Handläggning av ärenden gällande skällande hundar mellan kommuner och länsstyrelser

Background: The County Board, which is the supervisory authority on the Animal Protection Act, the Supervision Act and the Environmental Code and the municipality, which is also the supervisory authority on the Environmental Code, has difficulty conducting cases concerning barking dogs because it is difficult to assess the problem. There is no special cooperation between the authorities and there are no routines around these types of cases. The aim: The aim of this study was to investigate how municipalities and county boards handle incoming reports regarding barking dogs. We also wanted to study if there is a cooperation between municipalities and county boards and how it could be in terms of supervision and decisions. We also wanted to study on how an improved cooperation between them can look like. Result: The management method is different for both County Board and municipalities. The municipalities have different method for handling these cases and it is difficult to assess the case. While the county boards’ method is relatively similar if it is a case for them. Today, 14 of 21 municipalities have no cooperation with the county board. While 18 of 21 counties responded that they have no cooperation. But of all 21 municipalities and county boards, six of each wanted a better cooperation. Conclusions: The management methodology are different in the municipalities and the county administrative board. Therefore, the need for collaboration also looks different. Many replied that they do not need extended cooperation, while some think that it is good to have a collaboration and be able to help each other. Why authorities do not want a collaboration can depend on that they do not have many of this cases. With our work, we wish that the authorities to have a reasonably better insight into the problems of the current management methodology on cases involving barking dogs. We also hope that our suggestions for improved cooperation can help authorities to create their own routines as part of their work support