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'Bark diary' evidence used to evict noisy dog
By MARTY SHARPE - The Dominion Post Last updated 05:00 11/08/2010
Neighbours of a noisy dog were asked to keep "bark diaries" before the pet was eventually confiscated in a dispute that has soaked up hundreds of hours of council time and involved police.
BJ the 10-year-old border collie-cross has been the subject of complaints to Napier City Council for four years. He is now in the city pound after the council took him on Monday.
Nearly all of the complaints have come from immediate neighbour Peter Johnson, who has two exercise books – bark diaries – filled with the dates, times and the duration of BJ's barking.
BJ has lived with Corina Halka and her two daughters at their Len Davis Tce property since 2006. The Halkas' previous dog, Ray, was also the subject of complaints from Mr Johnson and was removed in 2005.
Council staff say they have spent about 200 hours on the dispute between Mrs Halka and Mr Johnson. The latest council meeting agenda devotes nine pages to the dispute.
In May 2009, Mr Johnson began throwing pans of water over his fence at BJ and police were called after an altercation in January. The council surveyed 40 residents and 15 replied, with 11 saying BJ's barking was a nuisance. Four said they were unaffected. It also asked that bark diaries be kept.
Mrs Halka said she and Mr Johnson had "a long-standing and irreconcilable dislike for each other".
The council eventually told Mrs Halka to remove BJ and when she did not comply, staff took him away on Monday. She intends appealing or challenging the order in court.
Mr Johnson, 68, said BJ's barking had made his life hell.
"As soon as I step out the door it goes berserk."
He had thrown water on BJ "only three or four times".
By MARTY SHARPE - The Dominion Post Last updated 05:00 11/08/2010
Neighbours of a noisy dog were asked to keep "bark diaries" before the pet was eventually confiscated in a dispute that has soaked up hundreds of hours of council time and involved police.
BJ the 10-year-old border collie-cross has been the subject of complaints to Napier City Council for four years. He is now in the city pound after the council took him on Monday.
Nearly all of the complaints have come from immediate neighbour Peter Johnson, who has two exercise books – bark diaries – filled with the dates, times and the duration of BJ's barking.
BJ has lived with Corina Halka and her two daughters at their Len Davis Tce property since 2006. The Halkas' previous dog, Ray, was also the subject of complaints from Mr Johnson and was removed in 2005.
Council staff say they have spent about 200 hours on the dispute between Mrs Halka and Mr Johnson. The latest council meeting agenda devotes nine pages to the dispute.
In May 2009, Mr Johnson began throwing pans of water over his fence at BJ and police were called after an altercation in January. The council surveyed 40 residents and 15 replied, with 11 saying BJ's barking was a nuisance. Four said they were unaffected. It also asked that bark diaries be kept.
Mrs Halka said she and Mr Johnson had "a long-standing and irreconcilable dislike for each other".
The council eventually told Mrs Halka to remove BJ and when she did not comply, staff took him away on Monday. She intends appealing or challenging the order in court.
Mr Johnson, 68, said BJ's barking had made his life hell.
"As soon as I step out the door it goes berserk."
He had thrown water on BJ "only three or four times".
. When the neighbours told me it was barking I went to the vet and got a video on fixing the problem. It did take a lot of time and effort, but we were all a lot happier with a cured and relaxed dog.
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