What did I ever do to deserve this?

Your neighborhood is similar to ours in that it is a private road & the houses are not tight against one another. We are not within the city limits and maintenance has been minmal since we all chipped in to pave our road about 15 years ago. The dogs are fenced but not chained. The husband is the only one who ever spends any time with the big dogs and it is minmal.

It does sound similar... we all chipped in also to have the hill blacktopped, so we could get out of here when there is rain, ice and snow, instead of slip and slide all the way back down.. The difference is that we get absolutely no maintenance at all...;)

Okay, back to your problem..
We also were under the impression that because we live in a private neighborhood, we had no resources to help us with the barking..
The following are little things I learned while doing my research:

*Even if you live outside of city limits.. way out on the boondocks and have no neighbors for miles around you.. your house is sitting on a municipality, township, town or county within your state... The laws cover your property even if no one sees it..

*You are a tax payer just like everyone else, and have the same rights as your nearest neighbors.

*This next one, I learned from the police chief in my town.. He said:
- The police force was created to help and protect all citizens, regardless of race, creed or social position.
- As a taxpayer, you have the same rights, restrictions and laws, and the help of the police force is one of your rights.
- No matter how big or small the problem, we are there for everyone.
- Neighbor disputes are the most unpleasant, and sometimes, the most difficult to solve. If, after a friendly conversation you cannot solve your problem, stop talking with that neighbor about the issue..
You need to call us and let us handle that problem for the best resolution for all, that is what we are trained to do. We have the proper resources and knowledge to reach a peaceful settlement of the matter at hand.

*All municipalities everywhere, have laws regarding noise pollution, peace disturbance, privacy and enjoyment of one's property, animal laws, including-but not excluding others- animal leash, animal neglect and abuse and nuisance barking of dogs.. they might not be enforced regularly, but if there is a problem, there is a law to solve it somewhere.

*Animal control officers work with and for municipalities, towns, counties, cities and states to protect animals, their safety and the safety of the public.
Your town might be to small to have one assigned specifically to it, but within states.. many cities, towns and municipalities share their resources...
Where I live, police, firefighters, post office and others, are shared with neighboring communities..

Back to your neighbors dogs:
If the dogs are running around in the yard all day.. take a look and see if they have three things: clean water, food and shelter...
- A small tape recorder on your windowsill can help.. if your house is quiet, it will pick up the noises outside.
- Keep a log for a few days, noting everything you can..
- Also, observe if they pick up the poop.. and write that in your log.. you could have a way for a complain if they don't.. see bellow ;)

If like us, you have water that comes from a well, there is a possibility that there is a law in your state, even if very obscure and buried, making it illegal to allow animal waste to remain on the ground, and leaching down to the water table..
I know that sounds very stupid, but here they have such law..:)
We have a creek running alongside the houses, it is now about twenty feet away from the back of the houses because of soil erosion, and the water is always being monitored for E coli.. The people from the government department in charge of the watershed go back and forth with canoes, taking water samples from spots very near the houses and testing it right there..
That department goes by many different names in different states, so start looking under government -> health -> water.. or watershed..

Don't be afraid to go ahead and do your research.. do it quietly, and when you have all your facts together, you will be able to start somewhere to get the help you need... I did it that way.. in my own quiet way.. ;)
 
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Wouldn't it be easier to just go and talk to them?
Sometimes, talking after the first few tries, creates more friction.. see the quote bellow :p

*This next one, I learned from the police chief in my town.. He said:
- The police force was created to help and protect all citizens, regardless of race, creed or social position.
- As a taxpayer, you have the same rights, restrictions and laws, and the help of the police force is one of your rights.
- No matter how big or small the problem, we are there for everyone.
- Neighbor disputes are the most unpleasant, and sometimes, the most difficult to solve. If, after a friendly conversation you cannot solve your problem, stop talking with that neighbor about the issue..
You need to call us and let us handle that problem for the best resolution for all, that is what we are trained to do. We have the proper resources and knowledge to reach a peaceful settlement of the matter at hand.
 
Wouldn't it be easier to just go and talk to them?

Not real sure what that will accomplish.

Me: "Hey, your dogs bark all the time."
Him(A): "I haven't noticed"
Him(B): "They're dogs, that is what dogs do."

Me: "Is there anything you can do about it?"
Him(A)(B): "no."

Me: "I would appreciate a little consideration since I cannot even go in my yard without being barked at."
Him(A)(B): "Dogs are going to bark."

Me:"Thanks for your time. Now, Tim is happy.":24:
 
But at least if you have that conversation, you can then say to the appropriate authorities that you've asked politely for them to help you find a solution, and nothing has improved.

I don't know, I feel like if you don't at least make the token gesture of asking nicely first then you're leaving yourself open to criticism later - the guy could easily turn around and say 'but he's never even mentioned that there was a problem'.
 
But at least if you have that conversation, you can then say to the appropriate authorities that you've asked politely for them to help you find a solution, and nothing has improved.

I don't know, I feel like if you don't at least make the token gesture of asking nicely first then you're leaving yourself open to criticism later - the guy could easily turn around and say 'but he's never even mentioned that there was a problem'.

I don't believe there's anything that he involve the authorities with... there's no noise ordinance.
 
I don't believe there's anything that he involve the authorities with... there's no noise ordinance.

Ah okay. Well in that case, surely going over to have a polite word is pretty much the only thing that can be done, so nothing would be lost by giving it a try. Better to try it and perhaps be surprised, than dismiss it just because you think you can predict the outcome.
 
I don't believe there's anything that he involve the authorities with... there's no noise ordinance.

But that's just it, he doesn't even know if there is a noise ordinance or not.

He won't even bother to talk to his neighbors just conceding the fact it won't do any good and he doesn't know if there is a noise ordinance. I swear it's just easier for people to bitch and complain than to actually do anything about it...''


:surrender
 
Well if you're not going to go and try to get something done about it, could you look at things you could do to block out the noise? Could you listen to music during the day? Or keep the TV on in another room? I understand that you're working, I guess it depends on what your level of concentration requires. I find it easy to concentrate with distractions, other people can't manage it at all.
 
Well if you're not going to go and try to get something done about it, could you look at things you could do to block out the noise? Could you listen to music during the day? Or keep the TV on in another room? I understand that you're working, I guess it depends on what your level of concentration requires. I find it easy to concentrate with distractions, other people can't manage it at all.

Mysteriously at the moment I do not hear them barking. Further mystery I have not seen my cat today.
I hope those are not related.
 
I thought I had said there was no noise ordinance in the county and we are not in the city limits.

If your address is listed as prattville then this ordinance applies to you whether you are in the city or not.


Prattville, Alabama, Code of Ordinances >> PART I - GENERAL ORDINANCES >> Chapter 10 - ANIMALS >> ARTICLE I. - IN GENERAL >>
Sec. 10-2. - Public nuisance animals.
No owner, keeper or person acting for the owner shall fail to exercise proper care and control of his animals to prevent said animals from becoming a public nuisance. The term "public nuisance animal" means and includes any animal or animals that:​
(1)
Damages the property of anyone other than the owner.
(2)
Damages or destroys gardens, flowers, or shrubs, or otherwise interferes with the welfare of the neighborhood.
(3)
Without provocation, chases or approaches a pedestrian, bicycle rider, or vehicle in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack.
(4)
Trespasses on private property in such a manner as to cause unsanitary conditions.
(5)
Habitually makes disturbing noises, including but not limited to, barking, howling, whining, yelping or other utterances causing unreasonable annoyance, disturbances or discomfort to neighbor or others in close proximity to the premises where the animal is kept.
(6)
Creates unsanitary conditions or offensive and objectionable odor in enclosure or surroundings and thereby creates unreasonable annoyances or discomfort to neighbors or others in close proximity to the premises where the animal is kept.
(Ord. No. 2001-007, § 4-28, 4-17-2001)​
Sec. 10-3. - Complaints of public nuisance animals.
(a)
Whenever a person shall complain to the police department and/or code enforcement officer concerning a public nuisance animal, the police department/code enforcement officer will notify the owner or keeper of said animal, by written warning, that a complaint has been received and that the person should take whatever steps necessary to alleviate the specified nuisance within a reasonable period of time.
(b)
If the warning given to the person alleged to be keeping the animal set forth in subsection (a) of this section is ineffective, then the complainant shall have the right to appear before the municipal court warrant clerk between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and complete an affidavit/summons against the owner or keeper of said animal. The restrictions of time will be in order for the warrant clerk to receive verification of the written warning.
(Ord. No. 2001-007, § 4-28, 4-17-2001)​
 
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