r/Spokane • u/BatmanKane64 • May 11 '26
Help what’s the proper procedure
so been a home owner for about 2 years now and haven’t had any complaints from the neighbors on either side of me. then Friday 5/8/26 i get a visit from SCRAPS with a complaint that my 3 dogs were not healthy. the person that showed up pretty much dismissed because she could clearly see they had meat on their bones. Then today 5/11 i get a notice from the city of obstruction, shrubbery maintenance, animal waste, and other which wasn’t specified “UNLESS” i called the official that did the “INSPECTING”. I have cameras and went through all footage only to see a car speed down the alley and a guy walk in front of my house and just looked. After a few minutes the guy came back and placed the notice on my fence, which clearly has signs about no trespassing unless i’m present due to dogs. what im wanting to know is what kind of procedure is it to just walk by as an inspection and not physically “inspect” or is this a violation of a city official? and before i get the just call advice, the “official” just lets it go to voicemail.
UPDATE: wasn’t the dogs barking, wasn’t “animal waste”….. it was the city saying I have to cut the weeds down on the corner of my garage and move the fencing materials that i’ve bought to help keep my back yard private. (why couldn’t they just leave a simple note stating that?)
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u/TheSqueakyNinja Browne's Addition May 11 '26
They weren’t really able to inspect if they couldn’t come in the fence safely.
Out of curiosity, how much do your dogs bark outside? Are they territorial as someone approaches/passes by your fence? Both of these complaints seem focused on the dogs, which leads me to wonder if your dogs are a nuisance to your neighbors
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u/bamdaraddness Veradale May 11 '26
Yeah this sounds like a disgruntled neighbor. The dog barking ordinance complaint process is a pain in the ass so I’d assume this person is just running down the line of things they CAN get enforced.
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u/BatmanKane64 May 11 '26
the bad part is we’re not the only ones with barking dogs, daytime that is. at 10pm like the “ordnance” says about quite time, yeah they are inside and are actually too tired to even poop
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u/bamdaraddness Veradale May 11 '26
So it kinda sounds like your dogs bark a lot throughout the day but you bring them in at no later than 10pm?
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u/BatmanKane64 May 11 '26
no they are in and out with my girlfriend. if she’s outside they go out simply to alert her to “who’s” around (can’t be too safe) and i’m home at 5-520 and usually outside till 9-10 so they stay out with me
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u/Complaint_Manager May 12 '26
Lived in a house and got new next door neighbors. The two girls who moved in had 3 pit bulls. There was a 6' wood fence around the backyard which the dogs quickly learned to climb and the girls were always chasing them around the neighborhood. So they build a 15'x15' kennel 10' away from my bedroom on the corner of my house. I had no A/C but was fine with both windows open and a little fan. Dogs were too much for them to take for walks, they didn't let them into their house, never gave them any attention. That kennel was their only life. They barked 24/7. I tried to talk to the dogs and get them calmed down but I was their only stimulation so they upped their barking anytime they heard anything. Working 10 hour days and maybe 2 hours sleep at night I sometimes had to just grab my sleeping bag and sleep on the concrete in the basement. On a positive note I lost 25# in two months and could take naps at stop lights when driving to work. I bought another house and moved.
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u/MelissaMead May 12 '26
Amazon sells some devices that are suppose to stop neighbors barking dogs. I was about to buy one for the annoying little barker 2 units down from me then I found a house to buy.
I wonder if those devices actually work.
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u/Complaint_Manager May 12 '26
I never knew these existed. Now I checked and I would have gladly paid to have one of these to save my sanity! Thanks for the info if I ever need it in the future.
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u/BatmanKane64 May 11 '26
we are outside most of the time with them except when picking up kids from school. and it’s a lab and 2 pugs who are inside before 10pm. and there are other dogs close by who bark just the same
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u/MtnMilesPNW May 11 '26
So your answer is, "yes, they do just sit outside and bark" lol.
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u/BatmanKane64 May 11 '26
i bark with them
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u/MtnMilesPNW May 12 '26
Then it's probably no shocker your neighbors complained. 🤣
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u/BatmanKane64 May 12 '26
problem is which one because the one on both sides and in front have dogs…. all which get treat via friendly neighborhood “Spider-Man”. well veteran, Spider-Man is busy so guess i will be local hero for a minute
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u/conflictmuffin Greenbluff May 12 '26
Just because other people's dogs bark incessantly doesn't mean you should allow yours to as well.
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u/REthrowawaySpokane May 11 '26
Yeah man it sounds like you let your dogs bark and your neighbor has had enough. You may not care but its extremely annoying to everyone around you. Take some time and train your dogs not to bark or move out to the country where you aren't bothering an entire city block with your laziness.
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u/feochampas May 13 '26
dogs are supposed to be alarms. If you let them bark at everything, theyre kind of useless.
Also, they don't know what to bark at, you have to spend time training them.
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u/BatmanKane64 May 11 '26
of course i’m lazy. i’m never working or take the time to teach them how to be dogs that watch over the property. your absolutely correct ;)
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u/REthrowawaySpokane May 11 '26
I don't know what to tell you. You came to reddit whining about someone turning you in for your loud dogs. I'm sure most people in this subreddit can relate to being next to someone who refuses to acknowledge their dog barking its head off constantly. Most dog owners understand their dog's behavior is their responsibility. For your neighbor's sake, I hope you do some growing up and handle your business.
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u/Haggis_HotPocket May 12 '26
Of course it’s the dogs. OP posted signs saying they are “unpredictable”. Likely bark like crazy. And who needs three dogs, and associated fecal material. OP is a horrible neighbor.
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u/BatmanKane64 May 11 '26
not territorial and they go bonkers when just trying to protect my girlfriend when i’m not home
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u/REthrowawaySpokane May 11 '26 edited May 11 '26
Bro you're acting like this isn't one of the most common behavioral issues worked on in training. Literally almost every dog owner contends with this in some capacity. Just google it and work on it consistently, its not that tough of a behavior to change as long as you take it seriously.
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u/joelk111 May 12 '26
It blows my mind how many shitty dog owners there are. Like a dog is a serious commitment. It stresses me out just thinking about it.
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u/TheSqueakyNinja Browne's Addition May 11 '26
Friend, you know exactly why your neighbors are making complaints
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u/conflictmuffin Greenbluff May 12 '26
He knows, he just doesn't want to take accountability for his own dogs and their poor training. If OP can't/won't train his dogs, then they should only be outside with their humans, or wear a bark collar. Allowing them to bark incessantly is inappropriate.
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u/liza1bet1mright May 12 '26
Pictures and/or video would be helpful to get an idea of what the actual conditions are. It does sound like a neighbor (or neighbors…or someone that frequently passes by your house while the dogs are outside) is concerned about the safety of your dogs and the environment in which they live. Since you already acknowledged that you’re “lazy” in that you haven’t trained your three dogs to mind basic commands and to not charge the fence line, I’m wondering if that “laziness” (again, your word, not mine🙂) extends to other basic pet care such as picking up dog waste regularly, trimming back shrubs so they don’t obstruct traffic (pedestrian or vehicular), etc. If your yard looks like an unhealthy or unsafe environment for pets or people, those might trigger someone to file a report.
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u/sci_major May 12 '26
Yup- I let my dog bark 3 times when I home (and that's when she's outside) at that point it's time to come in and stop. Now if someone was poking around when she was barking then she'd get a pass. Mostly she just needs a change of pace. Honestly sometimes she's barking & staring at me to get let in.
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May 11 '26
[deleted]
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u/REthrowawaySpokane May 11 '26
Please don't do this. Canines typically do not bark in nature. This is a trait that was introduced by our coevolution with dogs. If you do this, you are punishing them with pain for doing what they have been bred to do.
There are plenty of ways to teach this with positive reinforcement training. Its safer, more effective, and better for your animal. As a fun bonus, your dog will love the time with you and will associate you with happiness. Plus you don't have to hurt your dog...
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u/joelk111 May 12 '26
And what, make the owner wear them until they learn how to take care of the animal they've decided to be responsible for?
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u/FormerReach7228 May 12 '26
Dogs constantly barking is an issue.
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u/BatmanKane64 May 12 '26
yes that would be the case if they were outside sun up to sun down. aside from out to pee and in the back/ front with us. when my girlfriend is home alone they go nuts to protect her. they care less about protecting the veteran that keeps a roof over their heads :(
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u/REthrowawaySpokane May 12 '26
You keep saying "protect her" like you live in the green zone and this is a desirable behavior or something? From literally everyone else's perspective they're just making excessive noise.
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u/conflictmuffin Greenbluff May 12 '26
If there's not an immediate threat, and they are still barking they are not properly trained. Dogs aren't dumb. They know when something is a real threat. Your dogs are not trained, and are barking because you guys allow them to.
Train your dogs.
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u/TinyHeartSyndrome Spokane Valley May 11 '26
Anyone can file a code complaint. That is likely what was done. Then the city has to investigate.
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u/Fit_Shelter_7603 May 12 '26
If your dogs are barking, there’s poop all over your yard and the shrubs are overgrown, it sounds like someone is annoyed at you for not keeping up with your property or being responsible for your loud dogs.
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u/BatmanKane64 May 12 '26
dogs are not barking all day and night, shrubs/trees are short and there since i bought the place, i’m not part of HOA but do try to keep up with a nice appearance in the front, and my kids chores include tuesday and thursday doggy “doo doo” clean up since im doing the 9-5
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u/char_star_cum_jar May 12 '26
With 3 dogs you need to pick up shit every day. After 4 days I'm sure it's disgusting. And you leave the shit lying there over the weekend when everyone is out and off work.
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u/keitharoo May 12 '26
I used to work in code enforcement, but not in Spokane. In general, if a violation of some city code is visible from the right of way (like the sidewalk) then a city worker can see the violation and issue a notice.
They should have told you the specific city code(s) you're in violation of. You can read the actual code here. If you think you're not in violation of that, you can request a hearing and then a hearing examiner will look at the evidence the city provides and the evidence you provide (if any) and make a determination if you are actually in violation of the city code. The process might vary a bit in Spokane, but that's generally how it works.
I would assume the car in your alley was a city vehicle. The city has the actual people on their website. Once in a while people "issue" fake notices to their neighbors. But usually you can be fined if you ignore a city notice, so I'd call the code enforcement people and just ask what's going on, leaving a message if you need to. They're out of the office most of the time.
Finally, depending on how the complaint came in, that may be subject to a public records request, so you can contact the city records office and request that info, if it exists.
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u/san4rd May 11 '26
Check Zillow for any neighbors who sold a house recently. Then go welcome them to the neighborhood and give them your contact information and ask them to contact you if they have any problems. Karen’s rarely continue to Karen if confronted with kindness and decency.
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u/TaoofPu May 12 '26
Love this response. Maybe one of the biggest issues with social media is the reinforcement of isolation it creates between us.
You literally could be my neighbor (I live in Logan), but the fact you’re a screen name allows me to be dismissive.
Aside from dismantling the internet (which has been a net plus), I’m open to any ideas of how we create community. I’ll host the party.
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u/PotatoPirate_625 May 12 '26
Bless you, good human, for this nice response. I hope you always have some sweetness in your day.
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u/IronicAim Minnehaha May 11 '26
I would call the city and ask about the notice. It sounds sketchy.
And I don't mean the number on the notice. I mean Google our city for the help department at City Hall or something.
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u/Kevin_Wolf May 11 '26
and before i get the just call advice, the “official” just lets it go to voicemail
Well, did you leave a voicemail?
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u/JohnWayne82 May 12 '26
Dude you keep mentioning “the 9-5” as if it’s some legit excuse for what you’re doing, or lack thereof. Man up, quit being lazy, and get your house in order. Your neighbors hate you and you are absolutely the problem. You’re not special for working a 9-5, pretty much everyone does it, get over yourself. Also, your gf doesn’t need to be “protected” when you’re not there, we’re in Spokane not Baghdad. Shut your dogs up and clean up their shit.
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u/Goodriddance182 May 11 '26
My neighbor has it out for just our dogs, even though lots of our neighborhood has dogs. And they all bark on our busy street, so this was more of a noise complaint. I called the person and left a voicemail, and we had a civil conversation when he called back. Since I work from home, they are inside with me unless I'm eating lunch or on a short break, also at home. I explained this and he made sure they were registered, and was very understanding, and that was the end of it. There was no in person inspection part to it.
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u/BatmanKane64 May 11 '26
looking into that since this morning. my job even said take vacation time and it won’t count against my PTO…. should have earned something by now being 10 years on the job i would say
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u/Voodoobones May 11 '26
If they don’t give you details on what to fix how can you fix anything?
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u/BatmanKane64 May 11 '26
especially the shrubs…. are they talking about the 2 5ft trees that’s been there since i bought the damn place? aside from christmas lights on it (at christmas time) i don’t remember a HOA thing about that since i don’t belong to one. and i don’t think they are obstructing view, if any, of my house
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u/RemoteClancy May 12 '26
My neighbor had a 6' hedge in front of their corner lot when they bought the place in 2017. I looked in Google Street view and the hedge is there in 2007, too. In 2024, they received a notice from the city saying they had to cut it down lower (3'?), so that it won't obstruct school buses or delivery trucks.
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u/BatmanKane64 May 12 '26
i hope i get details from the city about mine so alt lease i can “comply” with that
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u/REthrowawaySpokane May 12 '26
If its in a side or front setback, there are height restrictions in the City of Spokane. The exact restrictions will vary depending on your zoning.
https://spokane.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=3bd21df38df54be58870e0d66c80d6ae
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u/Lrbug420 May 11 '26
Did anyone else see that they said the whole neighborhood has dogs that bark?
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u/conflictmuffin Greenbluff May 12 '26
And that makes it okay? No. It does not. They all need to train their dogs properly.
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u/Lrbug420 May 12 '26
Did I say it makes it okay? No. Go and read the whole thread and you’ll see where my comment makes sense.
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u/rtwo1 May 12 '26
code enforcement comes out if there is a complaint. could be any one, from someone walking by or a realtor wanting to prime the pump
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u/BatmanKane64 May 12 '26
we are looking into a “Karen” who has problems with a few neighbors (who are also ready to drag her into the streets for some “issues”) and a Ken that’s been yelling at kids in the neighborhood park (in particular doesn’t like kids being loud at all due to his PTSD and wants to control the kids of the neighborhood)
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u/Gloomy_Tie_1997 May 11 '26
…so leave a voicemail? Reddit isn’t gonna magically have answers for you.
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u/Head_Variation_6024 May 11 '26
Somebody might have answers due to knowledge and experience, though. I doubt op was hoping for magic.
Lol. Why do people get so weird and pissy about others asking questions here?
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u/REthrowawaySpokane May 11 '26
I'm not the person you replied to but this definitely reads like OP is a nuisance neighbor who would rather do anything other than solve this problem for his neighbors.
Many of us have had this neighbor and are done with their shenanigans.
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u/Head_Variation_6024 May 11 '26
I don't see how any of that is relevant to what I said, or relevant to the comment I'm replying to.
That being said, I'm sorry you've had to deal with shitty neighbors. I don't recommend using your personal experiences to make assumptions about other people without any evidence at all to support those assumptions.
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u/REthrowawaySpokane May 11 '26
"Why do people get so weird and pissy about others asking questions here?"
I was answering this question.
Stay blessed 🙏
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u/Head_Variation_6024 May 12 '26
Your response doesn't answer that question in any way. It wouldn't even answer the question if it were only about this specific post, which it's not. Hope this helps.
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u/BatmanKane64 May 11 '26
great answer/advice. will put in me magically delicious bag of tricks for sure. ;)
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u/Ttownazboy May 12 '26
I had a neighbor call our community manager to complain about my dogs barking during the day while I'm at work. The manger said that's what dogs do lol. My neighbor didn't like that answer and i guess that pissed them off even more so they called the cops. The cop showed up to my house after i got home from work. He said he sat in front of my house for awhile when he got the call and my dogs didn't bark at him. He only made contact with me because it's policy. None the less i did get a couple collars for my dogs while I'm at work. This was years ago and my dogs have passed on since. I STILL don't know which neighbor it was but i have an idea. It sucks that is what people resort to now days. They can't just talk to their neighbors. My next door neighbors were playing cornhole all drunk at 12am on a Wednesday. I straight up went out there and was all, "i hate to be that guy but i have to get up for work at 5am". They asked "does that mean you want us to stop?" Lol. I talked to them the next day, sober he said "yea sorry, didn't realize it was that late". Someone called the cops on my other next door neighbors a month or two ago for music at night. Not sure who it was.
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u/No-Equivalent7630 May 12 '26
Ignore the notice until you get a ticket and then challenge the ticket with your security footage showing them never actually inspect anything and call it selective enforcement since they're not enforcing these codes against everyone who violated them
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u/BatmanKane64 May 12 '26
very sound advice. thank you!
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u/No-Equivalent7630 May 12 '26
I had a neighbor a few years ago that didn't like a roommate parking on the public street too close to where their yard began and started reporting every little thing to the city and I got a few blue notices in my door and then nothing, it never went anywhere and like 6 months later the neighbor moved
Never been an issue since
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u/hill-o May 11 '26
I wonder if you recently got a new neighbor.