The Westminster Police Department needs your help when trying to bring peace and quiet to a neighborhood disturbed by a barking dog. Many residents think if they simply call and complain the police department will have the authority to stop the dog from barking, but we need more than a phone call.

In order to assist residents and dog owners in resolving the problem of barking dogs, and explanation of the process and procedures followed by the Westminster Police Department Animal Management Officers is offered.

Step 1: When you email or call animal management, you must provide an exact address of the barking dog. Animal management will then check history at the residence. Animal management will not respond.

Step 2: If there is no history at the residence, a written warning advising the resident of the complaint will be sent through the mail. The warning usually arrives within a week. You will be notified that a warning has been sent. If there are no further violations within one calendar year, the warning expires.

Step 3: If after the warning is received, there is still an issue and you call back, you and a neighbor, not residing in your home, will have to complete written statements. If the written statements are not completed, a summons will not be issued.

Step 4: Once we receive the written statements, a summons will be issued requiring the resident to appear in court. No further action will be taken on the residence until the court date, which is approximately 30 days. Once the resident has been through the courts, if the there are any further violations, the above process would start over.

If there is already history at a residence, and we show a warning letter has been sent, then you will be required to have two written witness statements. Again these written statements must be from two separate households. The process would then proceed the same as above.

Barking dog complaints can be made by calling the "barking dog hotline" at: 303 658 4327 or through the city website link: Animal Management-Barking Dog Complaint.