Los Angeles to Impose Fines for Excessive Dog Barking
Published November 2, 2011
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A new ordinance in Los Angeles is expected to come in to effect that would impose fines for excessive dog barking.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously yesterday to tweak the city's dog barking law with a new ordinance that would impose fines for excessive dog barking.
The fines would be imposed on owners whose dogs are deemed to bark excessively, regardless of whether or not the dogs are licensed by the city.
With the change to the city's barking law, "excessive barking" is going to be defined more clearly for authorities. The new law defines "excessive barking" as barking that "continued for 10 minutes or more, or intermittently for 30 minutes or more within a three-hour period."
And the fines for violation of the ordinance? Well, they're not exactly a slap on the wrist.
Owners of canine violators would be charged $250 for a first offense, $500 for a repeat offense, and $1,000 for the third strike if a hearing with the Department of Animal Services determines your dog barks too much.
Excessive barking is, more often than not, a habit borne from some sort of underlying anxiety. With training, excessive barking is a habit that can be curbed.
What are your thoughts on this story? Is it fair to fine folks whose dogs bark too much? Let us know in a comment!
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Comments (5)
I have a neighbor who's dog barks excessively for 30 - 45 minutes at a time. It continues to bark all day. I have approached the neighbor about it several times. We have finally given up. On Christmas, the dog barked well into midnight as the owners were not home. We are at our wits end! I have contacted animal control and they did nothing.
To the person who posted the comment about "Excessive" must be clearly defined"... you must not have ever dealt with excessive barking. I personally would appreciate a more strict ordinance to stop this madness! Some people just don't care if they impose on others.
I think it is great i have been a dog owner since i have owned my home in 1974. I have never had a complaint and my dogs never barked unless there was a reason . I now have a new owner of the home next store his dogs bark constantly. He had two dogs and they were attacked by a racoon end of story no. One died the other live so he go another so he had two then got got another recently. they are these little dogs they will bark for 4 hors straight. HELP
What if the neighbor is dangerous? Making a complaint is not possible anonymously. In my case, a neighbor that grossly neglects their dog, who in turns barks endlessly, would vandalize my property.
They should allow anonymous complaints or at least ensure my identity will not be released and investigate it for themselves. Its obvious this dog barks all the time.
that is what baseball bats are for or there is always another better way _____opps we live in commi Calif hope it goes to hell or goes under the waves. Oh that is my daughters and grand daughter live here also. Makes me crazy all I want is the piece and quiet I gave to me neibours all 34 years I lived here. I had 3 dogs one at a time. it is really to bad thatDogs live only about 10-14 years they are part of the family then they are gone it really hurts. it is really something else this guy is so eregant really cane be nice but someone in his family is really not in touch with the peace and fredom of othere around them. I told a friend about this and he lived in the middle east for 18 years he said it is a different culture they just do not care. I do not know it is just not right. I could report him to animal re but i should not have to but it might come to that. Three dogs barking all day and night.
The time has come for all dog owners to be responsible for their pets. Dog barking really is a nuisance. It can disrupt the health and well-being of those that have to put up with it. Especially if the barking is at night.
Check out this web site that has useful information for dog owners and the neighbor’s of barking dogs.
http://www.gotbarking.com
"Excessive" must be clearly defined in order to even consider a "Law" like this .......This is really crazy!!!!