What to Do About Noisy, Dirty or Aggressive Animals

We’re a nation of animal lovers, but it can be really hard to love a neighbour’s pet if they are noisy, or cause you other problems.If you’re blessed with a neighbour who insists on leaving their darling doggy outside while it barks all day (or worse, all night), it can really test your patience.

Some people seem to be oblivious to the effect that their animals have on others, and don’t even seem to notice the noise they make. You don’t have to put up with the noise, smell or mess though. Some people also seem to have a house full of pets which you might suspect aren’t being treated as well as they could, or an aggressive or Dangerous Dog could be frightening you or your children.

Noisy Animals

Sometimes people genuinely seem to be able to tune out the noise of their pets, so if you’re on good terms with your neighbour, the direct approach is often the best. Call round and explain that although you love Fido, you’re not too keen on the Constant Barking, and ask them nicely to try to stop the racket. Keep it peaceful, even if the mutt has been barking all night long and you haven’t had a wink of sleep. Stay calm, don’t swear, get aggressive or threaten them with environmental health – yet.

If you don’t get along with the person responsible for the dog, or if they don’t take any notice of a polite request to keep their darling dog quiet, you might have to take further action.

You could try a few home remedies. You could blow an inaudible dog whistle, or see if you can get hold of an anti-barking device from a pet shop, although these don’t always have much effect.

If the situation isn’t improving, sometimes the only remedy is to Contact Your Local Environmental Health Department and report your neighbour. It will help if you’ve already attempted to resolve the problem amicably, but they will be able to investigate and take any action that’s considered necessary.

Dangerous and Aggressive Pets

If you are concerned that a neighbour has a dangerous pet, whether a dog or something a little more unusual, there are laws relating to what and how a dangerous animal should be kept.

It’s a criminal offence for dog to be out of control in public, even if it’s a usually placid toy poodle. If your neighbours have an unruly dog, they could be breaking the law. A court can order a neighbour to keep their dog to be kept a lead, muzzled or destroyed if it’s considered in any way dangerous.

If neighbours have a dog that you consider to be dangerous, but they claim they use it to protect their property, there isn’t much you can do about it unless it actually goes for you or attacks someone else. If this should happen then they could prosecuted for having a dangerous animal.

Cruelty to Pets

In some cases, a pet may be noisy or troublesome because it’s being neglected or ill-treated. Some owners also keep excessive amounts of pets which can create noise and smell, as well as being hazardous to the animals themselves.

If you suspect that your neighbour is treating animals cruelly, you can report them to the police, or your local authority animal welfare department, who could decide to can remove the animals. Inspectors or police officers need to obtain a warrant is required to enter a home, so if your neighbour refuses to let them in, it can take up to 24 hours for them to gain access in some cases.

If an animal is making a noise or a nuisance because it’s been abandoned, tell the appropriate authorities, as they can prosecute the owner and remove the animal from the property.

Cats that Won’t Stay Out of Your Garden

There’s not much you can do about a cat using your garden as a toilet, revolting as it can be. Some tips, like citronella sprays or leaving black pepper around the garden, work for some cats and not others.

You could investigate the option of an ultrasonic noise emitters which emit a cat-scaring sound, or even opt for the simpler remedy if you’re at home during the day – cats detest water, so a well aimed water pistol won’t harm them but will hopefully deter them from relieving themselves on your lawn!