Deal in Suffolk dog dispute seems worse than bark to owner

I have sat here and read most of the bitchy comments that you guys had to offer to this story. What happened to being at peace with your neighbors and loving those around you. If you know that you have a low tolerance for noisy animals, people, etc then you should really move into the countryside where you cannot be bothered by life. That's right life, because those people that are around you are people too with emotions, feeling, needs, and wants. Maybe they just want to see a smile on your face and you are always complaining about something. Many of you work hard and have nice things and live in nice houses. Appreciate what you have and be thankful that you don't have to live like those in 3rd world countries. Respect your neighbors.

Congrats to Suffolk for letting people know it is not their right to allow their dogs to disturb other neighbors. One of the reasons I moved was a neighbor's obnoxious dog. Animal Control was responsive and helpful but couldn't be there all the time. Some folks are simply too selfish (or old and dumb and deaf) to realize dog barking is more than just irritating! Some people have more acute hearing than others. I know my stress levels and blood pressure spiked when that little yappy poodle would screech loud and with the highest pitch imaginable for hours. Elsa and her irresponsible owner should take a hike. Anyone as selfish as Eberhardt, showing total disregard for the comfort of her neighbors, doesn't deserve to live among decent people.

My neighbors who rent, have a dog that when let outside barks constantly for hours, at everything and nothing. Anytime a member of my family goes outside, the dog runs up to the fence and lunges at them, in a most disturbing and aggresive way. We don't bother the dog, never have. I can be sitting in my home trying to watch tv, and if the dog sees me through the window it will sit there and bark at me. The owners do nothing to quiet it. AC was called once, and I was accused, which led to words exchanged. The owner said "it's a dog." Thanks for clearing that up, I thought it was a barking chicken. I wish I had called AC. I'm too afraid of owner retaliation. I hope their lease is up soon. It's an otherwise quiet neighborhood.

First off, I am not a dog lover. But I want to comment on this story. It seems to me that St.Clair-Carter and her husband have taken this thing too far!! Lady you need to get a life and do other things with your time, like volunteer at a homeless shelter. Instead of running to the police each time the dog barks, how about going over and finding out why the dog is barking & how to resolve it. It could make the issue alot more pleasant. I have neighbors whose dog used to poop in my yard, but i talked to them and we resolved the issue, if i found it in my yard, they cleaned it up. And no one called the police. You never know when u may need those same neighbors again. Stop being a royal pain and get a life loser!!

What is ridiculous, is why any one would have to put up with dog barking. It is enough to drive you nuts. It is amazing how dog owners think that a dog can disrupt the peace of a neighborhood and the neighbors have no rights at all.
It is obvious that this dog was in fact disturbing the peace and on more than one occasion. This woman broke the law over and over, and she is now paying the consequences. Good Riddance!
Now, for all you cat owners that think your cat has a right to destroy, gardens, scratch cars, and scream all night, you are next!

In this day and time, it seems ludicrous to expect to enjoy your home in peace !!! I, unfortunately, do not have the means to litigate w/ my neighbors over any number of aggravations of daily life in a Neighborhood : dogs barking, children playing, loud music late at nite, 1 neighbors 'race car', idiots sitting in cars blowing horns instead of using phone or knocking on door......etc etc etc. Its called life. The point is to try and co-exist and not go Postal. I cannot help but think that Mr. Carters past w/ Commonwealth Atty Office made this silliness possible. Can I sue all the Idiots on the road that make my daily commute hell ! ? ! ?

I have got to say a few things. While I understand the frustration that comes from dealing with noisy neighbors and barking dogs this absolutley sounds ludicrous. If the city can force people to move out of their homes for barking dogs whats next? Have Debbie pay a fine and be done with it. The dog no longer barks, how can the City rationalize making debbie sell her house? This entire case is outrageous and an embarsment for all involved.

According to the article, the last instance of barking was back in April-May time frame. Since then, Elsa has been behaving, or so it would seem since the police haven't been called since then. IF the issue is the dog and the dog has stopped, why does this continue?? You asked her to fix it, she hired a professional, fixed it but you still want her to move???? If the dog stopped barking, why is Ms. Eberhardt still dealing with the neighbors being angry??? Sounds like it could be abuse of power ... guess my vote will not go for Mr. Carter next term either. Maybe Mrs. Carter needs the leash and lessons on being quiet???

It's hard to know all the facts of a story when you don't know the parties involved, but I do. Making assumptions about the care of the dog makes me wonder if you read the entire article. An owner who hires one of the best animal behaviorists in the area is not the type of owner who would leave an animal to fend for itself. Elsa is one of the best-cared-for animals I know. Not only is she an inside pet, she's loved beyond measure, and even has doggie birthday parties every year, complete with a special cake just for her. It's unfair of you to presume that she's being mistreated.

I have been forced to move to out of my home due to the neighbor's 12 barking dogs and the town's and owner's refusal to do anything to quiet the dogs. My house has been up for sale for 5 years. Maybe some of you who love the sound of barking dogs would consider buying it. Often barking dog owners tell the neighbors to move if they don't like the barking. It makes more sense for the dog owner's to move someplace to accomodate their dog's barking maybe place the house in the middle of 100 acres so no one is bothered by the barking. They could also train the dog not to bark all the time. If they can't do any of this; they shouldn't own a dog. Also if dogs can't be trained then they should be banned. The dog owner deserves prison.

This is ridiculous!! What's next- making families move because their children are too loud?
Dogs bark for a reason- get over it!

This story gives me hope and has inspired me to finally take the step and take my neighbors to court. All you commenters saying I need headphones, soundproofing, etc, are just trying to justify your own barking dogs. The particular dog owner in my neighborhood has dogs that bark and howl constantly. I have repeatedly called animal control. The dogs have even been picked up and taken in when no one was at home, etc. But until now I just thought it was useless to try the courts. No more! All of us who are being held hostage in our own homes, unable to rest or use our own decks, should band together for support and start demanding our neighbors abide by the law and begin to take them to court, if we can see this kind of serious attention paid.

These loud teenagers and their music need to be kicked out of the neighborhoods. So when I go file my complaint with the Court, I don't want to hear what the police told me once; teenagers will be teenagers. Well dogs will be dogs! I will bring up this case when I do file it. If they won't pursue the case, I will file discrimination.

The people that side with "St. Clair-Carter" didn't read the whole article.The quotes "a dog behavior specialist that Eberhardt hired in March to help quiet Elsa"and"A couple of Eberhardt's neighbors even hired Lowry for their own pets after they noticed Elsa's improvement" tells the story. Eberhardt's dog is no longer a problem. Seems that the Carters are the kind of neighbors few of us would want. I'd have to be a nuisance to them just for the fun of it. This abuse of power should cost Carter, Ferguson, the "special judge"and the "special prosecutor" their jobs. This is a blatant example of the buddy system and abuse of power. This is a waste of our tax dollars and waste of the courts time. Eberhardt should sue the Carters. Vote Em Out!

When does the dog bark? A dog outside barking a few times a day is perfectly normal and neighbors should be charged for the city's time just for calling the police about it. However, a dog barking all night long is a different story. No details were given about this part of the story. Even if the dog does bark at night, forcing the family out of their home is insane! The fact that the homeowner/dog's owner is getting assistance with the behavior should have dropped the subject altogether. What about the other issues Mrs. Carter has with her neighbor? I doubt this is all about a barking dog. Furthermore, both of the Carters should be reprimanded for abusing their positions as they are. Unbelievable!

I live next door to 2 beagles that bark all the time. The owners seem to have a deaf ear to the problem. This does disturb my sleep, the ability to watch a tv show or open windows. I would not care about the barking if it didnt occur so late at night or early in the morning. Its like dog owners who allow their dog's to be outside barking for long lengths of time have no respect for anyone but themselves - late at night or early in the morning let your dogs out to bathroom and bring them back in. If you need them to stay out longer get a bark collar or a muzzle.

Hey pay attention people! The problem is excessive barking not plain ole dog barks here an there. Get a grip on this nerve raking nuisance or move but please not near me. LOL

Yeah! I'm so happy to hear that Mrs.St.Clair-Carter has won her case. I know exactly how she feels since I have neighbors that leave their dogs out most of the night for the past two years. People should leave their barking dogs in the house at night.

Here's a crazy idea - put the dog inside then all of the neighbors can't hear her. I do not understand people who have dogs for pets and then leave them outside 24 hours a day to drive their neighbors crazy with constant barking, or barking in the middle of the night - it really is just plain rude. If the animal is part of your family, then the animal should live inside.

I live in a neighborhood where the dogs constantaly bark. But you know I don't blame the owners - I blame the parents of the kids who live next door to them cause they are always throwing stuff at the dogs to make them bark. what do you do about that? make the parents with the kids move as they are stupid for letting their kids get away with doing stupid stuff likfe that? Then again these are the same kids who lay down in the middle of the street daring you to run them over.

You gotta be kidding me? Making someone move because a dog is barking? If that were the case around my neighborhood, noone would live there. Dogs bark...get over it

How beautiful is this dog?!?! Well she can bark my ears off any day and night! But then again, I'm partial to shepherds! :) Good Luck Elsa, you keep doing what doggies do!! Muah!

Smart judge & smart prosecutor! This would actually be a good law or ordinance, because it would help solve the barking dog crisis all across our country! Make the irresponsible dog owners move!

Barking dogs are a problem. I think she should have to move, or quiet her dog. I know that when I had neighbors with an incessantly barking dog, I wouldn't have care if their house burned down, just as long as that dog kept quiet.

The police were called 6 times. No citations. Police officers cannot prosecute unless they witness the action. So...did the police never see anything? Are the neighbors being overzealous? Regardless, eat the misdeameanor and let the dog bark. Then side the back of your house with mirrors so they can enjoy the sun. Get a code book and be a bothersome as possible right up to the line as written. Maybe you could get Pete Decker to represent you as he is real good in neighbor disputes.

We live in the country and have dogs, and we too get complaints about them barking. (even in the country) When the police showed up at my door, they apologized for having to come, and heard no dogs barking. I wish the neighbor who complained would have come to us first, the problem would have been solved and no one would have been upset. I don't like to listen to them bark either!! Neighbors should always talk to each other about their problems, and usually they can be worked out without wasting the time and money of the courts.

If the dog will not stop barking then he has to go..period.

I know a few married couples who might be interested in one of those!!!!

I'm glad "The Dog Lady" (Kristian Lowry) got involved. She helped me with my rotties and I bet anyone this case will be over soon because of her behaviorist skills- Once Ms. Eberhardt can show her dog's good behavior, at least legally- this case will be closed. So much for the "Stately" Riverview neighborhood in Sufolk...sigh...

Try relaxing in your house and try to take a nap, read a book or the newspaper. Try to relax outside while entertaining guests or just enjoy the fresh air while all the time hearing your next door neighbor's dog bark, especially after your concerns have been brought up to the apathetic neighbor. Try sleeping at night when you have to get up at 5am for work only to hear your neighbors dog bark constantly. Its not such a trivial issue as some of you may think.