[Dailydrool] How Do You Fight a Barking Complaint

[Kathy Kontrim]

My sister has the worst neighbors.  She has a basset hound named Buster.  Buster is sometimes outside.  As today is a beautiful day, she left Buster out (in his fenced yard) while she ran errands.  Her neighbor is having their home re-sided.  Buster was barking at the neighbor's workers.  Apparently, someone complained to animal control that her dog was "barking uncontrollably."   Well, he was barking at the guys next door (who, by the way, were making much more noise than the dog!)  My sister's dog is not out early in the morning or late at night.  He doesn't bark at the air.  He does bark at strangers!  Shouldn't he?  In this case, my sister was only gone for 2 hours and Buster was asleep on the deck when she got home.  She called animal control.  They said it was an "anonymous complaint."  The lady at animal control was very sympathetic but said that they had to investigate every claim.  There is a city ordinance against dog barking.  However, her neighbors can mow the lawn or have workers sawing and hammering before dawn, and that is ok.  Anyway, I'll get off the soapbox.  I thought that some on the Drool may have had issues like this before.  How does my sister document that Buster's barking was not unreasonable in this case?  I suggested that she video-tape it so that it show how much noise the workers are actually making, compared to the dog.  What do y'all think?

Also - tomorrow, May 21st, is Oliver's 8th birthday.  I have had him from a puppy and love him dearly.  His face is starting to gray, and that makes me sad.  I can't imagine life without him.  People who don't appreciate the love of a dog have a gaping hole in their life.  It is a pity.

Thanks,
Kathy and Oliver A. Higgins
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/380337