Submitted by umadbr00 t3_y6qz4o in washingtondc

Hi all,

The title basically says it all. I think someone new moved in in the alley behind my apartment and over the course of the last few weeks they've left their dog in the backyard unattended for hours on end and it barks nonstop. Is there anything I can do about this? Any sort of lines I can call to complain? Thanks!

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CaeruleusWolf t1_isqwyrk wrote

Bark back to assert dominance.

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umadbr00 OP t1_issdeoo wrote

I have considered shouting out the window many times, but I dont want any of my neighbors to be more annoyed than any of us already are /s

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PotomacSwimmer202 t1_isqrlts wrote

Did you ask the dog what it wanted?

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AssociationDork t1_isrmorn wrote

The dog is giving OP instructions, but they aren’t listening.

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umadbr00 OP t1_issdjgn wrote

I'm sure it wants to kill all the rats running around the alley.

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schoolinlife99 t1_issqirk wrote

I don’t know if this will be helpful because I dealt with this same problem in a different city (Philly) but it plagued me for a long time. What ended up successfully solving the problem was a combo of

Spoke to the neighbors first (they were not nice people and responding by telling me to fuck off, lol). Calling 311 (non emergency line)almost everyday. Recording the noise on my phone when I could. Calling the local council person for my area of the city and annoying tf out of them. Calling animal control repeatedly and speaking to them consistently and politely until they agreed to come out to hear it for themselves. When they came out and saw/heard how bad it was. They issued a citation to the family. I think it was the citation that brought about change.

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dealio- t1_isqok5j wrote

Hire a friend to kidnap the dog and relocate em. Ala Seinfeld.

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SHAsyhl t1_isuo3lj wrote

Remember, they were arrested for the dognapping!

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pomegranatecloud t1_isrb560 wrote

Call MPD to make a noise complaint; you can do so anonymously. If you believe the dog is in danger or being neglected call DC Animal Control.

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Common_Sherbet12 t1_isr2eeq wrote

Call the non emergency police line. The numbers online & there’ll be a number you press specifically for noise complaints.

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loonlaugh t1_issxncq wrote

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dcsnarkington t1_issyz7e wrote

Lol you could just aim ultrasonic noise at full blast at the backyard so the dog refuses to go outside.

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jah_broni t1_istn5hr wrote

Please don't. Not every dog needs to have that and they scare the shit out of mine.

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jkxs t1_isu44n7 wrote

If your neighbor is considering buying one of those then it is probably not the first time you are letting your dog bark outside. Also, it doesn't affect dogs that are indoors.

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jah_broni t1_isuifcn wrote

People put these on the edge of their property/sidewalk to deter dogs from peeing on their lawn and my dog loses it. I get that its an issue but hitting every dog that goes by with it sucks.

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jkxs t1_isviaf3 wrote

So it's just on all the time and not triggered by barking? I would agree that is past the reasonable line.

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NyugenBits20 t1_isu2qg2 wrote

I have a pocket size one and have used it to deter dogs showing aggression at the dog park. Aside from pissing off other dog owners, it works but my own dog got too use to it.

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loonlaugh t1_ita11jr wrote

Want to share a link? Never even heard of pocket ones. Great safety gift for a runner!

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uncheckablefilms t1_istbcsg wrote

Have you considered dressing in drag and playing the drums?

🎶 It was my lucky day today On Avenue A When a lady in a limousine Drove my way She said: "Darling be a dear Haven’t slept in a year I need your help To make my neighbor's yappy dog disappear" "This Akita, Evita, just won't shut up I believe if you play nonstop that pup Will breathe its very last High strung breath I'm certain that cur Will bark itself to death"

Today 4 U Tomorrow for me

Today 4 U Tomorrow for me

We agreed on a fee A $1000 guarantee Tax free And a bonus If I trim her tree Now who could foretell That it would go so well But sure as I am here That dog is now in doggy hell After an hour Evita in all her glory On the window ledge Of that 23rd story Like Thelma and Louise did When they got the blues Swan dove into The courtyard of the Gracie Mews🎶

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Avocadofarmer32 t1_istg3oe wrote

Was told by my building security to NEVER go and talk to a neighbor about an issue. I left an anonymous note. Your safety comes before hurt feelings.

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NyugenBits20 t1_isu2c52 wrote

Leaving a note can is fine but don’t state your name nor apartment location/number. A neighbor gifted me a no-shock collar because my dog was barking nonstop and I didn’t know about it.

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Rule_ofThirds t1_isqr1ke wrote

You could politely explain the situation to the dog owner.

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umadbr00 OP t1_issdi5h wrote

Yeah this is my first thought. I think I will go knock the next time it happens and hope for the best.

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xenon_rose t1_issdfq0 wrote

Yeah… no. Do not talk to owner. Their response could be VERY negative. People are weird about things like this even when approached politely. Call the non-emergency number and hope for the best.

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Deanocracy t1_isske7t wrote

Anonymous letter to start.

A few tips…

  1. Don’t allude to having many people who agree that the dog is bothering them..l leads to feelings of being attacked by the group and they can react defensively

  2. Just discuss your experience and how it impacts you. (You wfh and others hear it on zoom calls… baby woken up etc)

  3. Don’t suggest responses by the owner.. they will take it as you telling them what they should already know.

  4. Be nice. Ask them to help. Call the dog cute as a button.

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lc1138 t1_istvoa5 wrote

This is probably a good idea. I hesitate with anonymity because it’s possible the owner wants to explain their side of the story, or maybe why they had to leave their dog outside. Sometimes there’s a good reason. Someone once posted an anonymous letter on my door complaining about a noise that wasn’t coming from my place and I wish I could’ve explained to the person that it wasn’t me. I guess there’s too much risk confronting and politely asking a neighbor to help you out though these days

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Deanocracy t1_isu2rvb wrote

Yeah. Anonymous is the first step I think because it can avoid animosity…

Especially when you make sure the letter is with kindness. They may have doublepane super wi dows in their own house and the dog barely registers or something.

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lc1138 t1_iss9yx9 wrote

Yes OP I think talking to your neighbor is the first step before getting city admin involved. Of course if the problem persists, they’ll know who called to complain ¯_(ツ)_/¯

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CarlosDangeroso t1_isskk39 wrote

There is someone at the end of my street with two dogs that they keep outside all day, and those dogs are barking all the time. I can't hear it from my place, but I would be furious if I lived next door. I don't know how the next-door neighbors cope.

I have seen machines advertised for this problem. They emit some high-frequency sound that is annoying to the dog, but which humans can't hear. I think the idea would be to turn it on when they are barking, and off when they are not, so that they associate barking with hearing the unpleasant noise. I haven't used one of these but I would look into it further if there was a dog barking near me all the time.

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Complex-Marzipan-218 t1_ist3u24 wrote

Leave peanut butter on a chew toy and see if he licks it instead of barking.

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NPRjunkieDC t1_isv8910 wrote

I noticed the same on the alley that backs to Oyster Adams since last week

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4acodmt92 t1_isxisrp wrote

These kinds of complaints have always baffled me. What reasonable action could you possibly expect them to take that would actually satisfy you? Give up their dogs? Put them down? Ear plugs or headphones for you. Be the change you want to hear :)

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umadbr00 OP t1_iszi471 wrote

Put the dog inside? It's obviously barking in the backyard.

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allpabloallhoney t1_itv8x3f wrote

Bring the dog(s) inside. Don’t expect your neighbors to have to deal with the noise pollution your pets are creating. Come on!!

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allpabloallhoney t1_itv930b wrote

I can’t hear anything even using noise cancelling headphones because of my neighbors’ dogs barking. That is bullshit.

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IAmTerdFergusson t1_issz7yb wrote

As a dog owner who has had a noise complaint called on me, please just talk to the owner first. Most of the time we don't even know it's happening (especially nowadays when a lot of people work from home a ton, if you leave you may not know your dog is barking.)

If the owner is a dick, then you can and should escalate if you feel its necessary. But 9 times out of 10 the owner will take your feedback and make adjustments.

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DC8008008 t1_isufe9c wrote

9 out of 10 is generous when the person is irresponsible enough to leave their dog unattended outside for hours.

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IAmTerdFergusson t1_isuhxhw wrote

there is nothing inherently irresponsible about leaving a dog outside in a yard.

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