He made a complaint to the City after continuous barking from a neighbour’s dog drove him to breaking point.
As per the City’s policy, he was required to complete a seven-day diary recording the disturbance.
This was completed and returned to the City, at which point Mr Hayes said he was given a 14-day diary to complete ” as was another neighbour.
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READ NOW‘It’s a nightmare,’ Mr Hayes said.
‘I can’t even sit here and watch a TV show without having this thing bark over the top of it, I have to get up every five minutes, go to my front door and scream at it to shut up.’
My Hayes said on one occasion he called the ranger to collect the dog because it has got loose and charged him in the street.
Wanneroo MLA Paul Miles wrote to the City last month, recommending it implement the Dog Amendment Act 2013 best practice guidelines to help overcome the problem.
‘After being contacted by numerous local residents, it’s clear to me that the City of Wanneroo is still operating under its old policy, which requires the complainant and surrounding neighbours to keep diaries detailing barking episodes,’ Mr Miles said.
‘I believe the City should implement the more structured approach available under the Dog Amendment Act 2013 to deal with nuisance complaints, which provides for local government to take action on one complaint.’
In a letter to Mr Miles, City businesses director Chris Morrison said the City was satisfied its current procedure was ‘sound and demonstrates procedural fairness and natural justice’.
In the past 12 months, the City has overseen 525 barking dog complaints.
Mr Hayes was called one month after completing the second diary and told the owners had been contacted.
‘They’ve assured us the owners have implemented a plan, they’ve installed a shade cloth, which the dog can see through, changed the dog’s diet and sent us out another 14-day diary,’ he said. ‘It comes down to consideration.
‘If you want to own a pet, show respect for the people around you and put a bark collar on it if it’s barking.’
The Times tried to contact the owners of the dog last week without success.