Bark collars are painful and cruel and banned in many states and territories in Australia .
Isn’t there a collar that issues citronella spray, rather than an electric shock, when the dog barks. But you’re right, this is all about the bad owners rather than a bad dog, but if they don’t give a damn about their human neighbours, can we really expect them to care much about their pet.
Training is a possible answer – how this can be compelled I am not 100% sure as I’m no legal expert – however it is up to the owner to get off their backside and do it already.
Section 158 of the Act (below) refers to animals that have been allowed into a strata scheme but which then prove to be a nuisance or disturb neighbours. It allows the Tribunal to order the owners to take the pet out of the apartment or “take such action as, in the opinion of the Tribunal, will terminate the nuisance or hazard or unreasonable interference”.
Just as a side note, this section of the Act is overlooked in all the huffing and puffing as schemes try to create by-laws that would pre-empt nuisance pets from being brought into schemes.
(1) The Tribunal may, on application by an interested person, make an order against a person who is keeping an animal on a lot or common property in accordance with the by-laws for a strata scheme, if the Tribunal considers that the animal causes a nuisance or hazard to the owner or occupier of another lot or unreasonably interferes with the use or enjoyment of another lot or of the common property.
(2) The Tribunal may order that the person—
(a) cause the animal to be removed from the parcel within a specified time, and be kept away from the parcel, or
(b) within a time specified in the order, take such action as, in the opinion of the Tribunal, will terminate the nuisance or hazard or unreasonable interference.