What to Do About Noisy, Dirty or Aggressive Animals

Originally written by Sarah Clark, updated by the editorial team on 20th May 2026

Dealing with problem pets next door

Most of us like animals, but that fondness can wear thin when a neighbour's pet causes ongoing problems. Dogs that bark for hours, cats that foul your garden, or livestock kept in unsuitable conditions can all make life difficult.

Whether the issue is noise, mess, smell or safety concerns, there are steps you can take, though outcomes will depend on your local council's policies and the specifics of your situation.

Noisy animals

Barking dogs are the most common complaint, though other animals can cause noise problems too. Some owners genuinely do not notice how much racket their pets make, particularly if they are out at work while the dog barks all day.

If you get on reasonably well with your neighbour, a friendly word is often the best starting point. Explain the problem calmly and give specific details about when the noise happens. Some people will be surprised to learn their pet has been disturbing others and willing to address it, though responses vary.

Many areas have community mediation services that can help neighbours discuss disputes with the support of a neutral third party. This can be worth trying before making formal complaints, particularly where you want to preserve a reasonable relationship.

Keep a record of the disturbances. Note down dates, times and how long the noise lasted. This information will be useful if you need to take things further, though councils typically require evidence gathered over a period of time and will assess each case on its own merits.

If speaking directly does not work, or you would rather not approach your neighbour yourself, you can make a complaint to your local council. Persistent animal noise can count as a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The council's environmental health team has powers to investigate and, if they agree there is a nuisance, can serve a notice requiring the owner to stop it.

Councils will usually want evidence that the problem is ongoing before they act. Some councils use noise monitoring equipment or ask you to complete diary sheets over a set period. Response times and approaches vary between local authorities.

If the owner ignores an abatement notice, they can be fined. In serious cases, the council may take further action.

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Mess and smells

Neighbours' pets can cause problems beyond noise. Cats digging up flowerbeds, dogs fouling shared areas, or the smell from animals kept in poor conditions can all affect your quality of life.

Cat fouling in gardens is frustrating. While cats are not subject to the same restrictions as dogs and there is no general legal requirement for owners to confine them, this does not mean owners can never be held responsible. In some circumstances, cat owners could potentially face liability for nuisance or damage caused by their pets, though pursuing this is often impractical. You can try deterrents such as ultrasonic devices, citrus peels or motion activated sprinklers, with mixed results.

Dog fouling on public land is a different matter. Most local authorities have Public Spaces Protection Orders that make it an offence not to clean up after your dog. If a neighbour regularly lets their dog foul pavements or shared spaces, you can report this to the council.

Strong smells from a neighbouring property may indicate that animals are being kept in unsuitable numbers or conditions. This can be reported to the council, who will assess whether it amounts to a statutory nuisance. Environmental health officers can investigate and take action if the smell is affecting your ability to enjoy your home.

If you suspect the smell is linked to animal hoarding or neglect, it may be worth contacting the RSPCA as well. They can investigate welfare concerns and work alongside council officers where needed.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Aggressive or dangerous animals

An aggressive animal is a more serious concern, particularly if you feel unsafe or worry about children in the area.

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 makes it an offence for a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place or in a private place where it is not permitted to be. This includes behaviour that makes someone fear they will be injured, even if no actual attack happens. The Act has been amended several times since 1991, including changes to extend provisions to private property.

If a dog has attacked someone, or you believe one poses a genuine danger, report it to the police. They have powers to seize dogs and prosecute owners. In some cases, courts can order that a dog be destroyed or that the owner take specific steps to control it.

For less urgent concerns about aggressive behaviour, speak to your local council's dog warden service. They can offer advice and may be able to speak to the owner.

Some breeds are banned in the UK under the Dangerous Dogs Act. If you believe a neighbour is keeping a prohibited breed, report this to the police, though councils may also have a role in managing such issues locally.

Animal welfare concerns

Sometimes a problem pet is also a neglected one. If you suspect an animal is not being properly cared for, whether through lack of food, water, shelter or veterinary treatment, you can report this to the RSPCA in England and Wales, the SSPCA in Scotland, or the USPCA in Northern Ireland.

Signs of neglect may include animals being left outside in extreme weather, visible injuries or illness that goes untreated, or animals that appear thin or distressed. Hoarding situations, where someone keeps more animals than they can properly care for, can also be reported.

These organisations can investigate and, in serious cases, work with police to remove animals from unsuitable homes.

For detailed information on your rights and the powers available to councils, visit GOV.UK or contact your local authority directly. In some situations, you may also have the option of taking civil action for damages caused by a neighbour's animal, though this typically requires legal advice. If you need to make a formal complaint, our free Council Complaint Letter Builder can help you put your concerns in writing.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Noise Complaint Letter Builder lets you generate a formal noise complaint letter ready to send. Takes 2 minutes. Try it now →

Showing 20 of 41 questions

Ask Problem Neighbours a Question

ProblemNeighbours Editor 21/05/2026 at 9:15 am

@THECUCKOO That sounds genuinely grim, and you're doing the right thing keeping a sound diary and getting Environmental Health involved. Guinea fowl are notorious for this, they're basically living burglar alarms, and a council noise abatement notice is probably your best route since polite chats clearly aren't working. Push EH on the smoke, flies and rats too, because that's a statutory nuisance regardless of who owns the land. Keep the RSPCA reports coming in writing so there's a paper trail. Good luck.

THECUCKOO 24/07/2023 at 9:52 am

A strip of land opposite our home. People own it who we have known for years. They got kicked off a piece of land they rented and moved a variety of birds and other animals opposite. A variety of some 10 + sheds make shift coops have gone up to house all. Animals they have are chickens, no problem, ducks, no problem, geese, no problem, peacocks, no problem, pigs down the end can't hear them but do get a pong sometimes, racing pidgeons being trained with whistle anytime from six to around 10pm. The worst is the quinea fowl they never stop now its summer all windows open in house its like they are in anyroom with you as they are literally across the lane just over the hedge. Anything that goes by they create anybody opens or closes a door house or car in our place or down the road they are off. Had a word several times now just saying what you want ot hear looking to house the guinea fowl elsewhere but they have no money all in council rented proeperties and most on some sort of benefit e.g. rent relief, housing benefit, pension credit, etc etc I got no problem with them on benefits just a point making no money so where will they be able to buy or rent nowhere as no money. Farming area tractors working late early mornings start the birds off. Now taking sound recordings sound recordings talking to solictor and environmental health. RSPCA is out most weeks as they do not look after the animals the worst is a flock of under fed sheep where other people give them hay, straw and food pellets for them. Nightmare situation just want the guinea fowl moved. Besdides and influx of flies whne they clean the huts out we have rats come over can no longer top up the bird feeders. They have bonefires every two weeks that either smoke us out or they go off and the fires falre up againa dnwe are on fire watch. You may say that it burn but have no desire to see the animals hurt. Yes I know daft. But run out of patience now Been here 6 months and hes brought up even more sheds ferrets have arrived now.

Lazy 03/02/2023 at 2:10 pm

My dog goes in the garden to toilet and hsve a run around and will bark but not continually. She never goes out after 10.30 at night and never before 8 in the morning . I know she will bark if she finds a cat hedgehog etc in the garden and we go to stop her and get her in. My neighbour over the road has complained and put it on a local page in our area (internet) and comes over . We do stop her she’s 14 months. He says she barks for hours at a time and we know that’s not correct.

Tracy 30/07/2022 at 7:15 pm

My neighbour is constantly txting me complaining that my dogs barking is getting on her nervous when let outside to use the toilet, we have been reported to the council by this person and have had the matter closed as I evidenced that the most he would bark over the course of the day would total 4 minutes, we have taken measures to reduce his noise but still she messages me all the time, where do I stand as she is harassing me to the point that my mental and physical health is now in question. Many thanks

Lisa 19/07/2022 at 3:33 pm

What can I do about neighbors harassing me with their dogs

Annie 24/07/2021 at 4:34 pm

I lived in my home for 30 years 10 years ago my neighbour moved in OMG. I have had constant arguments about her 3 dogs constantly barking. I live in a main road with heavy traffic and the dogs are in front garden barking at everyone and everything. If I speak to her she screams and shouts puts her fingers up verbally abuses myself and my husband. Recently she keeps telling my disabled husband to get a job which is very upsetting for him because he likes to keep active but is unable to work because of multiple health issues of which she hasn't got a clue. She owns her property and thinks this is why she can do what she likes she is 60 years of age and is very nasty and should know better. I have a staff dog which never barks is not left at all in my garden and is walked outside but she walks her dogs and is well known because of the dogs barking all over the estate

Lori 17/05/2021 at 12:03 am

I'm having trouble with my next door neighbours all they do is drink an use drugs they have a dangerous dog it goes for us when we are entering my home an trying to attack my 2 small dogs they bang on the walls all hours of the night an not very nice people over my religion

Fed up 24/01/2021 at 5:23 am

My neighbors at number 30 is harassing me and doing harm to me and my family they keep bashing on walls and acting very inappropriately because I'm a white Muslim they are being racist and picking on me and spreading lies about me to saying I never go out etc when this lie! They have no respect and think they can do whatever they want very controlling behaviour and I try to ignore it but the man next door aggressive

Pica 24/11/2020 at 6:55 am

Help! Our neighbors have a bird who screamsssss from dawn to 2 pm everyday with no breaks! It’s kept in a shed outside and has never come out since they got it about a year ago. It causes us immediate stress and it’s clear it’s in distress. We can’t enjoy our new home and can’t even go to our backyard because it’s so loud. Not only are we stressed, but are worried the bird is neglected and We don’t know what to do-any advice on how to resolve this?

Susie 02/10/2020 at 12:23 am

I've just moved into my wee flat been very busy putting pics on wall ect and my neighbour came to my door at 7 .30 pm asking what all the noise was I told her and she says at this time of night I can't move in my own home what can I do even if I'm out shopping she will stop me n ask what I have I don't know what to do can anyone tell me what time I need to stop banging nails into my wall at please I'm at my wit's end. scared to even walk in my own home

Horas 27/09/2020 at 8:23 pm

Hi !
I have just moved in a first floor flat , me and my wife and 3 kids
5 years old
3 years old and
11 months old
In Aberdeen last week ( the people in Aberdeen are really racist , anyone can confirm that)

For first 2 days the downstairs neighbours , couple 65 and 66 years old seems to be ok ....

He asked me next day where we are from and how long we gonna stay in the flat! Is not anyone business how long lives in there the upsterers neighbour or someone else if they just moved in. But it's ok , I told him we wants to stay how long is possible because we have to enrolled the kids at the school.
I told him then that I'm sorry for any noise from the kids , the 11 months is just trying to walk and a can NOT stop him. He said is ok but they don't have to walk heavy...there is very thiny floor and walls as well. Also I can overhear from downstairs flat pretty clear, when they get drunk and laughs...or scream.
Next day I've received an email from my landlord with the subject " NOISE COMPLAIN "!
The downstairs neighbours just complained about "kids nois".
One day after...at 8 o'clock in the evening the downstairs neighbour, drunk, knock at door asked me to stop the kids to run through the house...
I told him that I understand the situation but I can Not stop them to walk trough the house, is just kids, we can not fly. The old kid get really get scare by him....
I paid the flat until 1th October and I want to leave it.
The landlord says if I didn't give him a notice 28 days before I leave he can't give the deposit !!!
What I have to do , to get the money for deposit???

Stace 10/01/2020 at 1:46 pm

Me and my husband live in a flat ground floor the worst we have a family above us their are extremely noisy washing machines that start up at half 1/2 in the morning and its above our room their awake 24/7 music going shouting heavy walking they dont even know we live here my husband was out side one evening on the phone and the woman above us wslked past stopped and looked at him and said can i help you and he said no im talking to my mother and i live here oh and do yoy mind keeping the noise down she tutted and walked away we have lived here for 10 months i have told my relastate but nothing being done dont know what else to do any suggestions much appriciated

Mason 11/08/2019 at 12:13 pm

Tricia, keeping parrots or any caged birds outside is a thoughtless and/or selfish act designed to annoy neighbours. I have a neighbour with an aviary and the birds do not shut up from dawn to dusk. The pitch of these non-native birds is different from our native birds and in many people trigger alarm signals in the mind. It is incredibly irritating and ruins the pleasure I could get from my garden. If I could I would free those birds from their caged existence. Not only cruel but incredibly selfish are people that keep caged birds in their back garden.

Tricia 26/06/2019 at 12:26 pm

I see lots complaints about pets what about people who lit up a bonfire next to a parrots aviary, torment next door dog or simply throw fireworks at a cat, are they nuisance or just normal people who claim to be so fond of animals?

Kez79 04/09/2018 at 7:03 pm

Are neighbours are harassing us about our dog, they say he keeps barking and we leave him shut outside which is not true, they called the rspca on us and they couldn’t find an issue at all, we are getting very fed up with this, any advice would be appreciated.

Spesh 12/06/2018 at 3:19 pm

For 2 years we have had neighbours constantly reporting for barking and smells. Had environmental and rspca last year visit and no action needed. Today got another enviromental letter about same thing..they now have a puppy that also barks setting mine off. Surely this is harrassment
Ive had threatening behaviours directly and in directly..ive got all measures in place. Monitors, bark deterrents, play radio when they left for few hrs and even have muzzles that they wear as needed to reduce the barking inside and out.

ProblemNeighbours Editor 28/06/2017 at 10:59 am

If there is no case to answer and your dogs don't bark, there is very little that your neighbour can do. Even if they attempt to pursue it via the courts they are unlikely to succeed if there is no proof. As for the neighbour's dogs, can you not fence your property to (a) keep your dog in and (b) keep their dogs out?

sonicdash 26/06/2017 at 4:51 pm

Hi, I'm having a nightmare with my neighbours, they keep reporting my dogs for barking, all council investigations have came back with the result no case to answer. My dogs aren't left on there own there is someone with them 99% of the time. They don't talk to me anymore, and have very recently found out they are going round the street doors to see if as any of my other neighbour are wanting to meet up at the community centre to discuss myself and my dogs to see if there is any way they can get us out. I own my house. They own a dog which they allow to poo and pee on my grass and think nothing of letting it wander up to my patio and bother my dogs. I'm at my wits end and don't know what to do about it

Mo's mum 12/04/2017 at 5:56 pm

Being constantly harrassed by neighbours 4 households from the same family I have an dog with severe arthritic hips and has little use of her right leg but vet won't decide on surgery as other 3 legs have arthritis as well.They contantly bully me I have been assaulted in my garden and had an rib fractured and bursing to my head and police refused to persue it as no evidence on either side.They claim to be parlimilitaries and have threatened to have their groups put me out of my home.

Kill nick 06/03/2016 at 6:23 pm

We live on a lane that is a 1/2 mile long, no bollards, no speed cameras, student residence with a drunk driving conviction once a month an no cats left on the street, I can't think of anything but an evil sociopath

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