I got a noise complaint about my dogs. It was unfounded. I interviewed
11 houses surrounding me, taking statements, then providing my contact information if there's any dog noises from MY yard. I made sure all three dogs were licensed and well behaved.The senile old complainants called code enforcement, I received the proverbial three warnings about a dog that wasn't mine over the course of 12 months. And, the final warning said, "We have advised your neighbor that he can sue you if he's still displeased." At that point, I let all my neighbors know that I'd leave him penniless if he took such unfounded action against my dogs.
I was, and remain, very careful to keep the dogs inside when I was gone and to watch constantly because my fear was poison over the fence. Things settled down when my neighbor's daughter moved out of her mother's house and took Sierra with her. At no time did Sierra's barking ever bother me. I considered it a warning to would be criminals, and felt safe when she was barking. Occasionally, Sierra visits and the barking starts all over again. I am sure to reward her with a pig ear. The only thing worse would be no Sierra. She has a rod iron gate which allows her to see and bark at everything on the street.
Dogs are a deterrent. My neighbors should be pleased that I am willing to go through the trouble of having, caring, and feeding the animals that keep THEIR homes safe.