go have a conversation as your first step. You’re neighbors.
Take photographs?! Really? I’m very fortunate you’re not my neighbor.
That’s what you get for moving to Park Slope.
“Shoot the dog with a BB Gun? Scald it? Poison it?
What the fuck world do we live in?????”
United States of America, that’s where. Statistically the most violent place on the planet. Where a tenth of the population is in prison.
Anyway, the noise code did get updated last Summer. The city will fine a dog owner for a dog that barks longer than 10 minutes solid. So just keep calling 311.
Also observe how the dog is living and take photographs if you see it is not being provided shelter. The ASPCA won’t do anything about mere barking but they will do something about abuse. It is abuse to not provide shelter and food. It is the LAW plain and simple animals have to be provided with shelter and food. If you see the dog doesn’t have those things then call it in to the ASPCA pronto.
Don’t respond to the idiotic violent posts. They just want attention and all the subsequent responses just give them that.
OP: Call 311, stay on it and keep track of calls. Although your neighbor may not be abusing the dog, they are clearly irresponsible dog owners. By the way, if you were to follow much of the alternative advice you could be sent to jail for animal cruelty after your lovely neighbor called the cops on you.
Good luck.
Brownstoner…please remove this posting it is out of hand.