An increasing number of complaints about barking dogs has been identified by the Dog Management Team at South Australia’s City of Tea Tree Gully as stemming from a rising population coupled with increased housing density.
With an anticipated population increase from 95,000 to 120,000, the trend towards smaller yards, denser housing and absent owners is not about to be reversed. Furthermore, a rise in repeat complaints indicated to the Team that existing management systems were not working.
Recording complaints, visiting owners and follow up letters was labour intensive and ineffectual. Clearly, there was a need for a new management system.
Developed by Council’s Inspectorial Team, the new system enables the Dog Management Team to monitor individual cases. ‘Barking Dog Packs’, which contain information on dog behaviour, neighbours complaints and diary sheets, are given to both complainants and dog owners.
Diary sheets log the times the nuisance occurs to help identify the causes and extent of the problem. A points system indicates the appropriate follow up action. Provision of the diaries to owners and complainants initiates a partnership approach to resolving the problem and helps identify the causes of the barking.
If diary sheets are not returned after 21 days no further action is taken. In 70 percent of cases, the action of issuing the diaries has led to a change in circumstances which render no further need for action.
If this is not the case, then armed with information from the diaries, Council can suggest appropriate training programs, equipment and other actions which may alleviate the problem.
In the remainder of cases, where owners ignore advice and the dog continues to prove a nuisance, a scale of increasingly punitive action is available to the Dog Management Team. These range from orders to obtain a barking dog collar through to removal of the animal.
For further information contact Vanessa Almeida, telephone (08) 8397 7286.
