Barking is a very normal behaviour for dogs, but owners could face a whopping £5,000 fine if they leave their pups to bark for long periods of time — especially if it may be a noise nuisance to people.
According to the Environmental Protection Act 1990, any loud noise emitted from a house that interferes with their enjoyment can be considered a "statutory nuisance" — which includes animals and whining dogs. If people complain about noise in the area, local authorities have a duty to investigate and take formal action if needed.
Back in 2020, one dog owner was fined almost £10,000 after his six dogs excessively barked outside in the evening, keeping neighbours awake. One local told Staffordshire District Council that "as a result of the persistent and excessive barking at all hours of the day and night over a prolonged period of time, it has affected his wellbeing and work".
We're a nation of dog lovers, but residents have the right to make a complaint about a barking dog in the same way as other types of noise.
"Dog owners need to be respectful of their neighbours and surroundings," Anne Parry, Regulatory Services Portfolio, says. "Dogs that are barking excessively and causing a nuisance to neighbours need to be trained, and steps need to be put in place to improve the situation."
While barking is often a harmless friendly greeting, it is important owners identify when the barking becomes inappropriate, aggressive or excessive. For example, if they have been left outside and are barking into the early hours of the morning, this could be a sign that they are cold and want to come back in.
A spokesperson for DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) previously told TeamDogs: "For crimes committed after 13 March 2015, level 5 has been done away with and all criminal penalties expressed as being punishable on summary conviction by a maximum fine of £5,000 or more, or expressed as being a level 5 fine, are now punishable by a fine of any amount (i.e. unlimited).
"That's as a result of section 85 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012."
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12 easy-to-clean waterproof dog beds
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The ideal dog bed for country dogs who get wet and dirty on a regular basis. The tough, heavy duty, hard-wearing, 100% polyester, waterproof material is easy to keep clean. The thick base cushion is removable and the high walls of this bed are filled with bonded thermal polyester fibre to insulate your pet from the cold floor and keep it out of draughts.
This dog bed is thickly padded on all sides to provide warmth and extra comfort with reversible cushions. It's also machine washable and has a non-slip base.
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