Neighbor problems... Getting rather frustrated. :(

[redhen]

Quote:
Bravo! Well said..

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

My goodness we hit your hot spot! I do believe most of the posts like the airhorn one are in jest. Sleeping from 8:30pm - 4:30am is as far out of norm as is working the night shift. If noise bothers one, there are a lot of things one can do other than expect special treatment from ones neighbors: get a sound machine that creates a white noise background, cancelling out other noise that might disturb sleep; close windows that let in unwanted sound; wear earplugs. I certainly do not advocate being noisy at night, but neither do I think everyone should have to tip-toe near someone who chooses to sleep so early in the evening.

http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.html
http://www.esoundproof.com/Screens/Basics/Academy/Sound Measurement/Decibels/dBChart.aspx
http://www.lowermanhattan.info/extras/pdf/062007_SpecificNoiseLevelsforCommonNoises.pdf


My city's noise ordinance allows noise in residential areas of up to 55 decibels from 7am to 10 pm, and 45 decibels from 10 pm to 7 am, as measured at the property line.
The OP's property is one acre. If it is square, it is just under 209 ft on each side. If the house is 60' wide and centered on hte property, the door would be 75' from the property line. A dog barking was listed in the charts as 75 decibels; doesn't specify breed, so that is a factor that I cannot weigh in, over the course of 75 feet, that 75 decibels drops to 37.5 dB; assuming it is another 75 ft to the neighbor's home (total distance of 150'), the noise drops down to 31.48 dB. That is slightly louder than the "whisper quiet library" or an average living or dining room. Doesn't seem like a huge disturbance to me.

 

[debilorrah]

Dogs bark, cat's meow (louder than dogs sometimes), birds screech, roosters crow, horses neigh and winny, goats bleat, chickens holler.

So what?

 

[C&C Chickens]

I haven't read all of the replies to your original post, but I wanted to point out, in case no did else did so explicitly, that your neighbor sounds like she is mentally ill. I'm talking a personality disorder, not schizophrenia. At any rate, she is clearly being unreasonable and using your dog's barking as an excuse to act out her mental illness, unfortunately towards you. Unfortunately it is nearly impossible to deal with someone like her in a reasonable manner, but it can help you to remember that it really isn't personal, she's mentally ill and can't control her behavior. At the very least, I would continue working on keeping your dogs quiet after 9 p.m., and get a copy of your local noise ordinance so you know what your rights are. I would consider providing her a copy of the ordinance with a note worded very carefully and simply that you are sorry that she is disturbed by your dogs' barking, that you are trying to keep the noise down, and that you are in compliance with your local noise ordinance. I would leave it at that. She may continue to act out toward you, but I would try to not let it show that her behavior effects you at all.

You have my sympathy - I have also dealt with a very crazy neighbor and it is very stressful.

 

[heatherindeskies]

find out if the other neighbors have problems with her. there is strength in numbers and you won't feel do intimidated if you know you are not alone in this. If so, maybe a group of you approaching and talking to her will intimidate crazy lady!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Or consider becoming a superhero.

Your avatar makes your dog look lie he is trying to be a superhero--the doggie door flap looks just like a superhero cape at first glance

 

[chickee]

C&C Chickens :

I haven't read all of the replies to your original post, but I wanted to point out, in case no did else did so explicitly, that your neighbor sounds like she is mentally ill. I'm talking a personality disorder, not schizophrenia. At any rate, she is clearly being unreasonable and using your dog's barking as an excuse to act out her mental illness, unfortunately towards you. Unfortunately it is nearly impossible to deal with someone like her in a reasonable manner, but it can help you to remember that it really isn't personal, she's mentally ill and can't control her behavior. At the very least, I would continue working on keeping your dogs quiet after 9 p.m., and get a copy of your local noise ordinance so you know what your rights are. I would consider providing her a copy of the ordinance with a note worded very carefully and simply that you are sorry that she is disturbed by your dogs' barking, that you are trying to keep the noise down, and that you are in compliance with your local noise ordinance. I would leave it at that. She may continue to act out toward you, but I would try to not let it show that her behavior effects you at all.

You have my sympathy - I have also dealt with a very crazy neighbor and it is very stressful.

I AGREE! WELL SAID

SilverPhoenix~ SO SORRY TO HEAR THAT YOUR HAVING PROBLEMS!

 

[turney31]

I can see most of you have not had truly bad neighbors. You wouldn't say that if you lived what I have been through. Loud and disrespectful. We could not pass a flat spot without going to sleep on it. Could not function. WE MOVED! Then bad neighbors got busted. Every one has the right to a peaceful existance. My DH had lived in that APT for 24 years, and had never had neighbors like them. Being nice only goes so far. You know that mistaking kindness for weakness thing. I highly doubt those barking dogs are the only problem. Just saying.........


Micah

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Of course there are two sides to every story, but I would say that most of us are relying on the data presented by the OP as being accurate, then applying our own experiences to it. I have a couple of neighbors I do not care for. One could definitely almost match the OP's SN, although his complaints have to do with other things (what we put in the trash, our landscaping plans, his parent's dinner time (which has been the same his entire 40+ year life), not noise--at least not that he has yelled about to me. We all know he has mental/developmental issues; his brothers will not put up with him; he cannot hold a job; he will not take his prescribed meds; his parents worry about what will become of him when they are gone. He dislikes and disrespects most women, so if he doesn't like something DH says, he will later come and yell at me when DH is not home--thaings that are crazy and make no logical sense. DH told him we were thinking about removing the pyracantha hedge between our yards and replcing it with an ocotilla fence. He was appalled that we would put a "cactus" fence there. "But, but what about the children!" (his nieces and nephews). For anyone who isn't aware, pyracantha has super nasty thorns. The "thorns" on a ocotilla can only superficially be called thorns, blunt twigs is a more accurate description. Here is a photo of one: http://findanoutlet.wordpress.com/2010/08/27/the-week-in-my-world/ The last two photos.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Quote:
Or consider becoming a superhero.

Your avatar makes your dog look lie he is trying to be a superhero--the doggie door flap looks just like a superhero cape at first glance

I'm pretty sure in her own mind Lucy is a superhero. She's that kind of dog.