Huber Ridge Area

Barking Dog Ordinance

Thanks also to Marje for referring to the article in The Herald about the Barking Dog Ordinance. There is more to this ordinance. This ordinance was passed by our trustees because they were apparently acting in the best interests of the community.

What no one says (probably because it is bad news and no one likes to be the bearer of bad news) is that there is a $100 fine associated with violating this ordinance.

Personally, I think your neighbor was trying to get results without having to call the police to make things better for you. It is so difficult to approach people about their barking dogs. And I appreciate when dogs bark for very normal reasons. I count on barking dogs to alert me that someone is walking by. If the person is a stranger, I keep watch.

The real annoyance with barking dogs is when they are not stopped by the owner after a couple of minutes or in other situations.

I think reasonable people accept a dog who barks when people or animals are within their view. But when the dog carries on and on, then it quickly becomes an annoyance.

This is a sensitive issue. But it has already been addressed in the past.

I wish ordinances were communicated or easily accessible so that all can know what is permitted and not have to search for the information or be surprised when they learn they are breaking the rules.

Perception

Still Pam...The annoyance is the perception of the complainer. Just as it's the perception of the officer who may respond whether or not there truly is a legit complaint. That, I believe is the real difficulty in approaching a neighbor about this. Dog lovers are less annoyed than people who do not like dogs.

The letter I received from my neighbor(s) stated my dog wakes them at all hours. I suggest that my neighbor(s) is already dreaming or need to investigate which dog actually is barking as there are other dogs nearby. I also suggest that they respect the 10pm general noise ordinance regardless of early bedtimes. Others have lives as well.

By Anused Neighbor

Perception

Dear Amused Neighbor,

The legitimacy in the complaint has to do with whether the dog is barking too much and too often. The officer will not base his response on perception. I believe he will base it on the fact that a resident called in a complaint about a barking dog.

Regarding ''Dog lovers are less annoyed than people who do not like dogs,'' I know of neighbors who have a dog, love their dog, but do not appreciate the many dogs who bark incessantly around their home. Maybe your dog is (was?) one of them.

Again, I maintain that the neighbor was trying to do you a favor by asking you (anonymously) to help out. They would prefer you respond to their request so they could avoid calling the police. Not that our police would be tough with the first visit - I do not believe they would. I believe they would be gracious in their approach for the first visit and then enforce the code if complaints continued.

There are some neighbors who do not know their dogs bark too long because they leave them outside while they are gone. So, is that fair to others? I think not.

No, I am not the neighbor who wrote to you. But let us all work together to be good neighbors who consider one another - regardless of the time of day or night.