Dog ownership is on the rise. Unfortunately, so are irresponsible dog owners.

Loud and excessive barking has become a problem in rural communities like Shirley; communities where many people moved because they afforded the peace and quiet that couldnB次元官网网址檛 be found elsewhere.

But irresponsible dog ownership is only part of the problem. Neighbours who are aware of the problem and donB次元官网网址檛 report it are just as guilty.

Behind this refusal to take action is the faulty reasoning that merely talking to the offending neighbour (let alone contacting the Capital Regional District) will make them come across as unkind.

But kindness can hardly justify the consequences of unwarranted leniency. If you donB次元官网网址檛 take action, youB次元官网网址檙e part of the problem, and it will only get worse.

More food for thought:

B次元官网网址� Animal control complaints are anonymous.

B次元官网网址� If you allow your dog to bark for hours on end, youB次元官网网址檙e a bad neighbour.

B次元官网网址� If youB次元官网网址檙e affected by a nuisance dog and donB次元官网网址檛 report it, youB次元官网网址檙e a bad neighbour. It affects others too.

B次元官网网址� Mistaking B次元官网网址渒indnessB次元官网网址� for B次元官网网址減ermisivenessB次元官网网址� doesnB次元官网网址檛 make you a better neighbour. It makes you a bad neighbour. You are contributing to the problem. You are making the community a worse place.

If you donB次元官网网址檛 do it for yourself, do it for others around you. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what B次元官网网址渢he communityB次元官网网址� is supposed to be about.

Damaris Garz

Shirley