Dogs and noise

Posted by jushayward (220 days ago)

Our neighbours keep dogs. They keep over 8 animals. The dogs kept outside are for most of the day in cages. They bark most of the time; can you imagine the noise, it is right next to our bedroom. Furthermore, the dogs are very smelly in the summer and we believe they breed them illegally. We have tried the nice approach, even the police have visited previously (we did not call them). To be honest we are at an end over it. At times the noise and smell is unbearable. Fortunately, our garden is on the other side of the house. What are our options? The owners are selfish people with little regard for anyone else; they rarely stop them barking. From our point of view they have far too many dogs. We have two dogs that bark when we come home; we stop them instantly as we consider others. Is their any action we can take?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

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Posted by ldavy (219 days ago)

Years ago I had a problem with noisy dogs and was told by the police that there was nothing they could do, but I spoke to a policeman friend who told me to quote the "Dogs and Cats Ordinance". I think that was the name - if not, it was something pretty similar. I spent the next eighteen months calling the police out every time the noise became unbearable. They were generally unhelpful. The second time I called them, I was asked if I had called them before. When I said yes, I was asked for the case number - and of course I couldn't give this because they hadn't told me. This happened on a few occasions because whenever I asked for a case number I wasn't given one - then the next time I called, I was asked to quote the case number. Eventually I realised what was going on - each time I called them out they treated it as a new complaint. If I'd been able to quote the case number each time it would have been treated as an on-going complaint, and after three police visits they would have had to take action.

I visited the police station once (this was in Sai Kung) and was told by a local policeman that barking dogs were not against the law and there was nothing they could do. I got angry with him and demanded his name and number, which he refused to give me.

After speaking to another policeman friend I was able to get the name of the Superintendent and made an appointment with him. Lo and behold, he had a file about two inches thick on my complaint.

Eventually the dog owner was taken to Court. I was asked to go and give evidence, which I did, but by that time was already in the process of moving out because I couldn't bear it any longer. I found out later that he was fined $500.

So I think it's pretty much a waste of your time and energy trying to do anything, unfortunately. Oh, I forgot to mention that I also called in the SPCA because I knew the dog in question was never taken out for a walk - it lived on the roof. I had asked the owner's wife one day why they never took it for a walk and she said that walking dogs was "dirty". But the owner told the SPCA man that he walked the dog every day. The SPCA man told me he knew he was being lied to, but as he had no evidence he couldn't prove that the dog wasn't being looked after properly.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Starbucks2 (211 days ago)

If you are in an apartment complex, it would be worth checking the management rules on keeping pets (although this may affect your dogs too). Our previous building did not allow pets although I saw plenty of dogs being taken to and from the apartment in the service lift for their walks. If they are not permitted then you should complain to management about the noise. In my experience, management are generally willing to turn a blind eye to pets as long as they are quiet and they don't get any complaints. If dogs are permitted then I agree with idavy that the SPCA might be a good place to start. If the 8 dogs are kept in cages dirty in confined spaces then it sounds like cruelty to me. This would be enough in some countries to have the dogs taken away from the owners.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Connee (197 days ago)

Waste of time contacting the SPCA. I contacted them a while back complaining about a dog being kept in a small cage (JUST big enough for it to turn around in), standing in excrement etc. An inspector went to see the dog and rang me saying there was no evidence of cruelty because the dog had water and could stand up in the cage. So obviously what is classed as cruel in HK compared with other countries is vastly different. As far as I'm aware government bodies don't have much respect for dogs and their welfare and they appear to not care.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by beancurd (197 days ago)

We also have dog barking problem. Actually, the owner had two dogs which were poisoned because I believe other neighbors were being annoyed and one of them poisoned the dogs. It does not stop the owner to have another one which is again very annoying because everytime we pass their house, the dogs keep barking. My husband bought something from USA that when the dog barks, he will just push the button to scare the dog. Unfortunately, it does not work. I will not be surprised if one day, this dog will be poisoned again because the dogs are really noisy and always barking to everyone passing their house.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by jushayward (196 days ago)

Well we thought we may go to the police to make and maintain a complaint. The dogs do not have water, so the SPCA may take note; I realise they are more interested in walkathons than hard done by animals. It's funny, the recent topic in the local paper has centred on how dogs in Hong Kong are abused, what about people? The bloody things bark all day long and occasionally at night too. I would not want to poison them as we are not that type of people; after all it's not the dog's fault?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by ldavy (189 days ago)

I think the SPCA is very concerned with hard-done-by animals. The problem is that they need evidence before they can take any action.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by jushayward (188 days ago)

I would not want this sttring to turn into an apologist debate for the SPCA. Yes, I am sure they care, try their best etc. Forgive my suggestion otherwise. But what to do about noisy dogs? At the end of the day, I would not want to see them hurt; the owners, well that's another thing. Speaking to them (owners) is not the answer. Moreover, the dogs have managed to destroy a screen I erected to keep out the smell.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Connee (188 days ago)

The barking is a rewarding behaviour for the dogs because there's nothing for them to do. It's also allelomemetic where on starts the others join in. You MIGHT get somewhere with the SPCA, especially if the dogs don't have water. This sort of situation definitely wouldn't be acceptable in other countries like UK, Australia, NZ, but this is HK, so a different story.

(I am based in Hong Kong)