3 barks and they’re out?
The Daily Progress/Kaylin Bowers
Katrien Vance plays with her dogs, Dusty and Mickey, at her Crozet home. Vance says she has talked to her neighbors to see if the dogs are barking too loudly.
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By Sharon C. Fitzgerald
Daily Progress correspondent
Published: June 7, 2008
CROZET — Katrien Vance said she worried when her family moved with their two dogs from Nelson County to a Crozet subdivision so her husband would be closer to work.
The family traded its 3-acre yard for less than a quarter-acre plot surrounded by neighbors in the Parkside Village neighborhood. The dogs, Mickey and Dusty, now stay indoors when the family is away from home.
“My biggest worry when we moved here was whether my dogs would adjust,” Vance said. “I didn’t want to cause bad feelings between neighbors.”
The Albemarle Board of Supervisors has proposed an ordinance targeting dog owners who allow their animals to bark for long periods of time.
The proposed ordinance would fine a dog owner up to $500 for allowing dogs to bark excessively and possibly banish the animal if the owner receives three convictions during a 12-month period.
Residents will have the chance to speak to the board about the ordinance at a public hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Albemarle County Office Building.
“This ordinance gives residents the opportunity to push back and say it’s not cool to allow your dog to bark non-stop,” said board member David Slutzky. “When you live in an urbanized area you’ve got to make adjustments.”
The ordinance puts the burden of proof on the complainant and forces them to take the matter before a magistrate.
The ordinance as it is now written would affect all county residents except those who live on 5 or more acres, said Jennifer Lyttle, assistant Albemarle county attorney.
Slutzky said he would consider only having the ordinance apply to residents in the county’s growth areas.
“If the board wants to redefine where its applicable to only certain residents they can change it,” Lyttle said.
Albemarle animal control officers have received 28 barking dog complaints this year, 71 complaints in 2007 and 54 complaints in 2006, according to county records.
The county currently has no ordinance that pertains to noisy animals so residents have few options other than complaining, Slutzky said. He said half the people who’ve called him won’t even discuss the issue with their neighbors.
“No one wants to be a bad neighbor,” Slutzky said.
Board members introduced the ordinance at their May 7 meeting and the idea came after multiple complaints about loud barking dogs, Slutzky said. It is one of two ordinances the board discussed concerning dogs.
The board also is discussing a possible limit on the number of adult dogs that county residents can have as house pets.
That proposal is still in the working stages and will not be part of Wednesday’s public forum.
Charlottesville city leaders approved a similar noise ordinance in November 2006, but no dogs have been banished from the city, said city animal control officer Bobby Durrer.
The city’s ordinance does not have a fine, but animals must be removed from the house if the owner receives three convictions in a 12-month period.
“We still receive a lot of calls about the noise ordinance,” Durrer said. “I have seen the judge put someone on six months probation after the second conviction for noise violation.”
Not everyone thinks the proposed county ordinance is fair. Members of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Kennel Club have started a letter-writing campaign and are planning to speak out Wednesday night.
“We believe that dog ordinance should focus on the dog owners, not the dogs,” said CAKC member Jim Barrett. “[The county should] penalize irresponsible owners and simultaneously reward responsible owners.”
Vance, the Crozet dog owner, has talked to neighbors on both sides to see if her dogs are barking too loudly. She said she brings the dogs indoors if they get too excited by kids playing in the cul-de-sac.
“People have a different tolerance level,” Vance said. “What one person considers a noisy dog another person isn’t even bothered by it.”
But she doesn’t want her dogs to stop barking completely.
“There are times when I want them to bark,” Vance said. “I want them to let me know if someone is coming up to the house.”
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Posted by ( JuneRussell ) on June 08, 2008 at 2:52 pm
June 8, 2008
DOG BARKING ORDINANCE NEEDED:
Most dog owners in the county where I live are considerate and responsible, and if needed, quiet their dog/s or take them inside. I thank them for being responsible and enjoy greeting them and their dog/s as they walk past my house. However, it only takes one or more inconsiderate owner to allow their dog/s to disturb the peace for a whole community.
Often dogs are left outside in their yard during the day, where they are free to bark at the mailman, a squirrel, a neighbor, etc., or when they hear/see people or other dogs. This can cause a chain reaction of barking by other dogs which can last for hours. Often it is these owners who then go to work (or shop) leaving their dogs outside for the day. This means those of us who work at home or want peace and quiet, must endure the barking while the owners are not even subjected to their own animal�s noise. Occasionally the barking continues into the night disturbing the sleep of others. (Why some owner�s do not seem to be aware of their barking dogs at night? Because they are gone, watching T.V. or playing their radio loudly, leaving those of us who like to read or listen to quiet music, victims of an injustice).
During the mild weather in the spring or fall, it�s nice to open our windows but often have the noise of barking dogs permeating the inside of our houses - even when the windows are closed, there is usually no place in the house we can move to where the barking cannot be heard.
I have been forced out of my house to go out shopping (or out to eat) for relief many times because of the continued barking of dog/s in the neighborhood � or have turned up my radio several decibels to alleviate the noise from the irritation of the barking dogs. This seems a perfect example of an injustice that needs attention. Over the 20 years I have lived here, many times the neighborhood has chosen to try and settle this problem by just talking to the neighbor. Often there is a positive response, but if not then we get together a petition signed by the �offended� neighbors (some are dog owners!), present it, and again request compliance. Most responded favorably, some did not.
There would have been many more complaints to Albemarle County animal control if its citizen�s did not have to �jump though hoops� to get a fair and just response to this problem. The complainers must face added disruption and conflict in their lives - the cost, effort, intimidation, fear of retaliation, and having to go before a magistrate. Added stress none of us need! Many dog owners are generally defensive and easily angered over an issue about their dog and their responsibility. I have been a dog owner most of my life and understand they are usually considered part of the family. However, I would encourage the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors to pass this protective ordinance as it would certainly be a step in the right direction.
June Russell - russells@embarqmail.com
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Posted by ( JuneRussell ) on June 08, 2008 at 2:50 pm
June 8, 2008
DOG BARKING ORDINANCE NEEDED:
Most dog owners in the county where I live are considerate and responsible, and if needed, quiet their dog/s or take them inside. I thank them for being responsible and enjoy greeting them and their dog/s as they walk past my house. However, it only takes one or more inconsiderate owner to allow their dog/s to disturb the peace for a whole community.
Often dogs are left outside in their yard during the day, where they are free to bark at the mailman, a squirrel, a neighbor, etc., or when they hear/see people or other dogs. This can cause a chain reaction of barking by other dogs which can last for hours. Often it is these owners who then go to work (or shop) leaving their dogs outside for the day. This means those of us who work at home or want peace and quiet, must endure the barking while the owners are not even subjected to their own animal’s noise. Occasionally the barking continues into the night disturbing the sleep of others. (Why some owner’s do not seem to be aware of their barking dogs at night? Because they are gone, watching T.V. or playing their radio loudly, leaving those of us who like to read or listen to quiet music, victims of an injustice).
During the mild weather in the spring or fall, it’s nice to open our windows but often have the noise of barking dogs permeating the inside of our houses - even when the windows are closed, there is usually no place in the house we can move to where the barking cannot be heard.
I have been forced out of my house to go out shopping (or out to eat) for relief many times because of the continued barking of dog/s in the neighborhood – or have turned up my radio several decibels to alleviate the noise from the irritation of the barking dogs. This seems a perfect example of an injustice that needs attention. Over the 20 years I have lived here, many times the neighborhood has chosen to try and settle this problem by just talking to the neighbor. Often there is a positive response, but if not then we get together a petition signed by the ‘offended’ neighbors (some are dog owners!), present it, and again request compliance. Most responded favorably, some did not.
There would have been many more complaints to Albemarle County animal control if its citizen’s did not have to ‘jump though hoops’ to get a fair and just response to this problem. The complainers must face added disruption and conflict in their lives - the cost, effort, intimidation, fear of retaliation, and having to go before a magistrate. Added stress none of us need! Many dog owners are generally defensive and easily angered over an issue about their dog and their responsibility. I have been a dog owner most of my life and understand they are usually considered part of the family. However, I would encourage the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors to pass this protective ordinance as it would certainly be a step in the right direction.
June Russell - russells@embarqmail.com
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Posted by ( harleytaz ) on June 08, 2008 at 11:03 am
Is this all the county has to worry about is less than 1 complaint per week in a 2 1/2 year time frame?
What a waist of tax payers money.
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Posted by ( CitizenofAlbemarle ) on June 08, 2008 at 6:57 am
Does size matter? I say no!
It is unfortunate that the Board of Supervisors disregards all citizens of the county in favor of those in urbanized areas as Slutzky portrays. Why are only some given “opportunity to push back”? Is it because rural residents pay less taxes or are they second class citizens? The last time I paid my real estate and vehicle tax I did not see any discount for getting less services. Now the board wants to pass an ordinance that doesn’t ensure “quality of life” for those who live next to parcels larger than five acres. Do they think sound waves are reduced at six acres or do they not care about ALL citizens?
Dogs are introduced to our environment and all owners should be required to be responsible and accountable, period!
In my situation, my neighbor intentionally placed their dogs on the property line and their dogs bark unchecked for hours during the day and night. This situation was created by design, not an act of God or nature. Why does the Board want to encourage this person’s disregard and selfishness? This ordinance should protect ALL citizens regardless of land ownership. When common curtousy for others is selfishly ignored, every citizen needs to be protected! I agree with the kennel club, the owner should be punished, not the dog. Yes, dogs bark and that is not the issue, excess is.
It is too bad the Daily Progress made the barking dog appear to be the victim and not those who experience stress and sleep deprivation by those owners who introduce the noise pollution and allow it to continue. Where was the inclusion of a victim of excess barking in this article?
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