Council Votes to Fine for 'Excessive Barking'

Highland Park and Mount Washington dog owners now have extra reason to be sure their pooch isn’t bored or left alone too long.

Following a unanimous vote by the city council on Tuesday, residents who live near a dog that barks too much for too long have a way to fight back and those who own dogs yappy dogs could face steep fines.

AMENDMENT DEFINES EXCESSIVE BARKING

According to the ordinance, a dog's barking would be considered excessive if it continued for 10 minutes or more, or intermittently for 30 minutes or more within a three-hour period.

Fines would start at $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second offense and $1,000 for a third after a hearing by the Department of Animal Services.

Unlike previous versions of the ordinance, dog owners can still be fined for excessive barking, even if the animal isn't licensed by the city.

According to KNBC’s website, dogs can also be removed from a home and placed into a shelter or foster home.

Hearings on complaints will moved to the administrative side of the Deparment of Animal Services, reducing some of the delays many complain about now.

Read about Echo Park Patch contributor Gary Leonard's ordeal under the old law here.

WHAT'S IN A BARK?

Lezle Stein, owner of Handle Woof Care dog training in Mount Washington, had mixed feelings about the ordinance.

On the one hand, she said the ordinance would hopefully encourage dog owners to address the roots of excessive barking: boredom, separation anxiety and excessive energy.

"There are different kids of barks," Stein explained said. "It could be a bored or lonely dog, or it could be because there is somebody coming too close to the yard."

Stein said that, oftentimes, excessive barking can be the fault of an owner who is not affording their dog enough energy or exercise.

She added that particularly yappy dogs could benefit from activities that are both physically exhausting and mentally stimulating.

"It's like a kid at school, they're going to be more tired if they're doing Algebra all day than if their just playing in the yard," she said.

Stein said she feared that the ordinance might drive owners to put painful shock collars on their dogs or have their vocal chords removed.

"Those won't address the reasons that dogs bark excessively," Stein said.