F.I.D.O

The Three Steps

First Visit

When you contact Animal Control, their procedure for dealing with a complaint of excessive barking will be explained. You'll be asked to provide the address of the barking dog, the specific time and date of the barking, an explanation of how the barking disturbed you, and a description of the animal. Animal Control will visit the address. They will either talk to the dog owner or leave a printed notice explaining there has been a complaint and explaining the city code regarding excessive barking. This first trip often results in a fine if Animal Control discovers that the dog is not licensed. Sometimes this visit does the trick; the dog owner takes the necessary steps to prevent excessive barking.

Second Visit

If the barking continues, you'll probably call Animal Control again. It may take them a few weeks to make the first contact; don't expect a rapid resolution. Animal Control will make a second visit to the address of the barking dog. If that doesen't help, Animal Control will explain you must recruit a second person from another household to co-sign a complaint; this is the third step. Without two complainants, the City Attorney will not take the case to court. This can be a difficult requirement to satisfy for numerous reasons. Many neighbors may be dog owners who worry that making a complaint may result in retaliatory complaints against their dog. Some folks may admit they too are being disturbed but are, for whatever reason, unwilling to make a complaint.

The Hazards of Mediation

If you're lucky enough to find a co-signer, you may then get a letter from the City Attorney explaining that your case will be "mediated." Look out! AT mediation, the dog owner will probably apologize and promise to end the barking. But there is no force of law to compel the dog owner to comply. If the problem continues or resumes, you are back to square one! F.I.D.O received a verbal assurance from an Assistant City Attorney that the city would no longer require mediation. F.I.D.O.'s advice is to insist on your day in court.