Dear neighbors,
I hope that you all had an amazing summer. With warmer weather and more open windows we have been receiving a significant increase in issues with barking dogs creating a nuisance across the neighborhood. We do ask pet owners to please be considerate of their neighbors and not let dogs bark endlessly. If you are having issues with a barking dog we recommend the following:
Communicate with the pet owner
Try to talk to the pet owner about the problem. Sometimes owners are not aware of the problem, especially when they are not at home. A neighborly discussion can be helpful. Try to work out a mutually agreeable solution, and allow the pet owner a reasonable amount of time to remedy the situation. Make note of the dates and times of your contacts with the pet owner and responses received.
Provide noise nuisance prevention materials to the owner
Share links to online resources from the Humane Society of the United States and PetMD, as well as a copy of our Noise Nuisance Letter. These materials are designed to help pet owners understand the problem and offer some ideas about correcting a noisy pet issue.
Document and submit a Noise Complaint Petition
· If you have tried unsuccessfully to solve the problem by talking to the pet owner, and you have identified other neighbors who are also disturbed by the noise, we can assist you. Fill out the online Complaint Form. Make sure to carefully follow the instructions. Document your experiences thoroughly and honestly, as you may need to testify at an appeal hearing. Please note that you must have the exact address where the nuisance pet lives, a minimum of three complainants, and the form must be signed. You can also download the form and send your completed petition using one of the following methods:
· Email: pets@kingcounty.gov
· Mail: Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC), 21615 64th Ave. S, Kent, WA 98032
· Fax: 206-205-8043
· RASKC will contact the pet owner to let them know a complaint was filed and that they must take action to correct the problem.
If the noise continues, do not stop documenting the issues. If the steps above do not resolve the problem, RASKC can take escalating enforcement action. In order to do so, contact us with updated documentation of the continuing problem. We will continue to work on the noise disturbance as long as you and your neighbors continue to document the ongoing problems and submit information to us. As necessary, animal control officers will be dispatched and may issue additional notices of violation until the problem is resolved.