Dogs Barking?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mattt/]

I'm feeling brave, so I will pose a question to the DS community:

I live on the Davis side of Ball Square, and sometime this spring, I began to notice what I consider to be unusual and excessive barking from a neighborhood dog(s). I'm rarely home during the day, so I paid little attention, and a barking dog certainly fits within what I consider normal (sub)urban noise.

Unemployment changed all that, and I now realize that said dog is barking consistently throughout the day.

I am concerned from two standpoints: 1) animal welfare and 2) noise control. I've worked with the ASPCA, and to me, I associate consistent barking with kennel dogs. I wonder if the excessive barking might result from an inhumane or otherwise inappropriate condition for a dog? Also, should I really have to hear this? It's obnoxious to say the least to put your dog outside and let it bark all day.

As best I can tell, the noise originates from the Broadway, Cedar Street, Lowell Branch commuter rail triangle. The first step is to obviously go over there on a warmer day so I can drive with my windows down and identify the residence.

After that, what would be the appropriate course of action? Should this be filed as a noise complaint? Or should I call animal control? If both paths are available, does anyone have any recommendations on which to choose?

Thank you in advance.

Comments

[lefauxfrog.livejournal.com]

The dog next door to my apartment barks whenever anyone approaches his territory which seems to be approximately one square mile. This includes my tiny balcony, which he can see easily over the fence.

God forbid I let my cat out to get some fresh air. The dog's owners chastise him whenever they're outside with him (about 1/4 of the time) but I don't think they realize the dog doesn't understand English.