Dog ownership has become a subject of fierce debate in the media – and it’s a contentious topic for many Peabody residents. The organisation's position on pets was underscored recently when a troublesome dog was forced to move from an estate in Westminster following regular complaints from neighbours.
In 2009, residents on the Ebury estate near Sloane Square began reporting constant noise and nuisance caused by a dog kept – against estate rules – by one of the occupants of Lumley Flats. Neighbourhood Manager Alistair Smyth worked with residents to keep a record of sightings of the dog and periods of barking, establishing beyond doubt that the animal was a permanent inhabitant of the block.
When letters to the dog’s owner failed to have an impact, Alistair referred the matter to Peabody’s legal team to seek an injunction to have the dog moved. The team’s enquiries turned up more than 20 eyewitness reports. When the case was brought to court earlier this year, an injunction was granted, forcing the dog’s owner to find it a new home.
Peabody allows dogs in homes that have their own private garden and a separate entrance that enables access without passing through communal indoor areas. Disabled residents may also be able to keep an assistance dog. In other instances, however, dogs are not allowed to be kept on Peabody estates.Neighbourhood Manager Alistair Smyth said, “I’d like to thank Ebury residents for their patience and their help in resolving this matter.” He added, “This case sends a clear message to people who keep dogs that cause a nuisance to neighbours – that we do have a policy on pets and that if you ignore it, you may end up having to find your dog a new home.”
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