Loose dog on Rua Luís de Camões raises safety and noise concerns in Ericeira

Residents of Ericeira are increasingly concerned about a dog living at Rua Luís de Camões 13, which they say has been causing problems in the area for around two years.

According to residents, the animal is kept outside almost permanently and regularly moves along the public road with no lead and no supervision. It also barks continuously by day and by night, particularly between 4pm and 4am, disturbing the rest of several people living nearby.

In recent days, though, things took a turn for the worse. Residents filmed the dog approaching aggressively and chasing a couple who were walking past the property at night. In the same video, the owner comes out of the house, shouts at the animal, hits it and takes it inside. A similar incident, in which the dog approached a resident aggressively, was reported around a year ago.

Neighbours also believe the dog itself is being mistreated. They say it appears to have been hit, and that its behaviour in the street is a symptom of how it is kept rather than the whole problem.

Several formal complaints have already been made to the GNR territorial post in Ericeira and to the Mafra detachment, but residents say officers have never attended the scene. A formal complaint was also recently sent to SEPNA, the GNR's nature and animal protection service, accompanied by video. Complaints have also been filed with the animal protection association IRA.

Neighbours consider the situation to have become a matter of public safety and quality of life. Some residents say they no longer walk along the street at all, for fear of being chased by the dog. They are asking the GNR and Mafra Town Council to inspect the property, to ensure the dog is properly controlled, and to resolve both the continuous barking and the risk of the animal moving freely in the street and attacking people.

The Ericeira Times has contacted the relevant authorities, and the dog, for comment. His answer was unintelligible.