complaining about barking dogs

QUESTION: Can you let everyone know what the proper procedures are regarding making a noise complaint, specifically about constantly barking dogs? I sent a letter to the Hawaiian Humane Society last month about new tenants moving into our neighborhood and how everyone has had to endure almost constant barking from their dogs. We suspect they are breeders. We're not sure anything has been done. Is there anything more that we can do?

ANSWER: The Hawaiian Humane Society confirms it did receive your complaint about the dog owners. In fact, "numerous complaints" have been made about the dogs at the address you provided, a spokeswoman said.

Under Honolulu's animal nuisance law (Section 7-2 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu), an owner is in violation when his or her dog barks intermittently for 30 minutes or constantly for 10 minutes "to the disturbance of any person at any time of day or night."

The Hawaiian Humane Society is under contract with the city to handle barking-dog complaints.

According to Keoni Vaughn, field services manager for the Humane Society, the organization receives more than 2,000 calls a year for help about neighboring dogs that bark excessively.

Once a complaint is made with the Humane Society, a letter is sent to the dog owner with information about why dogs bark and how to correct the problem.

"If, after 10 days, the barking continues, the complainant should contact us again so that we can follow up in person," Vaughn said.

The result could be a citation for a court appearance, if the complainant is willing to testify and it's proved that the owner is in violation of the nuisance law, he said.

Vaughn said the court process can take up to two months.

The key element in prosecution is the willingness of complainants to testify in court.

For more information about how the Humane Society responds to barking-dog complaints, go to hawaiianhumane.org/investigations.html.

The Humane Society notes that "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."

For owners struggling to deal with excessive barking by their dogs, the Humane Society has a brochure with tips on what to do. You can download a brochure at hawaiianhumane.org/sites/default/files/barking_dog.pdf.

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Question: I have a neighbor who has several dogs, and the smell from their droppings is awful. Both my husband and I have asthma. The smell is overwhelming, and the dogs bark late at night and at all hours.

Answer: The state Department of Health used to investigate all complaints about dog dropping nuisances on private property.

However, with limited staff and resources due to budget cuts, it no longer can do so, said spokeswoman Janice Okubo.

Instead, phone consultations are available. Call 483-2535 and "a determination will be made on the severity of the situation and whether further state involvement is warranted," she said.

Okubo noted that neighbors often can resolve these types of problems just by talking with each other and "developing a mutual understanding."

If not, the Hawaiian Humane Society may be able to help.

The agency handles complaints about incessant barking (continuously for 10 minutes or intermittently for 30 minutes or longer) for the city.