It is completely normal for dogs to bark as it is their way of communicating with us . However, when it starts to become common and even the barking takes place at night, it can become a real problem for both you and those around you. Among the most common causes are the need to draw attention to noises or people they consider strange, but it can also be a way of letting you know that they do not want to be alone and that they want your company. In fact, and although it may seem incredible, it is estimated that around 20% of the dogs in our country suffer from a disorder called separation anxiety and that could be the cause of their barking, although some go much further and can even destroy home furnishings.
Sometimes the barking of dogs can be really annoying to your neighbors. In fact, more and more people are deciding to go one step further and file a complaint with the police . However, it is recommended that before taking this measure, we talk with the owner of the dog and let him know the inconvenience that this is causing us.
You already know that it is not good to leave a dog alone for a long time, especially on the floor, as it is in this situation that animals are more prone to barking continuously. Here we must emphasize the fact that barking in a timely manner is not reportable, but at times when this is really interfering with the correct development of our rest or may even pose a danger to our health. At this point, you can file a complaint, as it would be violating the Civil Code and municipal ordinances that regulate noise in neighboring communities.
Before reporting, as we have commented before, the first thing we must do is talk to the owner of the animal and explain the situation, since the results are very likely to be much more positive. Speaking the people understand. In addition, trying to solve the problem through the courts will cost money and extra time and it is very likely that the coexistence between both parties will be complicated as a result of this procedure.
Also, it would be highly recommended that you try to find another affected neighbor. The more witnesses, the greater bargaining power we will have. A good solution that you could discuss with your neighbor would be to have the help of a dog trainer to educate him correctly. This will affect the quality of life of the animal, because as we tell you in this article, there is a study that dictates that dogs with bad behavior live less.
Once we have tried to solve it through diplomatic channels and this has failed, now it is time to take legal action. We insist: only when the negotiations have not borne fruit. It is then that we can call the local police or submit a letter to the City Council, since the law contemplates in some of its ordinances matters related to noise pollution and we can benefit from them in this case.
For their part, the police officers will have to check what is the noise level emitted by the barking of the dog and if it is higher than allowed, they will proceed to punish its owner. And yes, we know that you are wondering what is the maximum decibels allowed. Unfortunately, we do not have an answer since this depends on each City Council, there is no regulation that regulates this issue at the state level. Of course, there are certain reference values set by the WHO, which establish the limit at 60 decibels during the day, while at night they are reduced to 40.
If this route does not work, we can resort to a second option. In this case, it is best to go talk to the president of the community and explain what is happening. Something different happens when our place of residence is an urbanization or farm. Here the process is hardened since we would be in our total right to file a civil complaint in court, based on articles 1,492 and 1,905 of the Civil Code.
