More Dog News

[tamaranth]

Follow-up to Going to the Dogs.

Just had a visit from a very distressed Mrs Neighbour, who clearly realises she shouldn't have told me that the agency didn't know ... This is her story and it corresponds with information I have from other parties:

- she and Master Neighbour, 14, used to live in Spain, where they had 4 cats and misc. reptiles etc. Had to come back from Spain due to family and financial stuff, leaving all the animals behind.
- council wouldn't house them together so Master Neighbour went to live with his father -- not a good idea apparently -- but father bought him a kitten. Kitten didn't make up for major problems between father and son but Master Neighbour was devastated at having to leave it behind, and still visits though he can't stand his dad.
- Mr Neighbour, meanwhile, was going through messy divorce and living in camper van with his dogs. For eighteen months. (I do wonder if the dogs are simply unhappy at not having a human in their sleeping space.)
- This is their first home together as a family.
- They'd looked at a lot of places that were 'horrid' but this flat is lovely and they thought the cellar (heated, lit and ventilated) would be good solution to the ABSOLUTELY NO ANIMALS rule the letting agency have imposed. (The upstairs flat has been gutted and redecorated. I have no such rule in my lease, though had to pay a deposit against Animal Damage.)
- They had no idea that the noise carried so clearly into my flat. (Mrs Neighbour looked horrified when, standing in my hallway, she heard how clearly it carried.)
- Master Neighbour v upset at the thought of having to leave.
- Mr Neighbour v upset at the thought of giving up his dogs.
- Mrs Neighbour v upset at both of the above but would rather move than have the dogs continue to cause me sleepless nights.

Prime motive obviously to persuade me not to shop them to the letting agency; but I do sympathise.

We've agreed that I will let them know if (if! when) I'm disturbed by the dogs again: if the problem persists, Mr Neighbour will use his trade contacts to get the cellar professionally soundproofed.

Also, Master Neighbour would adore the opportunity to feed Sam and Shiva* whenever I am away. Any time. No problem.

*who came and sucked up shamelessly to Mrs Neighbour while we were talking. Yep, even Shiva.

Comments

[ladymoonray.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Well, it's good that they know, and that they're prepared to do something about it. Also good that you have leverage.

I'm not sure whether I'm prepared to spend another night being woken up every hour in order to provide evidence, but that might just be because I'm still rather sleep-deprived and crabby.

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

There is no requirement for you to provide evidence. Judging by last night (and this evening) I should have plenty of it ...

I *am* sorry that you had such a rotten night. I do think they've been worse than usual. (And if it ever happens again I have left earplugs ready!)

[reddragdiva]

Aw. At least they're nice people :-) If soundproofing the cellar won't be problematic to arrange, that'd be nice.

[ivory-goddess.livejournal.com]

At New Year I was of the opinion that keeping the dogs in the cellar was cruel, but I'm not sure if it's as cruel as living with them in a camper van! And it is possible that they missed human company at night, but they should have got used to that by now.

Soundproofing seems the way to go.

[ladymoonray.livejournal.com]

Yes, I was always dithering about that. I don't think keeping dogs in a cellar is *necessarily* cruel of itself, especially as it's done up properly. But they're clearly missing their humans - I'm sure that's what the howling is about. The trouble is that if they make a noise, and are shushed/yelled at, they get attention. So they're going to keep doing it, because they get positive reinforcement. Dogs respond particularly well to that sort of thing.

Soundproofing would be good, but I'm not sure what the landlords would say. And they do inspect regularly. It's tricky.

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

I don't think they do get shushed or yelled at, at least not all the time: neighbours claim (and I can believe) that they don't hear a thing from their second-floor bedroom.

Which is nice for them.

The landlords inspect, but I'm not sure they bother with the cellar. And if the soundproofing happens, and works, then there is less chance of an actual complaint to lead them down there!

Incidentally, when Gmail showed me this comment, this (http://www.toopexhumation.co.uk/) was one of the ads ...
.. but there aren't any bodies down there ...
... that I know of ...

[ladymoonray.livejournal.com]

Good. Grief. I had no idea there were people who actually did exhumations for a living!

There was plenty of shushing and yelling going on on Sunday morning, not that it did any good. It was almost more annoying than the howling...

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

in the morning, yes, but not at night when they're upstairs in the upstairs flat. I really don't think they (humans) can hear the dogs at all if they're in their bedroom.

[woolymonkey.livejournal.com]

I'm glad Mrs Neighbour heard it for herself!

I am, as you know, a Complaining Cow, so I'd advise you take no prisoners on this one. Keeping dogs in a cellar sounds pretty cruel to me anyway and plain stupid given the terms of their lease. Surely they can find a place where they and the dogs can live together and the dogs willbe happier (and therefore quieter). Or is the real truth that the dogs are always hideously noisy and they can't bear to share with them?

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

I would obviously much rather they buggered off somewhere else! But I do have some sympathy for them, and if they are truly willing (and able) to fix the problem then I'm fine with them as neighbours. It could, as you know, be so much worse!

ok, not actually filing yet, but I will be ...