Complaints

Barking Dog Complaints

A dog owner is in violation of the City & County of Honolulu's animal nuisance law when their dog barks intermittently for 30 minutes or constantly for 10 minutes to the disturbance of others.

The Humane Society initially responds with a letter advising that a complaint has been made and includes educational materials on why dogs bark and measures that the owner can take to alleviate the barking. Additional complaints can results with an investigator visiting the complainant and the dog owner to resolve the problem. Fines can escalate up to $1,000.

While each case varies, successful resolution of these complaints require that the complainant complete a statement form and be willing to appear in court as they serve as the witness to the violation.

If education or neighbor-to-neighbor communication does not resolve the problem, there are other community resources available such as The Mediation Center of The Pacific, 521-6767, www.mediatehawaii.org. Educating dog owners is more important then ever as 40 percent of households on Oahu now include at least one dog.

While barking is a natural form of canine communication, excessive barking can be due to prolonged confinement, loneliness or boredom. Dogs that aren't exercised enough often bark to release tension. Click here for more information.

Citronella collars can be purchased or rented from the Humane Society. Call 356-2218 for information.