We need better protection from uncaring neighbors

To the editor;

Summers in Alaska are short. We live in a small subdivision off the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, for many years a quiet subdivision that has been our home for more than 30 years.

Newcomers to the subdivision in recent years are causing a disturbance. Large, noisy barking dogs disturb the quiet — day and night. The owners state that they keep these dogs as “guard dogs” and “that is what they are for, to guard and bark.” They said they know they are noisy, but that’s what they are for — they are supposed to bark, and since they are barking on their property they see no need to make changes.

We told them that, unfortunately, what happens on their property does not stay on their property. Neighbors’ lives are greatly disrupted and disturbed. The dogs bark at all hours at all kinds of things. There are also people coming and going on their property, cars and people walking by their property and an assortment of farm animals running loose on the property.

There is a lot of activity emanating from their property. We cannot even go into our backyard and enjoy our property without being barked at when the dogs see us. Our windows stay closed so we can hear our TV. We have complained many times. Sometimes the barking increases after we complain. We feel harassed.

We called police about the noise and barking in the night, but they cannot help us, referring us to animal control. A few years ago we complained to animal control without much of a response. Since this subdivision is not within city limits of either Palmer or Wasilla, but in the Mat-Su Borough, we feel we are not getting the help we need to keep the peace. All the barking is causing us distress, disturbing our lifestyle of peace and quiet. We live closest to this situation, but are sure the dogs are heard far and wide.

Some of their dogs are habitual barkers and need to be removed from the premises since they disturb the peace and make life miserable for us. They belong on a 50-acre farm, not on an acre lot. The sound of their shrill barking is far-reaching. The barking takes place off the second-story balcony so there is no way to escape from it. As the Valley becomes more crowded, we need better protection from those who don’t care about their neighbors and are noisy and messy.

Anyone have any suggestions? Forget “talking to the owners.”

Karin Acuna

Palmer