Barking dog's owners ordered to pay £1,000

A couple from Walsall whose pet dog's incessant barking disturbed neighbours have been ordered to pay more than £1,000.

Richard and Dawn Barton told a court they may now be forced to put their Jack Russell Molly to sleep if they cannot find a new home for her.

Walsall Magistrates Court heard yesterday that the dog had "considerable impact" on the couple's neighbours.

Mr Dominic Patouchas, prosecuting on behalf of Walsall Council, said: One said due to his work patterns he is regularly at home at all times of the day.

"Some said it is impossible to relax or even sleep due to the regular loud barking, and have to keep the doors and windows closed to combat the noise, but even so they were still disturbed."

Mr Barton told the court on behalf of himself and his wife, who were not represented: "We have got trees down either side of the garden and we have an issue with wood pigeons.

"Children are kicking footballs and the dog is going to bark."

He said they had been trying to rehome the dog and that if they could not do so in the next two weeks, they would put her to sleep.

"After having the dog for 12 years, it's going to be a horrible thing to do."

Mr Patouchas said the pair had received five summonses for breaching an abatement notice served by the council when the dog disturbed neighbours between March 3 and August 6 this year.

The couple, from Burgh Way, each admitted five breaches of the notice and were fined £200 each, ordered to pay £300 costs each and a £15 victim surcharge each.

Chairman of the bench, Mr Bernard Mahon, told the couple: "We appreciate your love for the dog, but it's a rare irresponsibility on your part to ignore the warnings. You have caused a considerable amount of inconvenience to your neighbours.