Is Your Neighbor’s Barking Dog Worth Calling The Police? What GRPD Has to Say

They call them "Man's Best Friend". Having a pet dog is part of the American Dream (so much so that young me guilted my parents into getting us a dog by saying "every boy deserves to raise a dog"), but there are some people who are just awful dog owners.

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The thing that really grinds my gears is when your neighbor lets their dog out and will not bring it back in, no matter how much it's barking. Clearly, if your dog is barking, it either is ready to come back in, needs something, or needs training - either way, it's incredibly annoying for everyone else.

But is excessive dog barking something you can call the cops about? Here's what Michigan law says.

Michigan and Grand Rapids Barking Laws

Michigan does not have a dedicated law regarding noise complaints, which is what dog barking falls under. Instead, barking complaints are handled by the local city, village, or township, with local laws determining how they are addressed. 

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Grand Rapids, for example, does have a dedicated ordinance: Sec. 9. 203 - Barking Dogs

No person shall own any dog which, by loud, frequent, or habitual barking, yelping, or howling, shall cause annoyance to the people in the neighborhood.

Fines increase from $100, $200, and $400 per violation. However, the ordinance doesn't really specify when it's okay to determine that an owner's dog is barking to the point of "annoyance to the people in the neighborhood."

When Is A Dog Barking Too Much?

To answer this question, we reached out to the Grand Rapids Police Department, and their response was simple: if it's barking enough to annoy you, it's okay to call. Call the non-emergency number (616-456-3400) to file a complaint and receive advice.

It's also worth noting that quiet hours in GR are 10 pm to 7 am, so any disruptive sounds during those hours violate established noise ordinances. Ultimately, if it's annoying you, it's likely annoying other people, too.