Dog Rescue Lover Posted August 4, 2007 Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 I'd like to ask a question, to which you may or may not have the answer. Friends of mine have been running boarding kennels for just over a year (the boarding kennels have been running for probably the last 20 odd years). They have started to have problems with neighbours making complaints (someone new moved in and has kicked up a stink about the noise - doh, you move next door to a boarding kennel, what do you expect!! ) The Borough Council have suggested to the kennel owners that they use anti bark collars (citronella spray ones, not shock collars), move any dogs that are facing the exercise compound to their indoor kennel to stop them from barking at the dogs which are exercising and to stop walking them around the field which backs onto the neighbours gardens. Has anyone had any experience of this (neighbours complaining about noise and councils offering unhelpful suggestions) and what happened? Useful suggestions would be most welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Posted August 4, 2007 Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 I actualy pulled out of a deal to buy one kennels when it was pointed out to me that if any of the neighbours sold up and new ones complained the kennels could be forced to take action or close. Its ridiculous but the new neighbour has the valid complaint. Your friend will have to look into viable ways of soundproofing the kennels a little better and perhaps introduce barriers such as trees and bushes/conifers etc to reduce the sound levels. The neighbour will of course have to prove the noise levels are infact a nuisance so it may well be worth having a chat with environmental health and asking them for advice, and try and build a bit of a rapport with them and see what help they can suggest. its a crap fact of kennel life that a new neighbour can change everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog Rescue Lover Posted August 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 There is already lots of trees and hedges between the kennels and neighbours, plus they have put up a big fence between the kennels and one of the fields they own (the field is between the neighbours back garden and the kennels and concrete exercise area). I think they are having their own noise levels tested, so they can see what it says. I think its cr@p that a kennel seems to have no rights despite being there before the houses were built. It just doesn't seem fair? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CollieCapers Posted August 4, 2007 Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 We have 3 kennel blocks at our centre - a main rescue block of 40 kennels, a smaller block of 7 and a boarding block of 14 kennels. There has been a boarding kennels here for many years and we have been here for 10 years. We are on the edge of a small village and near to another hamlet. For a number of years we have had complaints from one resident in the hamlet about noise. It culminated about 5-6 years ago with a noise abatement notice being served on us by our local council. This is the only complainant and to cut a very long story short the notice was lifted and despite further complaints I've been told by the council that he has been told that we are not committing a statutory noise nuisance, We have made improvements as our finances allow and this is the most important bit for any buisness facing a noise complaint. Under the legislation - if the noise arises from business, trade or industry there is a defence available that the best practicable means have been used to prevent the nuisance. This does not apply to domestic premises. So if you friend can show that - and provide reasonable answers why collars etc are not practical (and that shouldn't be difficult!!) then they may be able to deal with the complaints. Our "friend" still complains but to us and I presume not the council anymore, I've tried to pacify him and generally it works but even today he came and complained. Funny thing is he only complains oin the summer - he can only hear the noise in his garden. I've even invested in a noise meter and take regular readings outside his house and in the area (although he doesn't know this!!) I would suggest taking advice from a noise specialist before spending money and maybe even speak to another authority environmental health dept. Some are very helpful - that's how we found out about this defence!! Do try to keep the enviromental helath dept on their side - if they can see you are trying they are much more inclinded to help. If your friends want to talk to me about our experiences I'll be happy to - I can be contacted in our office most weekdays on 0871 560 2282 All the best Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackmagic Posted August 4, 2007 Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 It's not just kennels. It can happen to any business. People have moved to the country, beside farms then complained about cockerals crowing or animals making a noise. Being there first seems to have no bearing on the matter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greys mum Posted August 4, 2007 Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 Our local RSPCA had the same problem. They have been in the same location for donkey's years. Some very large houses were built nearby and one person complained. The other people living there said they rarely heard the dogs. It cost them a fortune to turn the kennels the other way and soundproofing. But it was that or close down according to the council. Bit like someone I knew that moved next to a small airstrip and compained about aircraft noise!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted August 5, 2007 Report Share Posted August 5, 2007 My brother bought somewhere opposite a kennels & ha dthe odd gripe at one point (they do have a dog too). As far as I'm aware nothing has ever been done about it but we aren't particularly close so I could be wrong. Personally I'm of the same opinion as the o.p. - if you don't like the sound of dogs barking then you shouldn't have bought a house opposite kennels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mum24dog Posted August 5, 2007 Report Share Posted August 5, 2007 I'm sure the kennel owners wouldn't just be allowed to use spray collars on clients' dogs. even if they could get written permission from the owners, they would surely lose a heck of a lot of busines from those who refused - as most of us would, I'm sure. A friend has had exactly the same problem. Stupid places for a kennels, but they were there before some of the houses. The main difficulty arose in the course of rebuilding work when a building that masked the noise was demolished. A compromise was reached where activities that cause most noise like feeding and cleaning out are limited to specified periods in each day and the kennels are closed to dog traffic in and out between noon and 3pm. She's still on tenterhooks about any noise, though, knowing the trouble that a tiny number of people can cause. Pam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babsc71 Posted August 5, 2007 Report Share Posted August 5, 2007 (edited) The school where I work is a split site in a town's residential area. A person moved into a house between two of the school "houses" and then complained about the noise that the students made in the playground I also live in a rural area and some people moved "to the country" then complained about the smell when the farmer did his annual muck spreading and also complained about the combine harvester. Apparently they didn't except the countryside to smell or be noisey Sorry I've nothing constructive to say but stick in there and don't let those people get you down Edited August 5, 2007 by babsc71 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fee Posted August 5, 2007 Report Share Posted August 5, 2007 The spray collars idea is one of the stupidest things I've heard for a while. The poor dogs would get sprayed when any nearby dog barked whether they were barking themselves or not I can't imagine for a moment anyone would use a kennels that was going to use spray collars on their dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ranirottie Posted August 5, 2007 Report Share Posted August 5, 2007 (edited) I have a ratty old bat whose garden backs onto mine (both long gardens) and she decided after years of me having my own dogs and rescues,that she was going to start complaining about me. I am in a quiet residential area and am careful not to allow the dogs to bark. I didn't use my kennels all the dogs were kept indoors,but she made my life a misery and the council got involved. They told me that I could only have two dogs (I had 4) and that I couldn't take in any more rescues and they took my private boarding licence away. I got statements from all my other neighbours (closer than her) who said that their was no noise nuisance,but the council took no notice. It was only when she started complaining that the local schoolkids were too loud in the playground and that her neighbours kids were too noisy that the council checked up on how many times she had complained and it was hundreds!!! So they gave me back my licence and was told that I could carry on my rescue too but by then I had already rehomed one of my dogs. Its just not fair that one person can cause trouble like that. x Edited August 5, 2007 by ranirottie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog Rescue Lover Posted August 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2007 The spray collars idea is one of the stupidest things I've heard for a while. The poor dogs would get sprayed when any nearby dog barked whether they were barking themselves or not I can't imagine for a moment anyone would use a kennels that was going to use spray collars on their dogs. It would ruin them if they had to do this. I can't believe the council has suggested it, or even on whose advice? I will mention your post to them CollieCapers - thanks. Will also mention the environmental health, but I suspect they have already been down that route (its getting to the point of court for a decision now - the Council want to wash their hands of it as the complainant is a magistrate ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzeanna Posted August 6, 2007 Report Share Posted August 6, 2007 There was an article in the paper the other day, saying that a church clock in a village has had to be silenced, as incomers were complaining that it chimed during the night so obviously the fact that something was there first has no bearing if someone complains. It must be very worrying, not to say potentially expensive, for your friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoC Posted August 6, 2007 Report Share Posted August 6, 2007 I'm sure the kennel owners wouldn't just be allowed to use spray collars on clients' dogs. I really hope that's true, I'm now really worried in case I entrust my dog in kennels and they slap spray collars on them I know you can get types of fences that help to absorb noise, google 'acoustic fencing' (I think!) If some dogs overlook the exercise area, I would try to block their view because that must be really hard for them to settle with dogs running about in sight all day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurel n Hardy Posted August 6, 2007 Report Share Posted August 6, 2007 the replys on here already have a higher level of expertise than me can only suggest checking with environmetal health to see how many deciibels is too many and the complaint becomes 'ligitimate', then have it measured and if it falls below the required minimum then take it from there, write and confirm the noise is lower and also try to get a rapport going with the new neighbors. good luck btw, new neigbours - muppets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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