Barking mad: Samut Prakan resident’s bottle battle over noisy dog

A neighbourhood dispute in Samut Prakan has escalated after years of enduring a barking dog, culminating in a neighbour throwing a bottle at the dog owner’s house. Local police are seeking a resolution to the ongoing conflict.

The incident took place in a residential area within Soi Suksawat 100, Moo 3, Nai Khlong Bang Pla Kot, Phra Samut Chedi district, Samut Prakan province. Upon arrival, a reporter found the dog owner, 55 year old Chanachon cleaning up shattered glass in front of her single-storey townhouse. Her brown female dog, Madi, was seen roaming nearby.

Chanachon explained that she has been living alone since her mother passed away last year. The house is home to five dogs, originally cared for by her mother. After her mother’s death, Chanachon continued to look after the dogs, leading to ongoing issues with her neighbour, 59 year old Nichapat and her family. The primary complaint has been that the dogs’ barking prevents Nichapat’s family from resting, resulting in frequent arguments and police interventions.

“While I was resting inside my house around 2.50am, my dogs started barking. I then heard shouting and the sound of a glass bottle shattering in front of my house.”

Chanachon went outside to find Nichapat’s son yelling at her, which led to a heated argument. Nichapat’s husband intervened and brought their son back inside.

Barking and odour

Fearful for her safety, Chanachon shared footage from her CCTV camera with a popular social media page. Nichapat’s husband, Kasem, mentioned that their family, consisting of Nichapat, their son, and himself, had previously maintained a good relationship with Chanachon’s family. However, following the death of Chanachon’s mother, the situation deteriorated due to the dogs’ constant barking and odour. The dogs also roamed outside, causing a nuisance by defecating on the road in front of other houses.

“Despite numerous discussions, the problem remained unresolved, leading us to file complaints with the provincial Damrongtham centre, the Phra Pradaeng district office, and the local police.”

The frequent disturbances caused Nichapat and Kasem’s son significant stress, requiring medical treatment. On the night of the incident, the son, returning home from work, was irritated by the barking dogs as he attempted to park his car, leading to his impulsive act of throwing the bottle.

In response to the ongoing dispute, local administrative officials and the village head have coordinated with the subdistrict administrative organisation to find a solution. Local officials decided to relocate all dogs from Chanachon’s house to a more suitable environment to alleviate the neighbours’ distress, reported KhaoSod.