BarkingDogs.net

Go back to read about The Freedom of Information Act and what your search is likely to reveal

How to Determine Which Agencies have the information you need

The first step in using the Freedom of Information Act to learn about barking dog enforcement in your area is to figure out who has access to the data you are looking for.

Almost always, you will need to go directly to the governmental agency charged with the task of handling barking dog enforcement. In the great majority of places, that will be either animal control, the police department, or one of the local humane societies, which often provide animal-related services to municipalities on a contract basis.

If you don't know which agency handles barking complaints for your area, you can get that information by calling the office of the city manager or county administrator. While you are on the phone with the downtown office staff, be sure to ask them if the agency in question is the proper place for you to go in order to obtain information about barking dog enforcement under the Freedom of Information Act. They will almost certainly affirm that it is, which will allow you to go to animal control, or whoever, and say, "I just spoke with the office of the bigwig, where they told me that I can get a freedom of information search done here." Who knows, it just might cause the record keeper to take you a little more seriously.

Go forward to read about How to contact the correct agencies and request the information

This page is a component of the Freedom of Information subsection, which is part
of the Strategies and Interventions portion of the Activist section of barkingdogs.net