Police say they’re investigating a barking dog complaint on Smith Ridge Road.
A neighbor in the area opposite the golf course of the Country Club of New Canaan at 12:08 p.m. on Sept. 17 lodged a complaint about a Labrador retriever that barks steadily in the evenings, according to the Animal Control unit of the New Canaan Police Department.
“These are the toughest complaints to deal with and we need good strong documentation,” Animal Control Officer Maryann Kleinschmitt told NewCanaanite.com.
Specifically, complainants are asked by police to note exact dog-barking behavior over several days.
State law requires police to prove that a dog is barking in order to issue an infraction summons to a dog owner. To meet the standard in New Canaan, a complainant must keep up what New Canaan police call a “14-day barking dog log,” jotting down detailed information on when animals in a nearby home are barking and for how long. Those 14 days of barking do not have to be consecutive.
The dog’s owner in this case has two Labrador retrievers, according to Animal Control. Kleinschmitt said she had been to visit with the owner three months ago regarding initial barking dog complaints, but that individual was preparing to travel and was not immediately available. The investigation is ongoing.
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A Newfoundland on Amy’s Lane bolted past its owners while entering a car and attacked one of two dogs being leash-walked past, according to a police report.
The incident was reported to police at about 11:18 a.m. on Sept. 14.
According to the report, a man had been walking his two dogs in the neighborhood off of Rosebrook Road, when the Newfie caught sight of the trio and ran past its owner and a young girl in their driveway.
The victim dog’s owner discovered two puncture wounds later but opted not to file a written statement to police which may have triggered a ticket and/or temporary home confinement for the dog, police said.