Dog BARKING and what can one do?

I have noticed that one of our homeowners will go on vacation and leave her dogs in her unit. She has a neighbor who feeds and waters them, but they do not get walked and are left to urinate and deficate on the outside balconey. ( This I know first hand.. ) The urine and poo is an issue I am not bothered with, but what I am bothered with is

The dogs bark NON stop.. I was woken up last night after midnight as the dogs have access to the outside patio.. which is where they are barking. Today they started at 7am and just stopped hours later.

I know myself that I have complained to the HOA. NOTHING has been done. The Animal Control has been out once already. To make it sticky, the owner is also a board member... who just ignores the neighbors complaints.

I notice when this person is gone on vacation, she leaves her dogs here, they bark more. When they leave with friends they often leave 4 dogs in the unit... all to bark to their hearts content. Multiple complaints. no resolution.

Is it best to get Animal Control invovled? Our next door buidling called it last year for the same reason... all they person got was notice. Nothing has changed.

court order .... $$$$ but VERY effective

Do you have rules in any of your HOA documents against unnecessary or incessant dog-barking? Is there a fine spelled out for violating this rule?

They yippers are Yorkies x breeds and not for protection... the dogs bark loud enough that we can hear them.. our building is 1/10th of a mile long and they are more than half the distance up the way, and we live on a upper floor. SO you get an idea how loud they are.

I am keeping a log now.. I only noticed them barking crazy the other night as I was not able to sleep and was in a different room, now I notice them all the time. I heard a neighbor already called AC on them. I will follow through if no resolution happens. The law here gives them 30 fun filled barking days to come under control.

WOW.

One very effective and inexpensive way of dealing with a problem resident is for each annoyed neighbor to file a lawsuit in small claims court against the offender. Your claim is that on a specific date (or dates) that you were deprived of the peaceful enjoyment of your property, and ask for a reasonable reimbursement such as $10.00 for each day you were deprived. The offending owner may laugh off one lawsuit but after the third or fourth one they will start taking them seriously. Your objective should be to end the nuisance and not get rich. If you prevail, you will be awarded all of your costs.

The costs of filing a small claims lawsuit are minimal. This approach places the power in your hands instead of begging your HOA, Animal Control, or your local police to act for you. Your taxes are paying to make the court available to you so you are foolish to ignore this remedy.

Even though the offending neighbor is on your BOD, I would resist the urge to name the association as a defendant because then the association will pay their costs with your money.