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Barking and Sleepless Nights Push East Anchorage Resident to ActionNeighbor wants Anchorage Assembly to reduce the number of minutes a dog can bark before a noise violation is issuedANCHORAGE - An Anchorage resident for 20 years, Will Johnson says he his family have had enough of their neighbors’ dogs keeping them awake. "Psychologically and emotionally I'm at the end of my rope,” said Johnson. Johnson, who is recovering from prostate cancer, says there are four dogs, two on either side of his house, that are driving him crazy. "To go to work and leave your dogs out unattended for prolonged periods of time interrupts the neighborhood," Johnson said. “The dogs can stay out all day long but if they're going be out and you know they're going to chase every pedestrian going down the sidewalk, then you need to be out there with them to quiet them," he said. The father of three is worried about his wife, who works 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. as a nurse and needs a quiet environment to sleep during the day. "If she's at work and administering [medicine] or attending bedside service to patients she wants to be fully alert, she wants to be present with them, to avoid mistakes, to avoid errors,” said Johnson. Johnson, who has lived in his East Anchorage home since 1998, says he’s tried unsuccessfully for three years to work with his neighbors to solve the problem. "There has been aggression one of the neighbors has driven by and given me the finger,” said Johnson. Johnson says the dog owners often break city law, which says dogs can’t bark consecutively for more than 7 minutes during the day and 5 minutes during the night (10 p.m. to 7 a.m.). But Johnson must prove the violation to Animal Control. Under the code, Johnson must record the dogs barking for the extended period of time in order for a violation notice to be issues. "7 minutes, really when you're sitting there doing a recording, can be a long time… I’ve gone up to as much as 6 minutes and 50 seconds,” said Johnson. Johnson brought his fight to the Animal Control Advisory Board’s meeting Thursday night. He's asking the board to recommend the Anchorage Assembly reduce the number of minutes of recorded proof – so that more citations can be made, forcing owners to take action. He told board members how he has difficulty meeting the 7-minute recording requirements. After Johnson finished his address, board member Al Milspaugh said he agreed with many of Johnson’s concerns. “I'm going to do what I can to help you out," said Milspaugh. Assembly members Elvi Gray-Jackson and Harriet Drummond have also responded to Johnson’s emails. Drummond told Johnson that she’d request the Assembly’s Public Safety Committee, which deals with concerns, take up the issue. |
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bob said on Monday, Feb 4 at 8:36 PM
Hold your idiot neighbors accountable in small claims court! You can sue for ten thousand dollars in Alaska small claims. Keep records of your neighbor and their dogs and write down everything they say to you and keep a diary. Sue and collect.
112869551Grrrr at my neighbors too! said on Friday, Aug 31 at 12:32 PM
My neighbors (7908 Crescent Moon Pl) leave their balcony door open ALL DAY when they are gone to work. Their little 'precious' poodle barks ALL DAY. Then when they come home, they hear no barking, so they dont believe that the dog is a problem. What to do!!!! smh
100613882AKSourdough said on Wednesday, Aug 29 at 11:59 PM
I read once where these individuals had the same problem. What they did was to record the barking and when finished they called the owners of the barking dog and play the recorded barking back.
100439236daddybilly said on Monday, Aug 27 at 2:46 PM
Ever hear of poison?
100057661Mike J said on Saturday, Aug 25 at 6:57 PM
Put a sign in your front yard, "Warning: Excessive Barking Neighbors". Publicity might get their attention.
99936366Sam Hall said on Saturday, Aug 25 at 5:38 PM
I do believe it is reasonable and everyone should want to treat a neighbor as you yourself want to be treated. However dogs do bark..that is being a dog..to expect then barless dogs makes no sense at all. Dogs will tend to bank if they live where another dog or dogs bark close to their home..I notice there are many dogs in Anchoarge which is nice..Responsible dog owners do and should try to see their pet does not bark at what is sleeping hours or if it happens very rarely..would it not be better to talk with your neighbor about situations like that as a total first step. I would quess one of the problems in Anchorage is the very close house situations in this city with the most population in Alaska and not much land space between homes due to where the most populated people situations is in Alaska.. the 7 minute rule etc and recording seems a bit much.
99932706Raven33 said on Saturday, Aug 25 at 8:01 AM
Sorry... the reason I said twenty minutes is to get a good workout while recording. You know, two birds with one stone.
99908216Raven33 said on Saturday, Aug 25 at 8:00 AM
Time to get your recorder out and talk a walk. Like back and forth in front of your house. Take at least a twenty minute walk while recording. You have a right to exercise in your neighborhood and if by chance the dogs bark the entire time, then they're violating the law not you!
99908175pdidoorman said on Friday, Aug 24 at 7:37 PM
As a homeowner and a tax payer I think I have earned and paid in full my right to come home after a long day at work to my home and live in peace and quite.If I was having a party with loud noise then I'd expect the police to be knocking on my door.What is the difference?The difference is I'd NEVER distrub my neighbors sleep and I try to be a responsible person and do what most of the people expect from others.I too like many have neighbors that have barking dogs and the owners care less.These are the people that need to move to the real bush or be banned from being a pet owner.Get the dog debarked.BE RESPOSIBLE.
99882736rick said on Friday, Aug 24 at 6:39 PM
John Doe go back to cali, your just visiting and have time to complain about barking dogs! Pathetic
99880056rick said on Friday, Aug 24 at 6:37 PM
If you worked hard enough you wouldnt be able to hear them when you sleep, just move and quit whining you sorry saps.
99879982Bar'aq the Clown said on Friday, Aug 24 at 5:22 PM
Remember the 3 S's. SHOOT. SHOVEL. SHUT UP.
99877196MG said on Friday, Aug 24 at 5:19 PM
It is just as bad in the valley. One of my neighbors owns sled dogs who howl all night. He has been told time and time again by Animal Control to get rid of a few. He doesn't. I have another neighbor who lets their dog run through the neighbor, out in the street, it barks at 3-4 in the AM, and they are too drunk to hear it. After three times, time to remove the animal and ban them from owning any pets as they are NOT responsible pet owners.
99877046brent said on Friday, Aug 24 at 4:58 PM
im being a bit sarcastic since the law is seven minutes of consecutive barking. All dogs pause between barks so how long of a wait between barks does it have to be so that it is no longer considered consecutive? I have a dog that only barks at cats and crack heads.... either dont let your cat come outside or dont do crack, then you do not have to worry about my dog barking.
99876106brent said on Friday, Aug 24 at 4:55 PM
what is a consecutive bark? is that one long noise coming out of a dogs mouth?
99875976Concerned said on Friday, Aug 24 at 3:21 PM
For one it is not the dogs fault, they are obviously unhappy about the way they are being treated and are voicing it by barking. Its the owner's fault not the dogs.mikey372002 you must be a dog hater and know absolutely nothing about them. Dogs are not lawn ornaments and should not be treated as such. I am sure if you were being treated as a lawn ornament you would be making some noise as well. Thesse owners do need to be held accountable for the way they are treating their pets and the pets given to someone worthy of the honor of taking care of them in they way these intelligent loving animals deserve. Get a clue its bad owners not bad dogs!
99871841Emma said on Friday, Aug 24 at 2:49 PM
I have recorded our neighbors dog numerous times. The last time my husband brought in recordings we were told to wait a while in between recordings. Why should it matter? The dog owner was verbally warned as well as in writing. The owner was also given a $50 fine. Every single recording after the written warning should be a fine....period! This is ridiculous that I should have to wait and continue to suffer along with my family while the dog is left out all night barking.
99870255Dan@FSBDaycare said on Friday, Aug 24 at 2:28 PM
We need to stop this Insane - Fish Smokey Barkey Daycare - 'F.S.B.D.' - Your very life and marriage will be on the line, all because of Animal control will not help you. We should re-name to Human Control. Lived with this for TEN Years Now in nice south side niehborhood! STOP Barkey now! 24-hr.S SAME BARKS 123, 123, aT point I had (14) dogs BARKING AT me! bEEST wISHES AND good luck. South Side Dan
99869216Kevin said on Friday, Aug 24 at 2:06 PM
Take some water and ammonia in a spray bottle and squirt them in the face when they bark!!! It works on some dogs !
99867986Gary Mulholland said on Friday, Aug 24 at 1:45 PM
I beleive an owner of pets should not force thier pets on others, they should be responsible enough and respectful enough to thier enviorment. I wonder how they would like loud motorcycles out there windows all night?
99866756Raven said on Friday, Aug 24 at 1:15 PM
I used to leave my dogs out but they kept digging under the fence. I got the invisible fence with shock collars and that didn't help either. But as long as I'm home they stay in the yard so now when I leave for the day they stay in the house and are out all evening (unless it's raining or very cold) I hope this guy gets his problem taken care of. Part of being a responsible pet owner is making sure your pets aren't bothering/hurting other people. Now if they were just barking at people coming into the yard that would be different but this sounds like they are barking because they are unhappy about being outside.
99864795East Anchoragite said on Friday, Aug 24 at 12:28 PM
I, too, sypathize with you. We have the "barking neighbors", also. The owners repeatedly allowed the dogs to escape their fence and one tried to bite a little girl riding a bike. When the owners were told of the situation they acted like it was everyones fault but their own. Animal Control did slap them with notice and the dogs disappeared. Guess what? They now have a new dog and it's started all over again. Go NRA!
99862025tomlaret said on Friday, Aug 24 at 10:53 AM
When I called Animal Control about chronic barking, they told me to give them the owners address and they would send him a card. I have confronted the owner on numerous occasions and now he won't answer my phone calls. Good luck with Animal Control, they don't want to be bothered to do anything but run the shelter.
99856005Mom of three kids that walk to and from school said on Friday, Aug 24 at 10:31 AM
I agree take the time down. These dog owners think they can leave thier dogs out and who cares the reprocussion on thier neighbors. I myself and my three kids 11, 9, and 7yrs old, residents of E. Anch., have been chased repeatedly by dogs on the way to and from school. Forcing me to bring protection in fear of my little kids or myself being mauled by these dogs. They should be fined heavily or they should be forced to revoke thier right to care for an animal they clearly are incapable of respectfully caring for.
99854396rob said on Friday, Aug 24 at 10:23 AM
Once had a friend with prize showdogs, when his neighbors dogs continued to jump his fence to have sex with his dogs, he shot them and put them in the neighbors trash can. This problem needs to be addressed city wide before things get out of hand. No I would not condone this action! I'm not saying, I'm just saying.
99853812Heather said on Friday, Aug 24 at 10:18 AM
Why don't these owners try using a "barking" collar??? They work and it usually only takes one time for the dog to get shocked and no more bark!!! Dogs are smart if they are trained!! The owners are the stupid ones!!!
99853486mikey372002 said on Friday, Aug 24 at 10:06 AM
For one, Its the Owners of these good for nothing dogs who dont train them or are as dumb as the dogs themselfs to know better, A steep fine needs to be applied , 200 dollars for each offence, 30 day s to pay, if not done, report to court and have your permenant fund taken away until you get your dog to respect other people,I know a doctor who can take care of the bark ,And for animal control people more accountability, they just drive around with thier heads up their smelly part, collecting a paycheck.Also the assembly needs to do a better job addressing issues in a more firm manor or we voters will elect new blood people with new ideas, these board members are getting old and have old ideas they use over and over again. Nothing gets done.
99852592John Doe said on Friday, Aug 24 at 9:57 AM
Lots of luck, Will. I'm visiting up here from Southern CA and I've been through your nightmare also. I tried to deal with our neighbors directly in a gentlemanly way and got absolutely nowhere. I then contacted the city and they sent the police out a couple times to no avail. They finally brushed me off and referred me to the county animal control who came out a couple times and cited the inconsiderates also to no avail. They also quit responding and gave me a list of impossible steps I had to take to supposedly get the matter resolved. Both authorities, I'm convinced, just didn't want any more involvement and abondoned me. They might as well have told me to "Go to hell, we don't have time for you!". Bottom line: I fought this unwinnable battle for years until some of the inconsiderates moved away and took their chronic barkaholic nuisances with them or in one major case they got old and decrepid and stopped barking on their own. So all I accomplished was make a bunch of enemies.
99851972Amy said on Friday, Aug 24 at 9:47 AM
I am so happy to hear that. I too live in east anchorage and have the same issue with 2 neighbors. I have compliained to Animal Control more than once(on the phone and in writing) and the dogs are still an issue. It's about time they deal with this. Tired of not getting sleep!!
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