The Council has a duty to deal with stray dogs. Environmental Health Technicians regularly patrol all parts of West Dunbartonshire to control stray dogs. If the dog owner cannot be identified, the dog is transported to the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) operated Animal welfare Centre at Milton.
If a dog is not claimed, it is detained for a period of seven days after which time the SSPCA endeavour to re-home the dogs.
It is normal for dogs to bark and you cannot expect a neighbour's dog to always be silent. If the noise is so loud, frequent and prolonged as to interfere with your normal activities as an occupier, it is reasonable to expect the dog owner to take steps to address excessive barking.
If you are concerned about a dog's barking, we suggest that in the first instance that you raise the problem with your neighbour in conversation. Explain how the barking affects you and ask your neighbour if they will attempt to tackle the problem, often dog owners will not realise that their dog is causing a disturbance.
We recommend that you put your concerns down in writing to your neighbour in polite terms, again pointing out that the barking is causing annoyance and requesting that they take action to solve the problem.
You should allow adequate time for your neighbour to consider your request and take appropriate action. Copies of correspondence should be kept for future reference.
If they do nothing about the problem, you can apply to your local Justice of the Peace Court for an order to be made. Which would require the owner of the dog to take steps to prevent/stop the barking. Please access our guidance on Dangerous and Annoying Creatures.