Welcome to Westville. It's almost unlivable here due to the dogs in the neighborhood Gotten worse over the years.

This complaint is inaccurate and leaves out important facts. This dog was rescued by these wonderful people who are working hard to train him. He is extremely well behaved and a sweet dog, but yet, he does bark. Occasionally, we hear barking, but this dog usually barks in response to greeting people (he is eager to say HELLO!) or to passersby and the barking does not last long - like a typical dog! These neighbors have responded appropriately to the calls to police and the complaint letter - they were not able to speak w/ the person directly because she/he did not sign the letter. I am sure they would welcome the opportunity to work this out with this individual. This is a lovely family that does not deserve to be harassed. They are terrific, caring neighbors who are always available to help out others - I would welcome a city filled with people like them, even if that means having dogs that occasionally bark.

I live very near this address and haven't heard any 'nuisance' dog barking and their backyard is fairly close.
If only people could be as nice as dogs in communicating clearly with each other.
Westville is a most wonderful neighborhood with a true sense of community support, on the most part...been here about 30 years so far.

You come online to see click fix to complain about a dog barking? I live within a stones throw to 40 Richmond, and I have never been bothered by a dog barking. It is winter time, close your windows, and mind your business. If you are that bothered by it, go speak to the person like an adult, don't come online and be an internet bully!! By listing their address on this forum, you are harassing the family. If the barking is so loud that you can hear it, that means you are close enough to walk over and speak.

I have made 2 posts about this "request" sharing accurate information, unlike the original post. (The "request" was 3 sentence letter, sent anonymously, with accusations about our lack of respect.) Twice it has posted for a short period of time and been taken down. This is fairness? If the real estate market in New Haven wasn't so poor, we would move back to Massachusetts which was a much happier environment for us, save the uniquely lovely people on Richmond Ave.
Donna Jarlenski

Post 1 of 6
I submitted a comment yesterday, 28 Nov, at around 8 pm that was visible last night, but it has been taken down as of now. Here is a truncated reply from yesterday with updated information that I have tried to post x3. Its fine to publicly and inaccurately shame my husband and I on See Click Fix, but I am not permitted to post a reply.

My name is Donna Jarlenski. I live with my husband, Bruce Larkin, at 40 Richmond Ave. The original post is inaccurate. We have not received any requests; only one anonymous, terse, three sentence note with accusations.

Post 2 of 6
There is no blame to place on the Police. They have been by twice. Each time Jack was in blocked in the house. Of course, because this is how he lives. One time when they visited we were not home and they interviewed 2 direct neighbors. Both indicated they are not bothered by his barking and that he does not live outside. The Police visited after dark and they checked the back yard with flashlights. There is no dog kennel or dog tie-out in the back yard. Another time, the Police visited when I was home. Again, Jack was blocked in the house with me and had been asleep at my feet while I worked for the prior 2-3 hours. He did bark, inside the house, when the door bell sounded. Good dog, Jack!

Post 3 of 6
We adopted Jack in early July. He is a 6 year old Walker Coon hound and is not nor ever has been left outside all day alone at our home. He was rescued from his third shelter after being abused by people and bitten by other dogs. Never attacking back, he remains gentle, sweet, and has developed some deeply-seated anxiety issues. We work with him using various behavior modification techniques recommended by our veterinarian. He is getting better, but it will take time. He goes into our fenced yard only supervised now, since early August when we noticed being outside alone created more anxiety for him. Since then, he may bark a few times, but either self-limits or we limit him.

Post 4 of 6
Sunday, 29 Nov, at 8:44 am, 9:06 am, and 9:17 am, we heard hound-like barking outside. This was not Jack; he was in the house, sleeping. Suffering from anxiety, he sleeps more than most dogs because of the energy it takes him to be awake. He burrows under blankets when seated, regardless of the temperature, to calm his fears.

Post 6 of 6
We have decided this morning to begin use of a collar that will shock Jack each time he barks. This is against the recommendation of our vet who believes there is a good chance this will increase his anxiety. But we will NOT euthanize him and will NOT give him away. He behaves this way due to the neglect and malevolent ignorance of human beings. We will NOT continue to treat him as animal refuse.

Please do NOT put a shock collar on the poor dog. He doesn't deserve the shock collar.

Between 3:05 and 3:10 pm, and then again at 3:19 pm, a hound-like dog was barking. This is not a complaint - it was background, neighborhood noise that I find comforting - a reminder that I am a part of something. But, this was not Jack. Donna Jarlenski

PLEASE do NOT put a shock collar on poor Jack. This will not help Jack - even the vet says so, and is likely to only cause him greater distress. We live on Richmond, and I can attest to the fact that Jack is a sweet, well-behaved dog and does NOT bark incessantly, as accused. He is a dog who barks on occasion, at appropriate times. Did I mention, he is a dog, and most dogs bark. The shock collar will not help the situation either, given it is NOT Jack that is doing much of the accused, continued barking... so even if you shock Jack, the barking will continue (from other dog sources), and this neighbor is going to continue to complain. Perhaps this neighbor should take a walk around our neighborhood and listen to the barking dogs, coming from a variety of different homes. YES, Westville is dog-loving neighborhood and if some people find it "unlivable" perhaps they might consider moving to a condo that prohibits these loving, furry family members who bring most people great joy.

I find it unacceptable that you seem so upset about this dog barking but you are unwilling to talk to the owners directly. You clearly wanted them to see this post. Your behavior is passive aggressive and juvenile, and because you posted their address, you are harrassing them. How about you get up from your computer, take a walk down to their house, and have a reasonable conversation with the owners. Try taking the adult road.

My name is Donna Jarlenski and I live with my husband, Bruce Larkin, at 40 Richmond. This complaint is not factual. No one had contacted us directly. We received an anonymous, 3 sentence letter with accusations, no requests.

Indeed, we rescued Jack, a Walker Coon Hound, in July 2015. He has been abused by people and bitten by other dogs. Instead of becoming aggressive in response to abuse, he has developed some deeply-seated anxiety issues yet remains exceptionally sweet and gentle. We stopped allowing him free access to our fenced back yard in early August when we found he was barking too much. He is in the back yard under supervision. Occasionally he barks, but either limits himself or is stopped by us. We work with him constantly using various behavior modification techniques, but he is not fully calmed yet. It will take time.

There are two or three other loud-sounding dogs who bark in the Colonial and Woodbridge Ave area. We hear them at times, but are not bothered. Barking dogs, loud voices from children playing, lawn mowers and snow blowers running; these are all part of living in a neighborhood.

Literally as I write this response, I have heard two different dogs barking. It is not Jack.

Hi, I live next door at 36 Richmond and work at home, so I doubt anyone could hear Jack more than I do. He barks occasionally. On hot days and cold when windows are closed, I never hear him. With the windows open, his barking is far less disturbing than the sound of racing motorcycles and truck air brakes on Forest Rd. Those with more sensitive ears than mine should close their windows, put cotton in their ears, hold a pillow over their heads, sing or put on earphones and play rock music loud, and get a life.

To the original poster, identified as "atomic": Please come and talk with us, don't remain unknown. We would like very much to understand why you think our dog is a problem for you. And please stop complaining without talking with us. You sent New Haven Animal Control to the house today for no reason, apparently, other than to harass us.

Our dog is not left outside at every hour of the day. He does not howl. He is not in distress except, as has been explained, inasmuch as he is getting over the anxiety of separating from his previous family. When outside he barks very little. If he barks more than once or twice, we bring him in.

In your original post you asked who you could turn to. Turn to us. If you do we will respond graciously. We think you are terribly mistaken about our dog, and we think you are harassing us. A conversation could clear the air on all sides.