In Delta, noise complaints about barking dogs have gone up more than 30 per cent over this time last year, and the municipality is warning residents may be fined.

Sarah Jones with the Delta Animal Shelter says with warmer weather becoming the norm, most owners believe they're doing the right thing for their four-legged friends by leaving their pets outside while they are away at work.

"Really the dog is bored outside," she said. "He's practicing a very bad behaviour. Doing this repetitive barking and barking at things and not being corrected is a bad habit to start."

Keeping your pet indoors is the best way to avoid a fine from the city, according to the Delta Animal Shelter. (CBC)

The city has received more than 100 complaints since the beginning of the year, up from around 75 at this time last year.

Some of that, however, is down to residents' sensitivity to the noise, says Jones.

"It's amazing that a lot of people don't just actually go to their neighbour and say, 'Your dog was barking all day, i don't think he's very happy outside."

But there are also owners who simply allow the barking to continue.

"There's some that we have year, after year, after year that we're there and it becomes a problem, and we can look at charges for that," says Jones.

Untamed pets could bring owner $100 fine

Owners who can't control their pets could face a $100 fine, but Jones says a ticket is a last resort — the focus is on educating owners that leaving their pets outside isn't always the best option.

The best way to avoid the fine?

"Bringing them inside, giving them games, things to do inside while [owners] are out, there's lots of enrichment ideas that they can do."