By: Brenna Mackay

311 calls from the City of Ottawa Open data site shows that animal-related complaints are among the most common call category received in 2015. The Rideau-Vanier ward tops the list with the most number of calls, with 852 animal related complaints.

A further breakdown of the call types, provided by Roger Chapman, Chief of Bylaw and Regulatory Services, shows the dog barking is the most frequent type of complaint.

Erin Rivers, a Vanier resident, says she is frustrated with the number of animal disturbances in her community, and has had to call 311 on her neighbours several times in the last year for excessive dog barking.

“I love dogs, but my opinion quickly changes after being woken up in the middle of the night by non-stop barking,” she explains.

The City of Ottawa by-law outlines that people are not permitted to own an animal that disturbs other residents and anyone who fails to comply will be subjected to a fine. View by-law here:

Rivers adds that despite her complaints, she has seen no changes in noise level and the dog continues to howl into the night, disturbing her rest.

“More needs to be done to enforce by-laws,” says Rivers. “Yes, we have these rules, but they hold little weight when they are not enforced and nothing changes.”