This Week's Barking News Roundup - 11/08/12

Barking dog problem? City council cracks down

The proposed exercise in bureaucratic hoop-jumping looks like this: Once the new ordinance goes into effect, those wishing to file a complaint about loud animal noises or odors will be directed to contact the YPD.

Officers will issue a written warning to the animal owner and will ask the citizen who filed the complaint to keep a seven-day log of the animal disturbances to be turned in to the YPD's animal control department. If there are any additional complaints logged by the citizen, animal control will conduct an investigation.

If animal control confirms the disturbance, the second complaint against the same animal or address – occurring within 30 days of any other complaint – will constitute a violation.

The first violation is punishable by a fine not exceeding $50. If the animal owner is found to be in violation within one year of the first violation, the second fine will not exceed $100. The fine for the third violation within one year will result in a fine not exceeding $250.

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Neighbors growling about dog park location 

Excerpt: [N]ow that the park has been open for seven months, some neighbors aren't living happily ever after. They say they're rattled by the constant sound of barking dogs, disturbed by the conversations of park visitors and feel smothered by all the dust kicked up by scampering canines.

A few neighbors are so upset they have formed an organization, Pacificans for Compatible Land Use, and hired an attorney, Daniel Muller of Walnut Creek, to do something about the problem. Muller and some of the neighbors attended the last PB&R meeting, where the commissioners agreed to fully review their complaints and the dog park operation in two months. 

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Proposed dog rescue facility raises neighborhood eyebrows 

Excerpt: A proposed dog rescue facility on rural property in Pima County’s Northwest side that’s adjacent to a high-density Marana neighborhood has some of the Marana homeowners concerned, even before the dog organization files for a conditional use permit.

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The Department of Shameless Self-Promotion. Another week, another round of peace and quiet being disrupted by barking dog noise. And check out that proposed animal noise complaint process. The only thing they left out was the mandatory mediation. That used to be required here in Pima County, Arizona, and, yes, it was a waste of time and taxpayer money. But, since I'm Your Quiet Neighbor, I recommend that we fight back against all this idiocy in a noiseless fashion. So, check out the tee shirts and bumper stickers from the QuietBarkingDogs store.