Neighbor Wars: Don't Start None Won't Be None

This ain't Mr. Rogers' neighborhood.

I recently moved into a duplex.  Pets are allowed, I paid my pet fee.  I got a not from my neighbor a couple of weeks ago stating that my dogs howl when I leave and that he works at night and sometimes works from home and is unable to sleep or get any work done.

As a former 3rd shift worker I feel his pain-- to an extent.  My dogs, Carlton and Beaux, both have separation anxiety.  When I leave Carlton howls and Beaux does his best to be like his big brother (Poor thing his "howl" sounds more like the pitiful cries of an alley cat).  Let it be known that while they do howl when I leave they generally settle down after 10-15 minutes and sleep, but they will bark if someone knocks on the door, as they are good watch dogs and quite frankly that's their damn job.  I did acknowledge his note and made efforts to try to muffle the sound.  I put Carlton in another bedroom with the door closed.  It was very inconvenient for me to have to drag his crate into my room each morning, and out of my room each day when I returned home.  Carlton can't be trusted out of his crate and I'd come home to all of my things torn up so this had to be done.  I tried putting them in my kitchen, which is upstairs and on the far wall-- so he was as far as possible from my neighbor's bedroom.

So now to the second note from my neighbor.  He said that the noticed a difference but then proceeded to tell me there "are other things that can be done to keep a dog from howling."  Well enlighten me motherfucker! I've worked with animals for over 7 years now and have been dealing with Carlton's separation anxiety since I got him as a 3 month old puppy and he is 5 now.  But I am sure that he's way more qualified than I am to deal with this.  I refuse to drug my dogs for his benefit so if that is what his suggestion is, he can kiss my ass as well as theirs.

I decided not to even reply to the second note, because my mean side would have responded, not my nice side.  Well as it turns out my neighbor has issues of his own.  Not sure if it was him or his roommate but they are noisy as hell! Sounds like they are trying to knock the building down.  I said I was also going to let that slide but then I heard a barking dog.  Wait one damn minute.  You are complaining about my dog's noise and you have a noisy dog of your own?  After I didn't hear the dog anymore I felt like maybe I was just hearing things, but then I almost stepped in a pile of dog shit the size of Omaha on my half of the yard.  I told myself not to even get worked up about it because a stray dog could have done it or a dog who was being walked by an irresponsible owner... until this morning, when one of the guys's girlfriend drives up and lets a dog out of her car, off leash who was doing whatever the hell it wanted.

So I finally decided I would reply to his last note.  Asked him to enlighten me on his "ways to keep a dog from howling." I also added that he and his roommate (and the girlfriend) make their own fair share of noise. I also let him know that I'd appreciate it if they didn't let that dog poop on my half of the yard (or at least pick it up) and that I have heard the dog barking.  I am not complaining at all about the dog at all.  As a dog owner I understand that just like children, no dog will be quiet 100% of the time.  I just ask that they keep the poop out of my half of the yard and remember that while they are complaining about my noise they are making noise of their own.  Hopefully this is enough for him to leave me the hell alone, but if not, we can make this into an all out war and I guarantee he is not ready.