That’s ruff: Barking dog problem more than tripled since 2021

If there a pooch living near your house that simply won’t shut its yap?

If you answered yes, you’re not alone. It’s a problem that newly released data shows will only grow within the city.

Maricopa’s paw patrol has responded to nearly 2,400 calls since animal control came under the city’s purview in 2021, according to data provided by top dog Animal Officer Luke Ziccardi and the city’s public safety spokesperson Monica Williams.

Animal control responded to 59 barking dog calls from February 2021 through the end of the year. By 2023, that number inflated to about 196.

Ziccardi has received more than 500 calls already this year — 100 of them were barking dogs.

“We expect to see some of these numbers rise a little bit as population grows,” Williams said of the data.

“In the winter we tend to see a little bit more calls,” she added. “It may be a barking dog, it may be a loose dog on the street.”

She noted that while the city does not track how many calls it receives regarding lost dogs, there are spikes around Independence Day and New Year’s Eve because the loud boom of fireworks spooks pups.

Williams gave tips for pet owners to keep their pets safely inside: turn on the TV or check with your veterinarian to see if they can provide remedies tailored to an individual dog’s needs.

It’s not just fireworks that spike calls for animal control, though.

“In summertime…the trends that we see there are heat related calls ,” Williams said. She used examples of dogs being left in backyards or in cars.

She also disclosed: “Trash days tend to be a popular day when we see loose dogs because people maybe didn’t close their fence all the way when they were putting their trash bins in.”

Ziccardi, the lone wolf handling nearly all animal control calls, will soon have some helping hands to match the growing population.

“We introduced public safety aides this last year and have two that are currently staffed in the city, and we’re about to bring on two more.” Williams said. “Once they’re all on board, we’re going to do some cross-training with them to make sure that they can help fill the gaps where Luke isn’t able to be.”

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