Barking Dogs, Rabid Neighbors, Bring On Mediators

If you’ve ever been on either side of barking dog incidents in the wee hours of the morning, or been a captive audience to a daily barkfest that a neighbor’s pack of  dogs enjoy, then you probably know more than you wanted to know about court proceedings, and the associated expense. And if you’re the rabid neighbor, by all reports you may be at your wits’ end.

USA Today, in their 3/15 article linked above, makes a good point in getting a psychologist’s take on the pressures of modern living.  As population density creates more compressed living environments near employment rich cities, the use of mediators as a court alternative has been on the rise for neighbor-driven complaints.  There are more than 95,000 complaints handled per year through mediation. While not entirely satisfying to some who believe the victim should not need to compromise, most have found the system easier to deal with than a courtroom venue and less time consuming.   Mediators are usually provided free of charge by city volunteers or not-for-profits.

Noise, property infringement, and other neighborly disputes can escalate.  There are 550 mediation centers in the US ready to help solve your problem, so states the National Association for Community Mediation . 

Note for the interested: For the noise issue, I got myself a Bose noise reduction headset(happy payment plan, no interest).  It’s a lifesaver in the city!  If I ever have to worry about other problems, I’ll be looking into this mediation program.