Posted by
hkmeg
17 yrs ago
I would like some advice. Our neighbor's have a dog which barks a lot. Mostly it's just annoying, but it has also woken us up at ridiculous hours, 4:00 am, 5:00 am, etc. Their apartment door faces ours and it's as if the dog is right in our apartment. Often, there will be no one (person) in their home, but they leave their door open, so only the gate is open. The dog barks and barks.
There are smoke doors in the hallway that are between our flat and their flat. The neighbors prop the smoke doors open. I will sometimes close them, which helps decrease the noise coming into our flat and seems to calm the dog down. Within hours, the smoke doors are again propped open (rigged with wire).
The neighbors don't speak enough English and I don't speak enough Chinese. I have asked another neighbor to talk to them (while I was standing there)- no change. I have asked the bilingual security guard to talk to them (without me present) - no change. My request is that if they want to keep their front door open, close the smoke door, or vice versa. It's not rocket science.
This minor problem is driving me crazy. Who should I go to next?
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I'm sorry to tell you but sounds like you can do very little about the neighbour. The smoke doors you can remind the building men about the fire that happened a few months back and even submit a letter to their company so that they are aware of doors being held open. That should make the old men take some responsibility.
I was in your situation and in the end the lack of sleep and stress caused by such a simple thing of a tiny dog yapping all day and night meant I was missing 3 days a week of work with migraines.
The solution was we just moved.
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A barking dog is one thing, propping open smoke/fire doors is another. This comprimises your safety and is against the law. Call the fire authorities and report them. There is a hefty fine involved, although I can not recall the amount.
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I am not qualified in HK law, but here are some observations from an English-trained solicitor. I agree that the practical solution is that you might have to move. Neighbour disputes are notoriously intractible with things rarely getting better but, rather, deteriorating. There is, in fact, a possible legal recourse. This may amount to an environmental health issue, so approach whatever environmental control agency there is in HK. It might also be a breach of the terms of your neighbours' lease and, possibly against the terms of the management regulations. Keeping the fire doors open is undoubtedly a breach of lots of things. Certainly, under UK law, your neighbours' actions probably amount to an actionable nuisance entitling you to damages and an injunction to abate the nuisance. That said, nobody should rush into legal proceedings - they are expensive and often very bitter. Your proposals to reduce the noise seem reasonable. It is a pity they have fallen on deaf ears. I suggest a polite but strongly-worded letter from a solicitor. It need not be too threatening and maybe it should fall short expicitly of promising court proceedings if the nuisance is not stopped (empty threats are no use at all - if you threaten court proceedings, you should be prepared to go ahead if necessary. An implicit threat maybe enough). Copy the letter to the management company. Also advise the fire authorities of the fire door problem. Keep a diary note of every time the dog barks. Record it if possible. Take photographs of the doors being propped open and of the neighbours' open door. Video the dog barking at the door. Again, log all instances. If all this fails, move.
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hkmeg
17 yrs ago
Thank you for your responses. I really appreciate them and feel I have some options now for dealing with this situation.
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Also just for the record: any dog can be trained not to bark. Many dogs who bark incessantly do it out of stress. Most dog stress comes from not enough exercise.
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hkmeg
17 yrs ago
I gotta say, the best advice on here was the suggestion to walk the dogs on Bowen Road as much as possible. Ha ha.
But your situation sounds like a cause to call the SPCA about the dogs and the Housing Authority about the illegal structure.
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Some ppl really shouldn't own dogs. Our (local) neighbours, who are tenants in their flat, had a small terrier that they kept locked on the balcony day and night. Now, I'd understand if they weren't home, even tho they have a live-in maid, but they used to lock it out there in the evening when they were home. The poor thing would run up and down the balcony, going beserk.
We've asked building management to talk to them, we've knocked on their door at least 3 times to tell them to shut it up and they'd still let it bark. I think the last time we told them off, it was enough to scare them, because not long after that, the dog was gone. We don't know what they did with it.
Personally, I think ppl who let their dogs bark incessantly should be muzzled and then strapped down and forced to listen to their own dog for hours on end. The dog is not to blame, it's the ppl who own them and refuse to (or too ignorant to) train them.
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Dogs like being with their "pack" i.e. their family. They are naturally sociable creatures and so being locked outside to them is like being excluded from their family. Can you imagine how miserable they must be, and that's why they bark so much. Just desperately seeking some attention from their "family". People like your neighbour, Kaileyb, keep dogs here without being aware of the basic aspects of dog ownership. Totally agree it's not the dog to blame, just the ignorant people who keep them and who are too stupid to take the responsibilities that come with dog ownership.
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"What (can we) would you do about it??"
Ken, that is cruelty to animals. You should report it to the SPCA.
"Personally, I think ppl who let their dogs bark incessantly should be muzzled and then strapped down and forced to listen to their own dog for hours on end. The dog is not to blame, it's the ppl who own them and refuse to (or too ignorant to) train them."
I am all for this solution.
Our dog sleeps in its crate at night (not house trained yet) and not a peep from him. That's because when he is not in there, we exercise him, train him, give him affection and attention. A dog is not a piece of furniture.
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From your post, I am guessing you don't want to get into trouble with your neighbours over a noise dispute (not yet, anyway).
Maybe you can go for a diplomatic solution, and try and find someone in the bldg who would be willing to take the dog out regularly? The dog owners can surely spare a little pocket money for one of your neighbours' kid, perhaps?
It is obvious to me that the dog's barking out of neglect and lack of exercise.
Of course, if it's owners don't have time for him then they shouldn't have him in the first place, but there are no laws for that, so you need other solutions.
Maybe you can suggest some other similar solutions and involve SPCA/Police if they fail?
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I notice that in HK, dogs are becoming a status symbol. A lot of these people don't even know what a dog is! They get one, lock them up or just tie them or let them stupidly bark at people. Knowing how small are the flats, rarely is there a garden, some don't even have a balcony, why would you even bother get a dog? I think this is the only country where you also see dogs in restaurants! A dog is a dog. It needs more freedom than luxury. Give freedom to your dogs and peace to your neighbors for god's sakes!!!!
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flokhk has it right.
I am going to be cynical and say that some parents treat their kids little better. Drag them out and dress them up to show them off. The rest of the time out of sight with the helper.
"I think this is the only country where you also see dogs in restaurants! "
Actually in countries like Germany dogs are welcome in many restaurants. But they are typically well behaved and confined to the floor.
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Actually in countries like Germany dogs are welcome in many restaurants. But they are typically well behaved and confined to the floor.
It is true but have seen dogs here sitting on chairs like people and one actually fed her dog wth a spoon from the restaurant. We never went back to that resturant to eat. I would not want to go out with my hubby or my family for a meal to celebrate something so you dress up, get excited for it and actually sat beside a dog that smells and scratches himself once in a while. Erm, sorry, I dont want dog hair in my soup, please. Thank you very much!
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Reporting abuse of dogs to the SPCA is a complete waste of time. What is regarded as cruel in western countries is not cruel in Hong Kong. The SPCA's attitude is long as a dog has water then constant confinement, overcrowding, neglect, lack of exercise etc is not mistreating the animal. I've rung the SPCA a couple of times to report the disgusting sanitary conditions a dog was subjected to and another confinement, where the dog could barely move where it was kept, and it fell on deaf ears. SPCA said as long as the dog has water then it didn't constitute cruelty.
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Quite true, actually connee. I remember this case a few years ago of a man who's dog had been poisoned and was filing a complaint. The SPCA was appalled about the poisoning (rightly so) and made big statements about animal cruelty etc. Reading on the article, it appeared the "pet" had been kept in a cage barely big enough for it outside the door of the owner's village house in the NT... I thought THAT constituted animal cruelty, surely, and was expecting to read on about how both the owner and the poisoner were being prosecuted for cruelty to animals, but no.
I mean it's bad enough for live animals being kept in horrid conditions at the market, at least they are there for a short time, but for a dog to be kept in a cage its entire life is just pointlessly cruel...
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I used to have noise problems as you guys do and I am not getting enough sleep. I hv thought of a number of ways of escaping from this, but all are in vain.
My only option is to have my apartment soundproofed. By now, I can really get some sleep and stay at my apartment during the daytime. In case you need a quote, I can refer a nice contractor to you.
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