Barking Dog Mediation on the Rise

I recently came across this article noting that “there has been a 30 per cent rise in the number of mediations between neighbors over animal nuisance problems” in the Australian province of New South Wales.   On the one hand, I was glad to hear that parties are turning to mediation to solve disputes and realizing that mediation often creates more stable solutions than a court ruling because “the parties themselves have had input into them and have had a better understanding of the issues between them.”

On the other hand, I really have to wonder whether this improves the public image of mediators or simply causes the average person to think of a mediator who helps parties resolve mundane, trivial matters.

Just thinking out loud.