Study after study shows the devastating effect that exposure to chronic dog barking has on human health. This goes far beyond the question of how disruptive, conflicting and interfering this commercial dog kennel will be to residential neighbors. This is about the town and kennel owner subjecting neighboring residential families to serious physiological and psychological harm, and the liability associated with those injuries.
The World Health Organization lists the physical and psychological damage resulting from chronic noise pollution.
“Barking dogs constitutes a potent stressor that can result in increased blood pressure, essential hypertension, increased heart rate, ischemic heart disease, headaches, nausea, an altered blood flow, changes in blood viscosity and blood lipids, and shifts in electrolyte balance, along with elevations in gastrointestinal motility. In addition, according to WHO, exposure to noise increases drug use, fosters substance abuse, and promotes anxiety, stress, irritability, depression, aggression, interpersonal conflict, and sexual impotency.”