Most animal control agencies are controlled by local city ordinances when it comes to nuisance animals. What is a nuisance animal? Most ordinances include language defining the offense as one of the following: makes disturbing noises, included, but not limited to, continuous and repeated howling, barking, whining, or other noise which causes unreasonable annoyance, disturbance, or discomfort to neighbors, or others, barks, whines, howls, or makes other disturbing noises for an extended period of time, which by barking, howling or yelping disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood or person, or barks, whines, or howls or makes other disturbing noises in an excessive, continuous, or untimely fashion.
Usually when animal control agencies receive a complaint for a nuisance animal they usually try to contract the animal owner in an attempt to resolve the situation but it can ultimately turn into a citation for the animal owner. If convicted under a nuisance animal ordinance you could be faced with fines, probation or even under more extreme circumstances altering your animal (debarking) or possibly even surrendering your animal.
Obviously this can be a very stressful situation for not only the animal owner but also the neighbors who are affected by the disturbance. Trying to prevent the problem is the best course of action not only to protect you from possible prosecution but also from neighbors who might try to take the law into their own hands.
