Barking Dog.

"It's a ferocious, continuous, high-pitched noise, it's been going on for nearly three years," she said. "I don't dispute that there are plenty of dogs in the area, but he has a very prominent bark and I have seen him. It's very disturbing. I am a dog lover; I had a dog for 12 years. This dog is just on his own most of the time and is obviously in distress."

I admit I felt a bit sorry for the man who has been ordered by the courts to hand over his dog to the warden. It appears he tried to do something about his animal's noise. Short of him quitting his job I doubt there would be a whole lot he could do in this particular case. (Although maybe a second dog might have kept the animal company, or a whole lot of exercise. I don't know, sometimes animals have such separation anxiety they never stop barking, but tired dogs are frequently quiet dogs)
Also, as this dog is a hand over and not a found animal, the most likely outcome will be the animal being put to sleep.
But honestly, taking everything into account, I can fully sympathise with the neighbours. I have lived beside a bored barking dog before, they bark in a repetitive high pitch and after a while it can drive a person stone raving mad.
German Shepherds are beautiful dogs, but like all dogs they are social creatures and don't do well spending upwards of eight hours alone everyday. Plus they're a working breed, intelligent and energetic. Intelligent energetic dogs like things to do.
I do wish though folk would put a bit more thought into their situations before they get a pup. I hate hearing about dogs being sent to the pound. At the dinner thing I went to with CG last Friday the couple beside me told me they were thinking of getting rid of their collie ( 18 months) because the dog was constantly nipping and chasing children, and- quoth the husband- 'it was doing their head in.'
I pondered this while studiously, ignoring my over-cooked lamb. Collies, working breed, likes to nip the heels of cattle to keep them in line/moving. Energetic, likes herding.
Yep, I see the problem there.
The owners.
Seriously, they were both working long hours and instead of walking the dog in the morning and evening they were letting the animal run its energy off on a communal green where kids played. The kids, who were afraid of the dog since it nipped, all ran when it came out and the collie, being a herding dog, corralled them all into one play area nipping cheerfully as it went along.
Apparently the parents of the children were none to happy about this, which seemed to irk the collie's owners who said the dog 'wouldn't hurt a fly'.
'But he bites their children' I said.
'Oh but he's not vicious, he's just playing.'
'But...they're all terrified of him?'
'I've told them not to run when he's out.'
'But surely it is your job to control your own dog when it is in public?'
'But he's friendly. Honestly, he wouldn't hurt a fly.'
I stopped trying to understand their excuses after a short while and concentrated on my undercooked veggies instead. Truth is, having been confronted by a large and aggressive dog before while running, I can only imagine how frightening it is for kids to see a speeding black and white bullet heading in their direction as they played. Truth is, you might find your Fido or Rover friendly and funny, but not every person will, and as a dog owner your job is to understand that and have your dog behave accordingly. Truth is, some dog owners are idiots.
I doubt these people will address the problem, like the German Shepherd owner could not, this means there will be another beautiful dog sitting behind wire mesh, waiting to become someone else's problem or dead.
Dogs are wonderful creatures and can be exceptional companions, but they're not people and they have a doggish way of looking at things. It's not their fault if they act like dogs, but it is OUR fault if we don't take the time to correct and train our animals so that they slot comfortably into a social and civic life. Well trained well exercised dogs are usually happy creatures and a pleasure for all. Sad, lonely barking high energy untrained animals usually end up in the scrap heap. Poor things, they deserve much better.