Screaming Neighbors - What can I do?

[Hitokage]

I have neighbors that live next door to me that have three dogs. The dogs, surprisingly, aren't the issue. It's the wife. The wife of the family comes out at roughly 6AM every single day and lets the dogs out, then proceeds to scream abuse at them. Telling them she hates them, to get in the house NOW or so help me...! Sort of thing. It makes me up at least 7-10 days every month and from someone who already has sleep issues, I can't stand it anymore.

These people also tend to scream abuse at each other. The wife screams at the kids, at the husband, at the dogs... they've woken me up in the past with domestic fighting because they do it outside rather than in the house.

Finally, after three days in a row of being woken up early, I called my local police station (here in Northeast PA) about 11am and no one picked up, forcing me to leave a message. I told them the situation as briefly as I could and asked if someone could return my phone call as to what I should do about the situation. I have no desire to confront this angry family as I'm female and live alone.

I'm coming to my wits end with this situation. I remember, I think about two years back, the family's kids were screaming at each other at five in the morning and woke me up. I actually leaned out my window and told them to shut up, it's five in the morning.

Unfortunately, the police haven't even returned my call, and I'm continuing to get woken up. What should I do next? Thank you.

[Citicop]

If your neighbors are screaming at each other and causing a disturbance, call the dispatch number for the police or 911 (while it's happening) and ask for an officer to come out and talk to them. You can do this anonymously if you want.

[Hitokage]

Thank you, Citicop. That will help for future domestics they have. Those are fewer and farther between than the constant early morning wakes up, though. Do you have a suggestion for those? They don't last few long, but it's certainly enough to wake me up time and time again.

Normally, I would just go talk to them myself but these people honestly make me nervous as all I know of them is their constant fighting and screaming.

[Citicop]

The early morning wakeups are STILL causing a disturbance if they are waking you up. Just because they aren't yelling at EACH OTHER does not mean others (besides even you) aren't being disturbed.

[greg72982]

The noise could fall under the unreasonable noise subsection of disorderly conduct. The police department will likely call you back, but if they don't the best advice I can give is to call 911 for anything in progress.
I work at a department similar to yours where if we aren't in the office/station no one is there to answer our phone so all you can do is leave a message and we return your call when we come back in...

[Cat_Doc]

Disorderly Conduct by making unreasonable noise is against the law in my state.

Unfortunately, being a biatch is not.

[Hitokage]

Unfortunately, being a biatch is not.

I hope this isn't against me?

Unfortunately Greg, even a week later no one has gotten back to me which is why I turned to here. Should I attempt to call the police again? I know they must be busy where I live even if it is a small town, so I don't know how much calling would be bothering.

I feel oddly guilty about the concept of calling 911. I've only ever had to do it once and that was when someone pulled a Hit-and-Run on me.

[greg72982]

I hope this isn't against me?

Unfortunately Greg, even a week later no one has gotten back to me which is why I turned to here. Should I attempt to call the police again? I know they must be busy where I live even if it is a small town, so I don't know how much calling would be bothering.

I feel oddly guilty about the concept of calling 911. I've only ever had to do it once and that was when someone pulled a Hit-and-Run on me.

Oh, I was under the impression that you called at 11am today. Yeah I'd try back but if you don't want to just wait until the next domestic or screaming match with the dog and then call 911. I must say though the more I think about it the dog issue may be a hard one to prosecute successfully

[Hitokage]

I'm more hoping that maybe if the cops come talk to them, she will stop screaming at the dogs every morning for fear of further police involvement. I will try leaving another phone message and if that doesn't work, I will call 911 the next morning she starts screaming. Does that work?

[Cat_Doc]

I hope this isn't against me?

Of course not, I was referring to the described neighbor!

[greg72982]

I'm more hoping that maybe if the cops come talk to them, she will stop screaming at the dogs every morning for fear of further police involvement. I will try leaving another phone message and if that doesn't work, I will call 911 the next morning she starts screaming. Does that work?

Sounds good to me...