9 pet problems and how to fix them

Over the fence
1. Your neighbour's dog barks and whines all day when he's home alone.

Dogs left alone bark for lots of reasons: loneliness, boredom or to defend their turf. A more worrisome cause is separation anxiety, which can cause the dog to panic and bark constantly, and even work himself into a frantic state. A veterinary behaviourist can diagnose the problem and come up with a treatment plan that works. "We have medication that can really help these animals," says Frank. Some people recommend crating. The theory is that dogs traditionally slept in dens, and the crate will soothe him. But that's often not the right solution. "I've seen animals injure themselves trying to get out of crates because they're totally panicked," says Frank. It's better to work with a veterinary behaviourist to treat the root of the problem than to risk making it worse.

If you're the one hearing the hullabaloo, leave a nice, non-accusatory note, says Fulker. Or offer to help if you can. O'Sullivan's wife walked their dog at midday and offered to take their neighbour's wailing dog along. It gave the lonely pooch something to look forward to and helped alleviate the problem.

2. A cat from down the street uses your flowerbeds as litter boxes.

This happens all the time in my neighbourhood, but there are so many outdoor cats that the mystery pooper is rarely unmasked. If you can identify the culprit, you might be tempted to deliver a baggie of excreta to the owner, but a nice note outlining the problem is a better bet. Odds are your neighbour probably won't be able to control her cat's toilet habits, though. Kitty's just following instincts.

Try some harmless folk remedies. Scatter citrus peels or cayenne pepper in the garden, grow scented plants like lavender, or fill your garden so there's no appealing dirt to scratch in. Motion-sensing sprinklers are another excellent, harmless deterrent. Remember that "deliberately putting out poison to harm an animal is a criminal-code offence," says O'Sullivan. Not to mention that it's just plain wrong.

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