Constant barking & other issues with neighbors' dog - UPDATE

[Ava]

I live in a townhouse.
A few years ago the association imposed a no-pets rule. My cat was grandfathered in because she was already living here.

My neighbor next door brought a big dog a while back. They kept it in the balcony non-stop during summer. The dog had to do all its needs there, put up with the heat, and was barking constantly.
Though I found it very difficult, I called the association on them and the dog went away. Since it was on the balcony and every one could see it, it could have been any of the neighbors who put the complaint.

Now they have another dog. It's a pit bull.
They brought it over the summer as a puppy.
They would let it poop all over the back patio my unit shares with them. They would not pick up the poop. I told them back then I would not put up with that.
Now they don't let the dog out on the patio anymore. They let it out on the front and again, they don't pick up the poop. Maybe once a week they get a shovel and pick it up.
It's disgusting and I can't even imaging what would happen in summer with the heat and the bugs all over the poop.

Besides that, the dog is now huge and it barks and whines NONSTOP. Our walls are paper-thin and I have been getting headaches from the constant noise.
Add to that the fact that I am not in my best emotional moment. So, it's really taking its tolls. 
I was always looking forward to arrive home and relax at the end of the day. Now I dread it.

My only chance of making the situation change is by contacting the association manager's office and putting a complaint.
It's not easy for me to do that. These are my next door neighbors. We share a driveway, we share a back patio, and like I said, our walls are paper thin. They would know it was me who complained. I'm the only neighbor they share a wall with.

Maybe it's better to let it run its own course? Since they rent, they may move, or maybe they'll get tired of the constant barking and give the dog away.

They are not bad people, but they are young and very irresponsible. They shovel my driveway in winter since the association removed snow services a couple of years ago. I've try to pay them and they refuse, so instead I give them gift cards and they gladly take them. I wouldn't let anyone work for me for free.

My mother says let it go and it will eventually would work itself out. It's tiring though, and very distressing, to hear a dog bark for hours ever day. I'm mostly leaning towards waiting it out until it resolves itself. It's been a few months and it's getting really old.

[Tennesseer]

Ava-you can put up with the nuisance or you can say something to the association.  You have rights.  Also tell the association if the neighbor harasses you, you will hold the association and the owner of the condo legally responsible.  

[countrygirl2]

I absolutely cannot stand that.  We have a dog that rarely barks which is wonderful because I would not have one that did all the time.  That would drive me crazy.

On the other hand, noise bothers me so badly I have a white noise machine.  Maybe a couple of those would help mute it some.

But I would report them, this is twice they have done that and I bet that dog is causing major destruction in that apartment, not fair to the neighbors or the dog.

[Pants]

Mar 19, 2019 19:07:57 GMT -5 Ava said:

I live in a townhouse.
A few years ago the association imposed a no-pets rule. My cat was grandfathered in because she was already living here.

My neighbor next door brought a big dog a while back. They kept it in the balcony non-stop during summer. The dog had to do all its needs there, put up with the heat, and was barking constantly.
Though I found it very difficult, I called the association on them and the dog went away. Since it was on the balcony and every one could see it, it could have been any of the neighbors who put the complaint.

Now they have another dog. It's a pit bull.
They brought it over the summer as a puppy.
They would let it poop all over the back patio my unit shares with them. They would not pick up the poop. I told them back then I would not put up with that.
Now they don't let the dog out on the patio anymore. They let it out on the front and again, they don't pick up the poop. Maybe once a week they get a shovel and pick it up.
It's disgusting and I can't even imaging what would happen in summer with the heat and the bugs all over the poop.

Besides that, the dog is now huge and it barks and whines NONSTOP. Our walls are paper-thin and I have been getting headaches from the constant noise.
Add to that the fact that I am not in my best emotional moment. So, it's really taking its tolls. 
I was always looking forward to arrive home and relax at the end of the day. Now I dread it.

My only chance of making the situation change is by contacting the association manager's office and putting a complaint.
It's not easy for me to do that. These are my next door neighbors. We share a driveway, we share a back patio, and like I said, our walls are paper thin. They would know it was me who complained. I'm the only neighbor they share a wall with.

Maybe it's better to let it run its own course? Since they rent, they may move, or maybe they'll get tired of the constant barking and give the dog away.

They are not bad people, but they are young and very irresponsible. They shovel my driveway in winter since the association removed snow services a couple of years ago. I've try to pay them and they refuse, so instead I give them gift cards and they gladly take them. I wouldn't let anyone work for me for free.

My mother says let it go and it will eventually would work itself out. It's tiring though, and very distressing, to hear a dog bark for hours ever day. I'm mostly leaning towards waiting it out until it resolves itself. It's been a few months and it's getting really old.

You have a couple of options here besides the two you've laid out: 
1) Talk to them. Tell them about the whining and barking and that you're looking to them for a solution. And that dog poop attracts pests like rats and they need to pick up after their dog promptly or you will need to take further action. 
2) Call/mail their landlord. They rent. It's not their property. I assume the landlord is unaware, or is looking the other way unless it becomes a problem. Let the landlord know it's a problem. 

Story time: we recently had the police called on us for a noise complaint because our dog barks when she's left outside and misses us. Honestly, we had no idea it bothered anyone else or that they could even hear it. (We have big lots, a snowbird neighbor on one side and a store on the other. Seriously it never even occurred to me, to my great dismay.) We were, of course, mortified, thinking how often we'd left her out there barking because she was being a PITA. We have taken steps to ensure she doesn't get left outside barking any more. Could be your neighbors just don't know how bad it is and given the chance could do better. I don't have a lot of faith in that, based on what you've said, but it's possible. 

[andi9899]

This is exactly why I won't live close together like that in an apartment or a condo with Macy. She seems to never shut up! But I own my house and don't share anything with anyone. I've even thought about getting a bark collar, but I can't shock her.

You have every right to report them and if the dog is as loud as you say, everyone can hear it. They will probably not know it was you. However, if they do, you can kiss your snow removal goodbye. You just have to decide which you prefer. If you're paying them, you probably should consider how much you would pay for the same service should they quit you.

[laterbloomer]

I always find it funny when people say "I don't want the people that are mistreating me to get upset when I make them stop" Are you scared of them? If so, if they do anything nasty to you report them to the association and the police right away. If not, don't worry about their dirty looks etc. They are the ones in the wrong.

[Ava]

Mar 19, 2019 20:26:43 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

I always find it funny when people say "I don't want the people that are mistreating me to get upset when I make them stop" Are you scared of them? If so, if they do anything nasty to you report them to the association and the police right away. If not, don't worry about their dirty looks etc. They are the ones in the wrong.

I'm not afraid of them. It would just be a very awkward situation to live next door, share a driveway, a back patio, and see them all the time.
I live here, they live here, too. I just want to have a good relationship with all my neighbors.

[Ava]

Mar 19, 2019 20:06:09 GMT -5 Pants said:

Mar 19, 2019 19:07:57 GMT -5 Ava said:

I live in a townhouse.
A few years ago the association imposed a no-pets rule. My cat was grandfathered in because she was already living here.

My neighbor next door brought a big dog a while back. They kept it in the balcony non-stop during summer. The dog had to do all its needs there, put up with the heat, and was barking constantly.
Though I found it very difficult, I called the association on them and the dog went away. Since it was on the balcony and every one could see it, it could have been any of the neighbors who put the complaint.

Now they have another dog. It's a pit bull.
They brought it over the summer as a puppy.
They would let it poop all over the back patio my unit shares with them. They would not pick up the poop. I told them back then I would not put up with that.
Now they don't let the dog out on the patio anymore. They let it out on the front and again, they don't pick up the poop. Maybe once a week they get a shovel and pick it up.
It's disgusting and I can't even imaging what would happen in summer with the heat and the bugs all over the poop.

Besides that, the dog is now huge and it barks and whines NONSTOP. Our walls are paper-thin and I have been getting headaches from the constant noise.
Add to that the fact that I am not in my best emotional moment. So, it's really taking its tolls. 
I was always looking forward to arrive home and relax at the end of the day. Now I dread it.

My only chance of making the situation change is by contacting the association manager's office and putting a complaint.
It's not easy for me to do that. These are my next door neighbors. We share a driveway, we share a back patio, and like I said, our walls are paper thin. They would know it was me who complained. I'm the only neighbor they share a wall with.

Maybe it's better to let it run its own course? Since they rent, they may move, or maybe they'll get tired of the constant barking and give the dog away.

They are not bad people, but they are young and very irresponsible. They shovel my driveway in winter since the association removed snow services a couple of years ago. I've try to pay them and they refuse, so instead I give them gift cards and they gladly take them. I wouldn't let anyone work for me for free.

My mother says let it go and it will eventually would work itself out. It's tiring though, and very distressing, to hear a dog bark for hours ever day. I'm mostly leaning towards waiting it out until it resolves itself. It's been a few months and it's getting really old.

You have a couple of options here besides the two you've laid out: 
1) Talk to them. Tell them about the whining and barking and that you're looking to them for a solution. And that dog poop attracts pests like rats and they need to pick up after their dog promptly or you will need to take further action. 
2) Call/mail their landlord. They rent. It's not their property. I assume the landlord is unaware, or is looking the other way unless it becomes a problem. Let the landlord know it's a problem. 

Story time: we recently had the police called on us for a noise complaint because our dog barks when she's left outside and misses us. Honestly, we had no idea it bothered anyone else or that they could even hear it. (We have big lots, a snowbird neighbor on one side and a store on the other. Seriously it never even occurred to me, to my great dismay.) We were, of course, mortified, thinking how often we'd left her out there barking because she was being a PITA. We have taken steps to ensure she doesn't get left outside barking any more. Could be your neighbors just don't know how bad it is and given the chance could do better. I don't have a lot of faith in that, based on what you've said, but it's possible. 

I could talk to them, for sure. The reason I didn't list it as an option is because I don't think it will change anything.

I can't contact the landlord directly because I don't know them or have any contact information. I can only contact the manager's office and tell them to talk to the landlord.

[Ava]

Mar 19, 2019 19:35:28 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Ava-you can put up with the nuisance or you can say something to the association.  You have rights.  Also tell the association if the neighbor harasses you, you will hold the association and the owner of the condo legally responsible.  

I don't think they would harass me. It's just very uncomfortable for me because we live really close and I see them almost every day. 
I know they are in the wrong but it's still not an easy situation.

[laterbloomer]

Mar 19, 2019 20:44:16 GMT -5 Ava said:

Mar 19, 2019 20:26:43 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

I always find it funny when people say "I don't want the people that are mistreating me to get upset when I make them stop" Are you scared of them? If so, if they do anything nasty to you report them to the association and the police right away. If not, don't worry about their dirty looks etc. They are the ones in the wrong.

I'm not afraid of them. It would just be a very awkward situation to live next door, share a driveway, a back patio, and see them all the time.
I live here, they live here, too. I just want to have a good relationship with all my neighbors.

I don't consider their dog shitting all over your front yard and barking day in and day out a good relationship. But I'm weird that way. If one of us is going to be upset and one is going to get their own way, I don't choose to be the one that is upset.

[chapeau]

If they are that lazy about picking up after the dog in the front yard in summer, I suspect that you wouldn’t be the only one to complain. Does that mean you need to grind your teeth until summer? That depends on your tolerance and your desire to not be the one who reports them. Do people walk in your neighborhood? As soon as the weather is nice enough for that you could probably call about the yard conditions.

I had neighbors like that. I could never figure out if they had a service come in once a week to clean up the yard or if the guy who cut their grass did it before he mowed. They were cited several times by our code enforcement officer, and were evicted last month.

[chapeau]

double post

[mollyanna58]

There is a no-pets rule.  This is the second time they have broken that rule. 


Call the management company.  The dog is visible to others when they take him outside, so anyone could have made the call.

[Chocolate Lover]

Mar 19, 2019 20:45:17 GMT -5 Ava said:

Mar 19, 2019 20:06:09 GMT -5 Pants said:

You have a couple of options here besides the two you've laid out: 
1) Talk to them. Tell them about the whining and barking and that you're looking to them for a solution. And that dog poop attracts pests like rats and they need to pick up after their dog promptly or you will need to take further action. 
2) Call/mail their landlord. They rent. It's not their property. I assume the landlord is unaware, or is looking the other way unless it becomes a problem. Let the landlord know it's a problem. 

Story time: we recently had the police called on us for a noise complaint because our dog barks when she's left outside and misses us. Honestly, we had no idea it bothered anyone else or that they could even hear it. (We have big lots, a snowbird neighbor on one side and a store on the other. Seriously it never even occurred to me, to my great dismay.) We were, of course, mortified, thinking how often we'd left her out there barking because she was being a PITA. We have taken steps to ensure she doesn't get left outside barking any more. Could be your neighbors just don't know how bad it is and given the chance could do better. I don't have a lot of faith in that, based on what you've said, but it's possible. 

I could talk to them, for sure. The reason I didn't list it as an option is because I don't think it will change anything.

I can't contact the landlord directly because I don't know them or have any contact information. I can only contact the manager's office and tell them to talk to the landlord.

In my state, property tax records are accessible to the public. They usually have mailing addresses on them. You could see if your state is the same. 

[cottontail]

I would not need to have a unit attached to someone to be driven insane by their constantly barking dog. I think that you should complain to the manager but also find out the name of the unit's owner and also contact them. As a landlord, I would really want to know if my tenants were sneaking a pet in against the rules for a second time and bothering the neighbors on top of it. We have a couple of "good dogs", as my husband calls them, across the street and I am so grateful that they don't sit outside and bark all of the time, much less have to deal with their poop!

[Deleted]

Mar 20, 2019 13:33:21 GMT -5 mollyanna58 said:

There is a no-pets rule.  This is the second time they have broken that rule. 


Call the management company.  The dog is visible to others when they take him outside, so anyone could have made the call.

Wait.  What?  There's a no pets rule??  I missed that in the original post.

Definitely call.  I'll bet the owners don't know it's there either and wouldn't be happy about it.

[cottontail]

Also, I would order these ASAP. This is a great price for a great pair of noise cancelling headphones. If you don't want to play music, you can just use the noise canceling option and it will drown out so much. You don't need to have an Apple product to use them. You'll need to use the cord to listen to music but not for just the noise canceling.


www.qvc.com/qvc.product.E232643.html

ETA - I think the QC35 model is completely cordless but it is much more expensive.

[countrygirl2]

I can't contact the landlord directly because I don't know them or have any contact information. I can only contact the manager's office and tell them to talk to the landlord.

I saw someone put it, you can go to your appraisal district site and find the owner by name or other ways.  If its no pets I bet the owner would have a fit.  If they don't care for it any better then that can you imagine what the inside of that place is like.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Mar 20, 2019 14:48:35 GMT -5 cottontail said:

Also, I would order these ASAP. This is a great price for a great pair of noise cancelling headphones. If you don't want to play music, you can just use the noise canceling option and it will drown out so much. You don't need to have an Apple product to use them. You'll need to use the cord to listen to music but not for just the noise canceling.


www.qvc.com/qvc.product.E232643.html

ETA - I think the QC35 model is completely cordless but it is much more expensive.

I have these and use them when I fly.  The noise canceling works well.  However, it does NOT cancel out things like babies crying.  It mutes it some, but doesn't block it.

[Deleted]

I'm feeling you today, Ava!  I was picking up our dog from surgery/groom (a two-for), and there was a little schnauzer that barked non-stop for almost an hour.  All of the other dogs were calm.  There is actually very little barking in the waiting room.  But this dog never shut up. 

[Ava]

I have an update.
Last week I was debating if I should report them to the management office, leaning towards yes.
Today I arrive home to find a huge U-Haul truck in the driveway, of course it was blocking my spot.
So I asked them what's going on.
They are moving tomorrow. The landlord told them he had put the condo for sale.
I'm not sure if that's true, or he received complaints about them and decided to get them out. They were getting out of control with the dog barking, dog poop, leaving stuff on the grounds, smoking pot, etc. I wouldn't be surprised if other neighbors complained.

They are nice people, friendly and willing to help when they can, but I am glad they are leaving.
I am now hoping whoever moves in is a little better.

[Works4me]

Yippee!

[countrygirl2]

Also add a white noise machine, they are great, I am to the point I can't sleep without one.  Hubs likes it too.  If we make noise in here it muffles it in the bedroom, right off our main living area.


I hope your neighbors will be better.  I wouldn't be surprised if they are being evicted.  I bet the place is a mess and will have to do work to sell it, pot smokers, dog without good care?  I mean that can't make for a clean place.

[Ava]

 As you know, my neighbor moved out last Friday.

On Sunday  I heard some noise coming from the unit. I thought it probably was the owner cleaning up the place. I was going out and I didn't see anyone when I came back.

This morning I got downstairs to go to work and I see water in my foyer. So I go to the garage and it was leaking through the next unit.
My unit has water damage, the unit that was rented out next door has been destroyed by flooding.

Turns out the person who was here Sunday was the former tenant. He plugged the bathtub and left the water running.

The fire department was here to stop the flood and make sure the units are still structurally safe and that we could keep the electricity on.
Then the police came. They talked to me and to the unit owner. I had to give them an statement as I live next door, my condo was damaged, and I was the person who reported the incident.

It's been a nightmare.

It was intentional according to the firemen,  probably in retaliation to the landlord.
He told me they were evicted because they wouldn't pay rent. So they came back Sunday and did this. They had refused to turn in the key. 
Personally, I think he should have come right away and change the locks. I didn't say anything because the situation was difficult enough, but he should have done it.

How can people be so evil? The water, along with electricity cables, could have caused a fire. What if someone dies?

I am shocked and exhausted.
Now I have to make sure the unit's owner insurance covers my damage. The repairs will take a while, and it's going to be inconvenient, stressful, etc.

[Deleted]

So they really weren't nice people after all. He's not, for sure.

[chapeau]

My DH’s job is to evict people. Even if they turn in the keys, smart landlords change the locks. It’s a cost of doing business. Now, maybe they left before the state-required grace period was up so the landlord couldn’t legally change the locks yet (stupid law in PA), but yikes. I am constantly amazed at the entitlement that a lot of tenants display.

[countrygirl2]

Can you imagine, we have never had anything like that yet.  I hope we don't, cost a lot of money to fix something like that.  People need to be very careful who they rent to.

We had a tenant come over this evening, she heard a pop and said water was running out from under her sink, they turned the water off quick, mopped it up, put a bucket there and came and told us.  Hubs went over and it was just rings in the faucet so he could fix it.  But our folks are good, they let us know and try to make sure nothing is damaged.  We have told all of them do not let the heat go out in the winter and if for some reason they have to let us know. Never had an issue.


I don't know what kind of checking the owner did, sounds like he did not monitor the place or they would have know about the dog long before.  A sorry situation, doesn't a tenant realize in a situation like that they are likely going to get sued and end up in another mess.

[chapeau]

If I told you about the eviction he did on Monday, you wouldn't believe it.

The landlord was throwing up in the yard after they started to go in, and the landlord broke his own window so they didn't have to go into the kitchen, but could look in from the yard. He told DH he just might torch the place. DH told him which fire department to call before he started the fire so they knew it was happening and he wouldn't be charged with risking a catastrophe/arson. He was probably going to call a crime scene cleaning service, but he was almost crying about the state of the place. These people had rented from him for 5 years with no problems, and he knew them for several years before he rented to them. He thinks the wife lost her mind (I can't imagine why he'd think that )...

SPOILER: Click to show

(okay, they literally used corners of the rooms as a bathroom -- it was the "solids." DH thought that the cleaver was in a human body, even drew his gun, when he first saw the pile of "stuff" on the kitchen counter with a meat cleaver in it. Turned out they were butchering pigs in the kitchen, there was a whole freezer full of pork "products" in the basement. I really wish I could say this is the worst story he could tell. It's not. Well, it is the first one that he thought was a possible murder scene.)

And we don't live in a horrible area. Truthfully, I think he's right and she did lose it. I've met her a few times through  my job. She was odd, but not that odd.

[laterbloomer]

Wow! Never a dull moment!

[finnime]

that is deranged, chapeau.