need advice asap

This sounds very fishy to me.  The HOA  thats your home owners association right?  They do not IMO have the power to "take him away" just for making noise, especially so quickly and without giving you the opportunity to fix the problem.  Also, why wouldnt your neighbors talk to you about it first?  Is your husband home most of the day?  Does he like the dog?  It almost seems like maybe the dog howls when your husband is home and he doesnt like it an wants to get rid of the dog....
 
I would call the neighbors or go knock on their door and ask them about it... and tell them you had no idea until now and will start working on this problem (if they did in fact complain).  Then call the HOA and ask them why they do not give you time to fix the problem... who complained... who will "take" your dog...?
 
To be honest I wouldnt worry about someone taking him... You are providing a good home to an animal who did nothing other than make noise and I dont see where in any place that would justify TAKING him from you... they may say something like you have to move or he cannot live here or something but not we are gonna take your dog away... 
 
Im sorry I know how much that must worry and upset you but I would be shocked as he** if someone actually tried to take the dog... and if your like me I would fight till the death, lol, before someone could do so...

Sorry but it sounds like DH is stretching things a bit.  As a wild guess I would say he's not happy with your dog and this is a good excuse. I believe you would have recived written notice... or did you.     Have to agree with Amy  no one can take your dog, unless he is abused.  As she suggested I would start asking questions of the neighbors & HOA.   I think I would look for a new place for me and my dog!    Keep us posted.

Rowdyval, I am so sorry to hear that. I don't see how they would be able to take your dog (they're not animal control), but they probably could ''kick you out'' if you aren't complying with their rules. Ask to see the rules in writing. I also would have thought you would have gotten a warning first.You might want to consult a lawyer.
Have you ever been to [linkhttp://www.shorthairs.net/phpBB2/index.php]http://www.shorthairs.net/phpBB2/index.php[/link], they might help you with training him not to howl, if you find that he is.
 

If you have the means, maybe a doggy-daycare would be an option for the daytime.  That way you KNOW he isn't howling and he's getting some excercise.
 
What the others said is true, they aren't AC, but they can make you either move or get rid of the dog.  Check the HOA paperwork and see what it says, call the property manager and find out what other steps have been taken against you.  This may just be a first offense and you have a certain amount of time to correct the problem. 
 
Now, here goes my nose where it shouldn't be, but I'm going to anyway.  Talk to DH, this could be the tip of another iceburg. 

i'd keep the dog and get rid of the husband, sounds fishy to me.  I'd want more proof of what he is saying in this situation.[]

YOU need to talk to the HOA yourself and find out exactly what the complaints are.  Also, they HAVE to put stuff like this in writing.  And nope, they can't TAKE your dog.  Sounds rather fishy to me.

I second all that.  I worked for an AC in the town I live in and for barking dogs that were complained about, we would do a home visit, leave a note, etc.  If they didn't solve the problem then they might get a fine.  But we'd never take someone's dog away.  The HOA might give you a warning, then a fine as well, but they can't take your dog away.  Set up a tape recorder in the house somewhere and find out if your dog howls/barks all day.  Ours do for a while, but then they settle down but we don't live in an apartment.

I second the talking to neighbors as well.

I am going to talk to the neighbors tonight.  And I am trying to get in touch with the property manager.  As for my husband I asked if they left a note and he said no.  He told me that the neighbor came  over while he was checking the mail and told him that we had until the end of the week and that other people have complained as well.  We live in a house at the corner of a main street so it would be the back neighbor and side neighbor I assume.   Now I was very tried last night and that info right as I walk through the door hit me like a mac truck so I just got very depressed.  Today though, I began to think how do they know he howls all day when they go to work  and I know for a fact that he does not howl when I have him outside and I am doing stuff in the house.  And AC said that I need to have gotten at least 2 complainant by certified mail before they would come and investigate and the most that could happen would be a 100 dollar fine or have to move.  This is just to upsetting and I intend to get to the bottom of this.  Hawk may be a little knuckle head at times but for the most part he is a good dog and I will be $#@ if anyone tries to take him away from me.

I think you've gotten some good advice here.  I can't believe that you would be forced to give up your dog or move on such short notice  Your HOA would have to give you notice in writing that there is a problem and then give you time to correct it.  And this neighbor that talked to your husband - is he president of the HOA or just another neighbor? Who is he to decide something like that?

Joyce & Max

I'm sure you will find out what is really going on and you won't have to give up your dog. It sounds like a bunch of bologna to me. No written notice or "official" complaint. Yet this neighbor says you have to get rid of your dog - who is he to say anything? And you have your own house and yard. Its not like you are in an apt. or condo or something where the rules may be a little stricter for noise control.
 
It almost sounds like that neighbor was just trying to cause problems! The nerve of some people....
 

Look into your rights.  First of all if you are in Ontario, then no one can kick you out of your house for having a dog.  I recently went through this because of my 3rd dog.  My landlords threatened to kick me out because I had too many dogs.  They simply cannot do this.  Also look into noise violation codes.  My neighbors dog barks all day long.  The cops and AC have been called by almost all of the neighbors on different occasions.  But since the noise is before 11 pm, there is nothing that can be done.  That is a city code though.  After 11 there is a fine.  Its not just for barking dogs, its for loud music, loud cars, yelling whatever.

I would definately look into the fact that your dog is making noise though anyway.  There are lots of underlying reasons that the dog would be noisy.  When you are gone he should be sleeping.  Maybe he needs more exercise.  Do you take him for a walk before you leave for work?  Also do you crate him during the day?  Leave him a stuffed Kong to work on.  They also make dvd's for dogs that start over again once they get to the end.  That may help to keep him company if he is lonely.  I hope you get this all worked out!  Good luck to you and your pup!

I agree.  Know one can take your dog. But, I would surely investigate asap.  One issue: is the dog truly bothering people. Tape recorders are cheap and the tapes are hours in duration now. I'd put one on in my absence to find out what I'm dealing with.  Issue two: If someone is bothered by the dog, remember that there are horrible people around. In the next few days, I'd investigate a safe place for him during your absences until this all gets ironed out.  Third issue: I too would have a heart to heart with DH.

Can you set up a video camera or web cam to film the dog during the day?  That will be proof he is not a problem .  And if by chance you find he is howling, you can maybe see why and remedy it quicker.
 
Also, if you live in a house, his noise should not bother other people.  They shouldn't even be able to hear it unless they are purposely lurking around your house to hear it.  If they are in their house minding their own business, they wouldn't know what was going on there.
 
 

Get a Gentle Spray citronella collar and try to see that the dog does not continue to be a nuisance. That will also show your neighbors that you are trying to deal with the problem.  As for your hubby, IMHO if he is just wanting to "get rid of" (I hate that phrase - it indicates poor character) the dog, and not try to help you keep him, knowing how much the dog means to you, then I think you may have married the wrong guy LOL.  The fact that you would say you would rather keep the dog tells me you may already suspect that...
At any rate, I once told my ex DH that my Beagle would be here long after he was gone - guess what?  The dear little girl lived to be almost 17!  And, he ran off with a redhead!  I still feel I got the better end of that bargain.  And, I would rather have lived in my car than spend a millisecond anywhere my dogs were not welcome.  I am lucky to own my home, but if I was forced out, I would go hunting for a mobile home on a rural lot and work 50 miles from home before I'd dump the dogs.