A Tauranga dog breeder fears a 'death warrant” has been signed for her pedigree Italian Maraemma sheep dog called 'Polar.”

The Western Bay of Plenty District Council has handed a written order to Carol Gunn of Omanawa saying she has fourteen days to downsize her Balagan kennels because of an alleged noise nuisance.

Omanawa resident Carol Gunn with Polar. Photos: Bruce Barnard

'The council has investigated a significant number of substantiated complaints of barking dogs at your (Omanawa Road) address,” the order reads.

And consequently the council has instructed Carol to remove three of the eight dogs from the property.

The order says the dogs to be removed 'are required to include Polar who has been identified as the primary barking source.”

'But Polar wasn't properly socialised as a pup” says Carol. He is untrustworthy and so in all conscience I can't part with him. He could never be a family dog.” She fears for his future.

Polar and the other dogs are Maremmas, Italian sheep dogs, big dogs with a big bark, an alert bark. Too big for neighbours it seems because in five and a half months the council claims it's had 37 complaints of excessive barking.

And the council has further warned if the barking nuisance does not improve with five dogs it may require Carol to reduce the size of her kennel even further.

'One of my dogs has a litter of four pups, another is due to give birth, one is old and sick and yet another has never lived anywhere else. Then there is Polar. What am I to do with them?”

She says she may have to surrender them to the council. 'They may have to come and take my children away.”

But the council says it's not looking to seize the dogs at this time and is looking to Carol as owner to take responsibility for ensuring its requirements are met.

And it says if the reduced number of Maremmas 'mitigates the noise nuisance then an increase in the number of kept dogs will be considered on an individual dog basis.”