For some time now we have been struggling with dogs barking on our next-door neighbour’s property, and it has become increasingly annoying. These dogs are constantly barking for every person that passes their house, and sometimes they are just barking for the sheer pleasure thereof.

I was off ill for three days, and during this time I could not sleep during the day due to the constant barking. At night it is an ongoing struggle as they bark during the night and then you are awake for the next hour or so and then you just try and go back to sleep.

You cannot dare to stand in front of or in your yard, because then it starts all over again and again. It has become so annoying that I have turned to the police who can’t help, the traffic department who can’t help, the court who can’t help and then the municipality themselves. I was referred to the ward councillor, but nothing materialised. So, I have been from to pillar and post with no success.

Ever since this issue has started I have heard of more and more people complaining about the same problem and they say that speaking to the neighbour does not help at all. They themselves are fed-up but cannot find any solution to this ongoing problem. There are so many people who have this problem but it seems that there is no assistance.

We are dog lovers too and have three dogs, but I have ensured that they are not a nuisance to others. I have made alterations in my yard so that my dogs cannot see what is in the street. I am taking other people into consideration, but my next-door neighbour does not care at all.

The law is simple and clearly states the following:

Noise Control Regulations – Gauteng (GenN5479 in pg75 of August 1999), Part 1:
“Noise Nuisance” means any sound which disturbs or impairs the convenience or peace of any person.

Part 2: Number 8.

Prohibition of Disturbing noise – No person shall make, produce or cause a disturbing noise, or allow it to be made, produced or caused by any person, animal, machine, device or apparatus or any combination thereof.

In section 18, reference is made to penalties.

So if there are laws and penalties, why aren’t they enforced? Who must we contact? Why is it then so difficult to get assistance? If no assistance is forthcoming, should I then just sell my house to try and get away from this? What more must I do?