'Galagan Polaris”, that's his kennel name, be warned – you're a marked man.

That's because the imposing pedigree Maremma Sheepdog barked at the Western Bay District Council dog ranger. A bad call considering the politics and the stand-off going down.

Carol Gunn and her beloved Polar. Photo: Bruce Barnard

'Polar (for short) drew attention to himself,” says Galagan Kennels operator and dog breeder Carol Gunn. 'The ranger didn't see him, but could hear him barking. He said that must be annoying.”

She had to remind the ranger that he was at her gate, the dog could hear and smell him and considered him a threat.

Regardless, the ranger has fingered Polar and he could end up fall guy for what the ranger and some neighbours claim is excessive barking by Carol's Maremmas. It's one of those festering noise issues, which has come to a head after six years.

'They have told me that if they chose, they would come and take all of them. I have no sense that attitude has softened.”

The ranger 'ummed and ahhed” about possible legal action, says Carol. But he did single out Polar. If need be, they would take him. And that brings tears to a woman fearful for her adored dogs.

By Carol's own admission, Polar has issues. He was maltreated as a pup and rescued by Carol.

'The people who owned him never did their work, so he is not a dog I would take out in public. He is untrustworthy. And sometimes it's too late to rehabilitate.”

However Polar is a happy stud breeding dog, who runs freely in the paddocks with the girls. 'He is safe and secure. He has his own harem and is doing a good job.”

But this is about noise and incessant barking, according to the complainants. According to Carol, they are just sheep dogs 'alert barking”, as they would do naturally. So it all depends on who you speak to.

To understand the issue, it helps to understand the breed.

The Maremma is Italian – dubbed the 'wolf slayer breed”. It was bred and trained to defend sheep from bears, wolves and thieves. They can weigh 45kg and stand more than 70cm at the shoulders. They might be sheep dogs, but they don't round up sheep, they lie among them and raise all hell if danger threatens. They are big barkers, alert barkers.

Now they're raising all hell for some of Carol's neighbours in Omanawa Road, lower Kaimais.

Yes, the Western Bay District Council had 270 barking dog complaints last year. Yes, noise (and throw barking dogs in there) is their biggest source of complaints but no, definitely no, it won't discuss the specifics of Carol Gunn's problem.

'Privacy issues”, they said – even though Carol herself was going very public with SunLive. No privacy issues with her.

However the council has a lengthy complex process aimed at bringing good resolution for everyone – the dog, the owner and complainant.

Carol, it appears, is currently embroiled in that process. And it may not be working in her nor Polar's favour. She confirms the dog ranger told her the council had received complaints her dogs had been barking all day on two particular days recently. 'Even though it had been much quieter since Christmas.”

Then it comes down to she says-they say. For example Carol says some people have been throwing stones at the dogs, yelling at them, baiting them, and inciting them, and then recording when they bark.

'One neighbour admitted they were collecting evidence.”

Carol too has been collecting evidence – references – which she will include in her statement of evidence or defence to the Western Bay District Council.

References such as 'We have never had any problem with Carol Gunn's dogs”, and, 'We live approximately 300m away and there has been no persistent barking over the last two months.”

Even a veterinary clinic described Carol as a 'responsible and competent breeder” and her Maremmas 'friendly, compliant and amendable to handling and treatment”.

Glowing stuff, but it may not be good enough to keep the ranger at bay because this is not about Carol's aptitude. It's about dogs barking – and dogs that have an innate propensity to bark. The Weekend Sun will stay across this developing story.