I just read a story on Castanet about mail carriers having experienced more "dog" problems than normal during this pandemic.

I now know that I'm not the only one noticing more than normal dog related problems.

My neighbourhood is, at the best of times, a dog haven. I have very few neighbours that don't own at least one dog, most own two or more. What I am finding is now that many more people are at home all day and night, they somehow figure this gives them some kind of "right" to let their dog(s) bark, sometimes for hours, without doing a thing about it.

Either that, or they figure since so many stores and offices are closed, that the bylaw enforcement is closed also, therefore there are no rules to abide by.

I am up at 6 a.m. every morning, and by 6:30 there are three neighbours already letting their dogs go to town with the barking! By 7:30 a.m., it can sound like a kennel. The absolute worst time of day, however, is between 4 and 7 p.m.

Some of the dogs bark for several hours, almost straight through. What on earth gives these people the idea that just because there is a pandemic going on, they can just leave their dog outside and forget about it?

It seems as though these situations either bring out the best in people, or the worst. If you are generally a positive, giving person, your tendency is to become even more positive and giving. If you are generally a negative and selfish person, well then you will just indulge in extreme forms of that.

What saddens me most is that it is not even the dog's fault, chances are they are barking for attention from an owner who is now home all the time, yet still chooses to throw them outside.

Its time to start thinking outside of your own little bubble - there are actually other people around you! I would love to be able to enjoy my time in my yard, without the droning, booming, screeching, and insanely repetitive sound of 20 dogs barking!!

M Pothier, West Kelowna