Belle Meade Association

I received a letter in my mailbox today from a neighbor who will not identify themselves.  The letter informed me that my dog has been barking in the morning for the past 3-4 weeks and asks me to fix the situation. 

Yes, my dog stays outside during the day and comes in at night.  I let me dog out when I leave to take my son to school and I go to work, usually around 7:30 or 8:00 in the morning.  I am doing the best that I can given my situation.  I do not feel that it is best leave the dog inside all day long (approximately 12 hours on some days) and at night.

If there is anyone that would like to have a pet, I am willing to give her to a good home.  I have had it with this harrassment.  

Dogs bark, that's what they do when they are protecting your home. I wouldn't let a letter in your mail box force you to find a new home for your pup. As long as the barking doesnt start before 6am I personally do not see a problem.

We also received the same letter.  We do not let our dogs bark at night or early in the morning.  We are not going to put a shock collar on our dogs as suggested or get rid of our dogs.  We are responsible and caring owners of dogs who may have not otherwise had a home.  I am bothered that someone has the "gall" to walk around the neighborhood distributing notes namelessly and ask dog owners to use shock collars and/or make owners feel like they have to get rid of their pets.  I can understand if it was before 6 am or all night long, but this does not apply to us and I have not heard dogs barking during these hours, so I am not sure who it does apply to. So, we will not do anything differently, its our right to own animals in the home we pay for and pay taxes on.

Actually, both city ordinances and common courtesy suggest that it is your responsibility to ensure that your dog doesn't disturb your neighbors, no matter what the time.  So while it is your right to own animals, it is not your right--by law--to allow those animals to disturb others.  I have nothing to do with any letters being sent, but I'm sure they were sent as a courtesy prior to calling the police or code enforcement.  You should be appreciative of the warning, but obviously you're not.  Your self-declared time of 6am is ridiculous--we live in a city where thousands work the night shift at FedEx, hospitals, etc.  What gives you the right to decide when other people can and cannot sleep?  And as for the letters being nameless, I'm sure that's to prevent reprisals by some of the loonies out in this world today.  (The same reason you're posting your comments anonymously.)