Evryone is culpable in this situation. Dogs bark; that's what they do. But if they bark incessantly, it's the owner's responsibility to handle it. Why have a dog if you're going to keep it chained in the yard all day w/out proper attention and love? The neighbor may have had a legitimate complaint but to hit an animal for any reason is not the answer. Yes, it's a pain to go through the proper channels but I feel worse for the dog than anyone else. He didn't/doesn't know any better than what he was taught or, more likely in this case, just left to do. It's shameful all the way around and that dog is the biggest loser in all of it. Pity.