Barking is the way dogs communicate their thoughts, feelings, and needs. Dogs may bark for a variety of reasons such as to notify you of potential danger, to fend off trespassers, to let you know he wants attention (e.g. exercise, food, water, injured, etc.), or just to join other dogs barking nearby.
Regardless the reason, it’s against City & County of Honolulu law for a dog to bark constantly for 10 minutes, or unprovoked for 30 minutes on and off. If the noise disturbs you, you can contact the Hawaiian Humane Society at 356-2250. The Humane Society helps to resolve complaints by working with pet owners on how to remedy the situation.
If the barking dog happens to live with your next door neighbor, the Mediation Center of the Pacific can help. Neighbor-to-neighbor disputes can often be resolved to ensure the complaint is openly received and that the pet owner does not become defensive. Call 521-6767 for mediation support.
Quiet neighborhoods are important to everyone, but so is the wellness of dogs that live among us. By informing the Humane Society or police of a constant barking dog, you could potentially be rescuing the dog from abuse.