Barking dogs

Barking dog investigations will commence once we receive a completed form.  This can be done using "animal control" on our report a problem form.  Anonymous or incomplete complaints will not be accepted or investigated.

Things you can try if you don't want to make a complaint to us

Read the barking dogs information on Agriculture Victorias website

Option One

Try talking to the dog's owner clearly and politely about the problem first.

If the owners are unapproachable, or if you are not comfortable approaching them, try placing a ‘Dear Neighbour’ letter in their letterbox.

Option Two

You can attempt mediation to resolve the issue with support from Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria

How to make a barking dog complaint to us

Barking dog complaints can be a long process that require your participation and support.

Step One

Lodge your complaint using the "animal control" option on our report a problem form

Or you can download a paper copy, complete it and deliver to Customer Services at 22 Nolan St, Maryborough

Step Two

Once we have received your complaint, we will ask you to complete a barking dog diary for 14 consecutive days. Find out more about the barking dog diary below.

This can be emailed or posted to you.

Barking dog diary explained

A barking dog diary is required as part of the investigation. 

  • The detailed diary must be done for 14 consecutive days
  • The times that the dog is barking should be listed as accurately as you can when you are at home
  • All entries should be as detailed as possible for our officer to be able to evaluate
  • Your accuracy in recording the nuisance barking is very important as it may be presented as evidence in Court
How to complete the template

Below is an example of how to do the diary entries

 Date Start time Finish time Cause of barking Action taken Nuisance level
 10/10/24 6:00am 6:15am  Owner left house  none  loud
 10/10/24 7:00am 7:05am  same as above  none  loud
 10/10/24  3:30pm 4:00pm  Kids coming home from school  none  loud
 11/10/24  6:00am 6:15am  Owner left house  none  loud
 11/10/24 7:00am 7:05am  same as above  none  loud
 11/10/24  3:30pm 4:00pm  Kids coming home from school  none  loud

 

Completed diaries should be returned to mail@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au or delivered to Customer Services 22 Nolan St, Maryborough 3465.

 

 

Step Three

If an unreasonable noise nuisance is established, one of our compliance officers will:

  • advise the dog owner of the complaint
  • discuss possible solutions 
  • inform them of their responsibilities

Our compliance officer will assist and work with the dog owner, and you as the complainant.  We may also survey the surrounding residents to see if anyone else has a problem.

Further action

We will only proceed to taking court action if:

  • the dog continues to be a problem, and the dog owner is not complying with Council’s requests, and
  • all avenues available to Council to resolve the problem have been exhausted and the dog continues to be a problem, and
  • the complainant is prepared to attend and provide evidence to the Magistrates Court
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