Noisy menagerie makes neighbours see red

The twittering, squawking and shrieking of a pet-crazy home owner's birds, dogs and monkeys is driving the residents of Sydenham, Johannesburg, batty.

And neighbours say they are awakened at 5am each morning as their animal-loving neighbour, Fernando Areias, sing duets with his pets at dawn.

The residents claim they have been trying for six years to get the city of Johannesburg to enforce its by-laws, but with no success.

Jenny Newman said she and other residents are being driven insane by the noise from Areias's property. There are cages all over his garden and in a backyard room, where the animals shriek and squawk at all times of the day.

The residents are frustrated with the city of Johannesburg Region E's environmental health department, the Johannesburg metro police department (JMPD) and the police, none of which, they claim, will assist them.

"We have been from department to department - to the SAPS and the JMPD, and environmental health. They issued the homeowner with a R1 000 fine, but did nothing further.

"The noise continues every day and the number of pets increases. He was supposed to appear in court, but this has been struck off the roll twice because the city's papers were not in order.

"We cannot continue in this manner. It is disrupting our lives. We work from home and have to listen to this all day. It becomes impossible to concentrate.

"It is causing families to tear into each other in frustration, having to listen to this cacophony every day of our lives. There is never any peace or any rest," she said.

Residents claim they can also no longer eat outdoors because of an infestation of flies due to the animals.

"Areias will not admit there is a problem. We have approached him many times. There are clear by-laws regarding noise and we just cannot get them enforced," she said.

Another neighbour, Toby Lowenstein, said the noise of the owner singing with his pets starts at 5am and continues until about 7am.

"I presume this performance is carried out to encourage his caged birds to perform more effectively and raucously... I have now reached the limits of my endurance, as attempts to put a stop to this has fallen on deaf ears.

"I feel strongly that the only solution is the removal of the birds and their cages. We are intent on reclaiming the quiet, which only happens when the owner is expecting an official visit," he said.

Areias admits he is an ardent pet lover, but claims his animals don't interfere with anyone.

"I have given away about 15 birds I had for 15 years to accommodate the neighbours. And I don't sing to the birds - who would do that?

"I have raised my walls to keep the noise out and moved cages away from the walls, but still they complain. I don't know what else to do."

Areias said he had received a fine but would not be paying it, because he wanted to appear in court.

"I am a simple pet lover and I am entitled to keep animals on my property. The SPCA and the council have been here and are satisfied with the cleanliness and the way I keep my pets.

"If people work at home, it is not my problem," he added.

Despite numerous attempts, The Star was unable to get comment from Region E officials.