Incessant dog barking (Albuquerque, Santa Fe, South Valley: house, neighborhood, live)

[katmeyster]

We have a neighbor whose dog barks seemingly day and night -- every day. The rest of the dogs in the neighborhood seem fine, but this dog will set them off and then its a cacophony.

I feel sorry for the dog because it seems lonely, but I'm also sorry for the rest of us because this never, ever, ends.

Question: Does Santa Fe do anything about incessant dog barking? What are your experiences and what do you suggest?

I'm new to the neighborhood and don't want to cause trouble so soon, but I'm amazed that others aren't complaining as well.

[Gearhound]

You can call animal control and file a complaint.

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by katmeyster

We have a neighbor whose dog barks seemingly day and night -- every day.

Question: Does Santa Fe do anything about incessant dog barking? What are your experiences and what do you suggest?

For questions about animal licensing, humane cat traps, or to file barking complaints, call (505) 955-2701, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.
Santa Fe, NM - Official Website - Animal Services (page_not_found)


I have a lot of experience on the issue, but not in Santa Fe, in the ABQ area...

Rich

[loborick]

Call animal control. Document when the dog barks and for how long. There is a nuisance ordinance in Santa Fe. I have had good results with animal control here. But if the dog continues to bark, be ready to file a criminal complaint. Animal control will go out two times, but the third time you call you'll have to file a criminal complaint. You also can only call during business hours. You used to be able to call the police during the night, but they won't take the calls anymore.

I tolerate dog barking during the day as long as it isn't continuous all day. The barking I complain about is at night. Right now there are two dogs around my house that bark, but they don't during the night anymore. I have contact animal control about both of them and the owners seem to have taken care of the problem.

[katmeyster]

This is very helpful advice -- thank you everybody.

[Santa Famous]

FYI, seeing as how this thread is marked for "Incessant dog barking" I feel like I should mention that calling the hotline listed in Poncho_NM's (Thanks Poncho!) comment (SF Animal Control: (505) 955-2701) is only useful for VIOLATIONS of code or law. Currently, in Santa Fe city limits (and to an even lesser degree outside the city), BARKING is not considered a violation. While it is still listed as a complaint and recorded as such, there is really no recourse.

Unfortunately, as loborick put it (Thanks loborick!) the only way to really do anything about it, if it really is a nuisance (btw, my motto is "choose your battles") is by taking legal action (civil though, NOT criminal in most cases). Keep in mind that this requires that your name be delivered to the offending party as the "accuser"...

In summary, talking to the person about the issue first before all this is probably the best bet. Be neighborly

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by Poncho_NM

For questions about animal licensing, humane cat traps, or to file barking complaints, call (505) 955-2701, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.
Santa Fe, NM - Official Website - Animal Services

Guess I should have said:

Santa Fe, NM - Official Website - Animal Services (page_not_found)

Which says (with additional info on the page):

The City of Santa Fe Animal Services Division is comprised of one manager and six full-time Animal Services officers who investigate and respond to vicious or stray animals, nuisance complaints, injured or ill animals, reports of cruelty or neglect, as well as other animal-related issues. Animal Services officers are on duty seven days a week and are committed to public safety, animal welfare, and public education.


To report a violation, please call the Santa Fe Police Department’s non-emergency dispatch line at (505) 428-3710 or (505) 955-2700.

[Little rook]

We had a neighbor in Albuquerque's South Valley whose dog barked every night all night. We fixed it by calling their house several times a night and saying in a friendly, worried tone, "Your dog is barking. Are you alright? Do you need help?"

[Poncho_NM]

Updated URL:

Animal Services SFPD | City of Santa Fe, New Mexico

Which includes "Animal Control Ordinances (PDF)" and "File a Barking Complaint" form.

[jamies]

I lived where there was a dog that barked all night long on the next street over. Then one night the dog started barking, there was a single loud BANG!

The noise must of scared it cause I never heard it bark again.