Barking dogs
Barking, whimpering and howling are natural ways for dogs to communicate. However, when such noise becomes excessive or a nuisance, the Town encourages concerns to be discussed between neighbours directly, prior to reporting concerns to the Town for investigation.
To assist, the Town has created a Bark Card(PDF, 268KB). This card can be filled in anonymously and placed in a neighbour’s letterbox. Providing detailed information on the Bark Card can help identify why the dog may be barking.
Lodging a complaint
If speaking to the dog owner or using the Bark Card does not resolve the issue, your concerns can be lodged with the Town for investigation.
The following information must be provided when lodging a complaint:
If excessive barking or howling is substantiated as part of the Town's investigation, the Town will work with the dog owner to identify strategies to reduce the barking or howling. If the owner fails to take reasonable action which can be substantiated, enforcement action may be taken.
Tips for dog owners
If you have received correspondence from the Town of Cambridge regarding excessive noise from your dog, we recommend first establishing when the dog is barking. This can be done by quietly returning home after pretending to leave, asking a neighbour to record when the noise occurs, or using cameras or barking apps to monitor behaviour.
More information can be found within the Town's Barking Dog Brochure(PDF, 2MB), including why dogs bark, an example barking diary, tips for dog owners, and a Bark Card.
To report nuisance barking or howling please contact the Town's Ranger Services and Community Safety Team on (08) 9347 6000 or via email mail@cambridge.wa.gov.au attaching the abovementioned documents.