Complaints about animals

Most animal complaints we get are about barking and roaming dogs or roaming cats.

Barking dogs

Barking Dogs can seriously disturb neighbours over quite a large area. All dogs bark, but some barking dogs become a real neighbourhood nuisance – greatly reducing the qulaity of life for their neighbours and increasing neighbourhood tensions. Barking dogs is the most common animal behaviour problem Council is asked to deal with.

Ongoing barking is often a symptom of another problem, and taking time to understand what makes dogs bark - especially your pet or other dogs in your neighbourhood - is the first step towards solving this problem, both for the dog involved and your neighbours.

Why do dogs bark?

• Dogs are social animals and often bark when they are lonely
• Separation from an owner can cause dogs to stress
• Barking may also be the result of boredom and frustration
• Barking is a dog's way of seeking attention from its owner
• Dogs bark out of fear - this can be fear of people, objects, or other dogs
• Dogs bark when there is a threat to their territory
• Playing with your dog often stimulates barking
• Some breeds have a reputation for barking, and
• Dominant dogs bark until they get what they want.

Controlling barking

The most important first step is to work out why your dog is barking. Once you know the cause, you can begin to find the solution. Barking can often be controlled through small behavioural changes. Some may be as simple as walking your dog twice a day to relieve boredom. Other suggestions that may help include:

• Leaving a TV or radio on for background noise while you are not at home to help break up silence.
• Giving your dog exercise, such as a walk, before leaving for work.
• Providing toys such as Kongs, lick mats and bones to stimulate them throughout the day, which may help reduce barking.
• Feeding your dog as you are leaving for work so they are less focused on you leaving.
• Trying a citronella collar. These are harmless and can be an effective deterrent; however, they should be used alongside exercise or other strategies, as dogs may become accustomed to them.

Nuisance or roaming cats

There are no requirements under the Companion Animals Act 2008 for cats to be contained within their property. However, it is part of being a responsible pet owner and we encourage owners to take measures to contain their cat within their yard.

Cats can live a happy, healthy life indoors or contained in their property. Cats that roam outside of their property become more likely to face increased dangers such as cars, other animals as well as an increased chance of catching diseases which can reduce a cat's lifespan or could be costly to treat.

If a neighbourhood cat is creating a nuisance for you, we encourage people to speak to the owner first to try and resolve the problem.  If you can’t come to a resolution with your neighbour, contact us for assistance.

If a cat is damaging property, killing wildlife or creating a nuisance such as noise, spraying or fighting with other cats, our rangers can speak with the cat owner. In some circumstances, Rangers can issue an order requiring them to address the problem.

Where a cat habitually wanders from their owner’s property, there is little compliance action Council Rangers can take however can they provide advice and information to the owner.