Wide open spaces and a new family to play with could be just the remedy for Baxta the barking dog with a Tauranga family coming to the dog's aid to re-home him.

Kathryn Edwards' house where Baxta the dog lives.

The semi-rural family have been transferred ownership of the Labrador retriever boxer cross this week after being hand-picked ahead of five other applicants ,who were all keen to add the dog to their family.

Baxta, age six, made headlines last month after Maungatapu resident Kathryn Edwards was given a 30-day deadline to find a new home, or she'd have to put down her dog following Tauranga City Council receiving 14 noise complaints from neighbours.

At a council hearings panel subcommittee, which heard the complaints about Baxta's barking, an emotional Kathryn told its members she was shocked at the number of complaints but had no options because she has no friends or family, living in rural areas.

TCC animal services team leader Brent Lincoln says it is a great outcome to have the dog re-homed with the decision being entirely Kathryn's.

The council presented six options, from Katikati right through to Te Puke, to Kathryn after receiving pleas from families, asking to take the dog in following Kathryn's dilemma.

'It has gone to a family with kids on a semi-rural section. which is part of Tauranga. They have previously had dogs,” says Brent.

He cannot disclose where the family lives, or why they were interested, but thinks it is because they were looking for another dog and felt for Kathryn in her situation.

Now Baxta is re-homed, the council will no longer monitor the dog unless there are further noise complaints – something Brent is certain will not happen.

'If we get complaints then we will – but I'm sure we won't anymore. I think with a larger area, and a family to play with, it will get all the attention it now needs.”

During the last year, the council received 14 complaints about Baxta's barking from nearby residents, who say the dog barks for more than 30 minutes at a time between midnight and 5.30am, causing disruption to their sleep.

Both an abatement notice and a notice to remove the dog under Section 55(1) of the council's Dog Control Act 1996 were sent to Kathryn's Maungatapu Rd home earlier this year, which she originally objected to.

Brent says this case is a timely reminder for dog owners throughout the city to ensure they are caring not only for their dog's needs – but also the rest of the community.

'Unfortunately, the city is growing and so is the dog population – and people need to be aware of what impact their dogs are having.

'If people are getting complaints about their dog barking they need to have a look at why that's happening. Council provides some information to reduce the barking, or they can seek help from dog officers and trainers from around the city.”