Noise Pollution and Barking dogs

Hi
Are there any rules/guidelines/legislation in relation to noise pollution and dogs barking/whining at night in housing estates/built up areas. Couple houses in our estate have dogs and they just seem to bark and whine at night for any reason or 1 barks and sets the others off.

I am an animal lover but we have small kids and couple nights they've woke up saying the dogs barking woke them up and they cant get back to sleep plus you we have early start and you know yourself your just after falling asleep and next thing the dogs start into their corus of barking and you are wide away for the next hour staring at clock

Saying something to neighbours in questions, all they will say is 'Dogs bark - what do you expect me to do'. I know they are right that dogs bark and you cant tell a dog to stay quiet because its after 11pm at night

Could residence association do anything in terms of this and is there clear laws regarding control of dogs barking between certain hours at night and before certain time in days

Thanks

check out Citizens information online.
I often think that when the residents association send around their newsletter that its a good time to mention in it ,that people should be aware of noise and traffic etc,and be mindfull of their neighbours.

Sometimes a broad notice like this makes people more aware ,as opposed to a direct call to the person involved,that way the person with the dog wont take it personally and be more willing to do something about it.

Also try not to highlight it in your head ,as it can become more and more prevalant.

The council actually do have rules regarding dogs barking. You can either look up your local council online or call them. In my local council it actually comes up under "frequently asked questions" so you are not alone