36 replies to this topic

[Steve Heard]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Barking dogs can lead to a hefty fine in Los Angeles.

The City Council on Tuesday approved an ordinance that fines owners of excessively barking dogs $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second and $1,000 for a third if a Department of Animal Services hearing officer decides the pooch is barking too much.

City prosecutor Dov Lesel tells the Los Angeles Times that a dog’s barking would be considered excessive if it continued for 10 minutes or more, or intermittently for a half-hour or more within a three-hour period.

The ordinance is expected to get Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s signature. It would go into effect before the end of the year

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2011/11/02/la-approves-hefty-bite-for-barking-dogs/

So, is this something we need here in town? I don't know if the neighbors moved or the dog died or if they finally got smart and considerate, because it hasn't happened in a couple of years, but they used to go on vacation and put their dog in the back yard. I think someone would come and feed him but he'd stay out all night barking until 2 or 3 am. He would have been a good candidate for such an ordinance.


What do you think of the law?

[SunshineServices]

Empire Ranch definitely needs this! I have never been in a neighborhood during the day with so many non-stop barking dogs. Absolutely amazing, would drive me bonkers if I lived there!

[Dave Burrell]

I can always tell when a few neighbors are away on vacation - their dog(s) bark all night long, I usually never hear them otherwise.

The biggest offender (who should be fined $$$ weekly) is my one neighbor who has two little "yipper" dogs that constantly bark all day long, they're so danged loud you can hear their barking echoing all thru out the neighborhood, it's insane how much racket those two little noise machines generate. I can never open any windows on that side of my house because their barking drives me crazy, I can't stand it. At one point I got an air horn and blasted them occasionally, it shut them up for about 2 minutes.... I eventually went back to just keeping all the windows closed all the time to shut out the annoying constant yipping/barking.

I don't know how this neighbor can, in good consciousness, let her dogs bark non-stop like that all day long (she's home too), it's extremely rude! I've called animal control a few times but nothing happens, not sure what they could really do anyways(?) ... maybe if this new law from LA came to Folsom then something would finally happen to get the owner to become responsible for her annoying dogs.

Now don't get me wrong, I love dogs (have my own), but I don't like owners who neglect their dogs and leave them outside all the time and leave them to annoy everyone in the neighborhood. It's just plain rude and there is no excuse for it. Don't get a dog if you cannot take care of it properly. It's as simple as that!

Last week another neighbors dog broke thru the fence and killed our pet rabbit, but I can't blame the neighbor on that, our fence is in need of repairs and I can't really blame the dog either, it's a natural instinct. My own dog killed another pet rabbit we had 10 years ago. Lesson learned, my fault, time to fix the fence.

[Steve Heard]

The biggest offender (who should be fined $$$ weekly) is my one neighbor who has two little "yipper" dogs that constantly bark all day long, they're so danged loud you can hear their barking echoing all thru out the neighborhood, it's insane how much racket those two little noise machines generate. I can never open any windows on that side of my house because their barking drives me crazy, I can't stand it. At one point I got an air horn and blasted them occasionally, it shut them up for about 2 minutes.... I eventually went back to just keeping all the windows closed all the time to shut out the annoying constant yipping/barking.

I have a dear sweet close relative who lives on the second floor of an apartment building. She has 2 small dogs which bark at every sound, every passing vehicle, and every passing neighbor. They really go nuts if someone rings the doorbell or if another dog passes.

No matter what anyone says, she'll say 'they're just being dogs'. When on the phone she can actually hold a conversation as if she doesn't hear it.

On one particularly noisy call, I asked her what was going on. "Oh, it's just Harley and the neighbor dog having a bark-off'.

This relative is sweet and generous in every way, but thinks dogs have a 'right' to bark, because that's what they do.

[4thgenFolsomite]

This relative is sweet and generous in every way, but thinks dogs have a 'right' to bark, because that's what they do.

I agree wtih your relative.

[Darth Lefty]

I think it's another thing in the book so they can throw the book at you when something goes wrong. Like the 8-foot leash law.

In the Orwellian pet future dystopia, your apartment has your dog's DNA on file and can pinpoint whose lab left the load on the lawn. I haven't heard about this in Folsom yet. I wonder which complex will be the first. My complex recently requested a photo and shot records, they said it was an old rule they'd decided to start enforcing. I wonder if they have the same for kids - then again I wondered that about the pet deposit, too.

[Steve Heard]

I agree wtih your relative.

Where do the dog's rights end and yours or mine begin?

There are a lot of things that dogs would do because they are dogs, such as pooping and peeing on people's property, biting, running into traffic, attacking other animals, etc. Aren't they just 'being dogs'?

[Dave Burrell]

I agree wtih your relative.

I can appreciate a happy dog too, but I would never subject my neighbors to the noise if my dog was barking too much for no apparent reason.

[EAH]

I have a friend who lives next door to a kids daycare.... where do her rights begin?

[Steve Heard]

I have a friend who lives next door to a kids daycare.... where do her rights begin?

People have a right to what's known as 'quiet enjoyment' of their home.

We could take it to the extreme and say that the guy with the loud engine, the musician, the loud talker, the home wood worker, all make noise which can be unpleasant to others, but we do have to draw a line somewhere.

Noise laws usually run from about 10pm to 8am, but can vary by city. If the daycare center is too noisy during those hours, then she has a legit beef with the owner and may have cause for complaints and legal action. If not, the daycare is not likely infringing on her rights.

Our animals are considered property and therefore have no 'rights' under the law, so they really don't have the 'right' to bark and disturb others.

[cw68]

Laws, laws, laws. How about if we actually talk to people to solve problems instead of go through the authorities?

[MrsTuffPaws]

People have a right to what's known as 'quiet enjoyment' of their home.

I don't remember that in the Bill of Rights. I wish it were true, but I don't think it is. And dogs have no rights at all, although some would argue they should.

Dogs usually bark because they are bored, mentally and/or physically. Tossing a dog out into the yard to exercise itself is not a solution.

[Homer]

I don't remember that in the Bill of Rights. I wish it were true, but I don't think it is. And dogs have no rights at all, although some would argue they should.

Dogs usually bark because they are bored, mentally and/or physically. Tossing a dog out into the yard to exercise itself is not a solution.

You might be right about barking pooches being bored. When my wife and i get tired of our neighbors dog barking in their backyard when their not home, I toss a couple of rolled up news papers over the fence. We get a couple hours of quiet time as the pooch is occupied shreding them up.

[Steve Heard]

Laws, laws, laws. How about if we actually talk to people to solve problems instead of go through the authorities?

True, if people never robbed, stole, killed, sped or jay-walked, we wouldn't need laws.

I don't remember that in the Bill of Rights. I wish it were true, but I don't think it is. And dogs have no rights at all, although some would argue they should.

Dogs usually bark because they are bored, mentally and/or physically. Tossing a dog out into the yard to exercise itself is not a solution.

I'm no legal scholar, but I understand the right to quiet enjoyment is a legal term, not a constitutional right, and applies to land owners and tenants having the right to use their property undisturbed.

I'm no dog expert, either, but I think some dogs bark for other reasons, including anger and lack of training. My friend's dog's barking was bothering the neighbors so much that he got a bark collar. Now the dog doesn't bark, even without the collar, while he is outside, bored or otherwise.

[Homer]

True, if people never robbed, stole, killed, sped or jay-walked, we wouldn't need laws.



I'm no legal scholar, but I understand the right to quiet enjoyment is a legal term, not a constitutional right, and applies to land owners and tenants having the right to use their property undisturbed.

I'm no dog expert, either, but I think some dogs bark for other reasons, including anger and lack of training. My friend's dog's barking was bothering the neighbors so much that he got a bark collar. Now the dog doesn't bark, even without the collar, while he is outside, bored or otherwise.

Agree, Bark collars are great.