Let's Bring Back Shame: Post A Shaming Note About Persistent Dog Barking
Wednesday morning, there was a dog barking in my neighborhood. And barking. And barking. And barking.
I had a lot to do, or, as I tweeted and then Pinned:
Well, the barking continued and continued, and I could feel the clouds forming for a migraine and much of the day spent in the dark.
I typed up a note and went out to follow the rather faraway sound of the dog -- only to discover that there were actually two barking dogs, and they were not in a house but -- awful! -- locked and left alone in a minivan in the city lot right by my house. Just left to bark their upset and probably lonely little heads off.
I taped this note to the back of the minivan. I also tossed a bunch of these notes in the open windows of their vehicle.
Turns out my neighbor also called the cops, but they just stood there for a while and apparently did nothing and then left. It seems Animal Control now has to deal with barking dogs in LA (cite the owner, etc.). Whether they'll come about barking dogs that aren't a regular problem in a neighborhood remains to be seen. (I'm waiting for an answer.)
For more of this sort of thing -- how to refuse to be abused or at least refuse to go quietly (or wordlessly) when you can't stop the abuse -- buy my book, "Good Manners for Nice People Who Sometimes Say F*ck."
It's not necessarily as bad for the dogs as you think, assuming the van wasn't somewhere where they would could in the sun.
Incessant barking is a nuisance, and I understand you getting upset. That said, wouldn't it be a better use of your mental energy to just put on headphones and listen to music for an hour?
If the incident repeats, then get upset. But a one-off - it's just not worth the hassle...
a_random_guy at May 22, 2014 7:49 AM
...would cook...
stupid autocorrect
a_random_guy at May 22, 2014 7:50 AM
In Houston, cops would probably break the window to get the dogs out and take them to SPCA or BARC and the owner would be cited for animal cruelty. . . . of course in Houston it'd be 200+ degrees in the car and they'd likely be in distress or dead if an hour had gone by already.
chickia at May 22, 2014 8:09 AM
The note would be better without the assumptions in it. Take out any reference to why the dogs are in the van and stick to the facts.
Animal Control is pretty much useless when it comes to stopping barking. You send them a letter. You have to have the address of where the animals are barking. They send you back a letter and they send a letter to the culprits. If it continues you can send them another letter during a specified time frame starting about two weeks later, and they will set up a mediation between you and the dog owner so you can work it out. I've heard they can get cited for $250, don't know when that option shows up in the process.
I am writing from experience with them.
amy glin at May 22, 2014 8:52 AM
You need to take the appropriate steps to deal with dog barking in L.A. . . .
http://www.laanimalservices.com/laws-policies/nuisance-barking/
I've followed the steps and it works. The cops don't deal with it.
Jay J. Hector at May 23, 2014 2:39 PM
I should read before I comment.
The path would be animal abuse in this case. Too hot, no air and no water, which made the dogs bark so they need to be impounded for their safety.
Jay J. Hector at May 23, 2014 2:44 PM
Amy Alkon
https://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2014/05/bring-back-sham-1.html#comment-4671896">comment from Jay J. HectorJay, I know the cops don't deal with it, and guess what: neither does Animal Control. They only come for a report for persistent daily barking. Shaming notes are the best defense we've got.
The cops, in this case, decided to do nothing. I can't make them do their job.
Amy Alkon
at May 23, 2014 7:10 PM
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