Bark bark bark

**catnapper** · 01-21-2006, 03:22 PM

Ok, I'm exhausted, have a killer migraine and not even gonna pretend I read all the replies.

I got less than 2 hours sleep, busted butt at work, and was greeted home by those two barking at me from their short leash in the backyard. I KNOW the parents just went out -- him to go clubbing. He was with his clubbing buddies. When he does that, she often goes to her mom's for the night to avoid a fight. I've lived next to them for long enough to know the routine... though they haven't done it since the baby. When she's home she is constantly on those dogs to stop barking. She is very conscious of their barking, ESPECIALLY with the baby.

NO, its not the dog's fault. In fact I think they treat the dogs AWFULLY. They don't have the time or patience to train them properly. Heck, he's not even neutered after I explained she needed to neuter him. They pee allll over the place when out of the cages. Which is why they cage them. Onc caged, the girl dog pees on the blankets everywhere and ends up covered in her own pee. Its utterly disgusting. The poor dogs are caged about 20 hours a day. The other 4 hours are tied to something in the yard.

And ya know what? After 10,000 posts, I am a bit disappointed you all took my last sentence as a threat to the dogs. My god you all should know by now my sense of honor and complete devotion to animals. I'm not gonna comment on that one further.

**Kfamr** · 01-21-2006, 04:01 PM

I'm sorry if I took it wrongly but, if it wasn't meant that way than what was it meant for? I don't think you'd harm animals, not even after reading that sentence - but, I love all animals to death and I'd never imagine saying something like that. It's just not something you say on a pet forum, regardless of your intentions. Calm down when posting and take a moment to think about what you've typed.

You know I like you as a person, Kim. However, it's not the first time i've seen or heard something against dogs said by you, whether you have a dog or not... and personally I take a high offense to it.

If these dogs are caged 20 hours a day and tied to something the other 4, like you've said, then you definitely need to devote yourself and have something done about these people. That's no life for a dog and there's no wonder why he barks all the time.

*edited to add* I'm not trying to argue or make you upset, just trying to get you to see where I was coming from.

**jazzcat** · 01-21-2006, 04:31 PM

Hey Kim, I understand how you feel when a barking dog keeps you awake all night. We've had some neighbors who must be totally deaf. Anyway, sorry about your rough night and hard day.

I know you don't mean anything bad about the dogs and your beef with is the neighbors.

As for trying to help the dogs I know that can be extremely hard without crossing some major lines or coming up against a brick wall. I've been told to butt out that it isn't my business and I found out that animal control won't help unless the dogs are running loose or skin and bones from starving. I guess they don't consider being on a 6 foot chain 24 hours a day with little shelter to be abuse.

**lizbud** · 01-21-2006, 04:39 PM

The Animal Control people would & have responded to "barking Dog"
calls in Indy. They don't take the dog away, but after a warning notice
they will fine the dog's owners.Maybe if started to cost them money. they
would do right by the dog & the neighbors. Good luck.

**catnapper** · 01-21-2006, 06:47 PM

Sigh,
First off, I am in so much pain right now.... migraine in all its glory.

I know the Humane Society HAS been called on them. My neighbors on the other side do NOT like them. Obviously, nothing has been done about the situation. The dogs are well fed, walked daily and have all current shots up to date. They could not proove abuse.

I am in the unfortunate situation since we have become friends over the past two or three years and the dogs is the one thing we've disagreed on. They treated them like babies when they first moved here. She bred her female because "she was carrying her stuffed animals around like she wanted pups, so we let her get pregnant"

He is still unneutered. I have countless times tried to politely help her train them. Always fell on deaf ears. They got worse after the baby was born and went from being caged for half the day to basically all day long. She was terrified their occasional peeing would make the baby sick and the dogs for whatever reason started to pee constantly

I could go on and on.... but basically it falls down to the fact that I have TRIED to talk to them and I really can't push her any more. Perhaps now that I'll be going for my dog training certification she'll be more open to my suggestions?

It would be so much easier to call them and shout "would you please stop them barking?" if we did not have a friendly relationship. Heck, I have a key to their house and wanted so badly to move those dogs over to my house just so they could sleep in a room, on a soft human bed. But I couldn't. Its not my place to do that. If they saw me do that, they'd think I was being condescending and telling them what bad people they are. They think "its just a dog".

I am frustrated with the whole situation, and my current migraine does not help, especially since they are the reason for today's migraine. I collapsed for a two hour nap right afte my first response, and I still don't feel any better for it. I'll most likely need 12 hours sleep tonight, which I intend to get right after I hit "submit reply"

PS: IF we called the police or someone about the barking dogs, they'd KNOW it was us because the dogs were inside, caged in the dining room. Since our house shares a common wall, we're the only ones in the world who;d have heard them barking. Its not as easy as you'd think it is. We already called the cops on them once when he was hitting her. I think I wrote about them and abuse before. I'm just stuck. Perhaps now you see a little more into the whole story and can appreciate my frustrations. Perhaps not.

**Cataholic** · 01-21-2006, 06:56 PM

Kim,
I have found neither the police, nor animal control, to be of any use. I would try to talk to them. It is nearly the only thing you can do.

FYI- I just sat through an entire nursing session with Jonah...he would stop about every minute or two, and say "doggie"...yep. For 30 minutes, the dogs next door barked. I must have the only set of canine ears around!

**Laura's Babies** · 01-22-2006, 10:30 AM

Kim, I know it was just a figure of speech as we all get pushed to the max and end up saying something like that but in NO way mean it. I know those migraines do not help and you are terriably fustrated at the whole situation.

It sounds to me that they seriously do not want those dogs if they are keeping them caged 20 hours a day and chained the other 4 hours. No wonder the poor dogs are barking to high heaven! It happens far to often when people have babies that their animals are shoved in the background and just about forgotten about. WHY even have a dog if you are going to keep it in a darn cage??!! My heart breaks for those poor dogs and for you to have to suffer because of their rotten owners.

**Karen** · 01-22-2006, 03:33 PM

Doggie Day Care! Doggie Day Care! Research the possibilities in your area for Doggie Day Care, and present it to them as an alternative. Are their teenagers in the neighborhood who might be paid to take the dogs for a long walk each day, or play with them for a couple hours a day?

A tired dog is a quiet dog.

A bored, lonely dog is a noisy dog!

Try to explain to them that youknowthe dogs are "just dogs," so they don't understand why they get no attention right now, or why they get left alone. They are intelligent creatures with nothing to do all day. How would THEY (the people) like it?

**caseysmom** · 01-22-2006, 04:17 PM

A friend of mine has a german shepard that they leave in the backyard while they are at work, she barks quite a bit and my friend had aminal control called on them. I have talked to her about crating her but they don't want to do that.

They enrolled her in a doggie day care, they just started this so I am not sure how it will go but it is probably the most humane alternative for the dog. It isn't cheap though, they are paying $400 a month.

**catnapper** · 01-22-2006, 09:23 PM

The idea of Doggy Daycare would be great, only they wont pay for it, and she works from home... there really is no excuse for their treatment. The sad fact is that they became very unimportant since the baby was born. They also treated the dogs VERY different when their puppy was alive (he died suddenly last year right before the baby was born) The puppy was actually 4 years old and treated like a prince. Her atttitude towards the dogs changed drastically afterwards.

**Karen** · 01-22-2006, 09:28 PM

Originally Posted by catnapper

The puppy was actually 4 years old and treated like a prince. Her atttitude towards the dogs changed drastically afterwards.

Then maybe they should consider rehoming them, sad to say.

**catnapper** · 01-22-2006, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by Karen

Then maybe they should consider rehoming them, sad to say.

I've thought of that. I don't know how to bring uo the subject. I think she wouldn't do it out of guilt. If that makes any sense. To her, rehoming them would be admiting she doesn't love them anymore, and she wouldn't admit that to herself. Though we all know that it would be the ultimate act of love to rehome them where they'd be happy.

I am certain that if they were rehomed that they'd not have the peeing problems like they do now. Sure, they'd still pee, but not to the extent they do now. Hubby was commenting tonight how he doesn't go over there beause the house just radiates dog pee. They have a super-deluxe big screen TV and hubby would die to watch all these football games on it. The husband is watching the same games my hubby is, and has often told my hubby to come watch with him, but he keeps turning them down. Not because he doesn't like them... but because he can't stand the constant and deep smell of dog pee.

For the longest time, I kept cursing myself thinking I wasn't doing a good enough job on the litterboxes. Well, it turns out the smell from their side permeated to OUR side of the wall (we share one common wall that divides the two homes). How did we finally figure it out? Outside the issue that the litterboxes themselves don't smell; they had a problem with their heaters and the smell of gas came over to our side. Then they called me once when I had spraypainted something in the house to see if I was spraypainting. So obviously odors travel from one side to the other.

Anyhooo.... as if smells were such a fascinating part of the story!

I just feel for these pups. I have not seen them since the whole thing Friday night. I am certain they KNOW the dogs barked all night while they were gone. I think they are too embarassed to face me. I knew they were outside today and when I walked out, they ran back in. Not too obvious

**BC_MoM** · 01-22-2006, 10:37 PM

Yeah.. I can understand why you would be upset, so everyone just take a deeeeeep breath! hehe

My neighbours Yorkies bark all the time and I too find it EXTREMELY annoying. There are many things the owners can do to keep their dogs quiet. But I do understand some dogs (especially small ones) are very vocal.

Maybe next time your neighbours go out you can offer to dogsit them at your place?

**sandragonfly** · 01-23-2006, 01:13 AM

uhh already am having a headache from reading all of this, your pain in neck neighbors..

I either won't know what else to do or offer if I've tried everything too. first, good ideas from above - talking into them with sugars about dogday care or rehoming them - if nothing good comes in, can't you call and bother until you find someone who cares!! grrr..........

that's one thing I thank for goodness I can't hear...sigh.