Owners of perpetually barking dogs — perpetually being defined in this case as 30 continuous minutes with no break of greater than five minutes — will be subject to fines of up to $500 and could lose their dogs upon a third conviction under an ordinance approved last night by the Board of Supervisors in Albemarle County, Va.
The original proposal subjected dogs that were repeat offenders to the death penalty, but that was removed from the law at the last minute.
“We need to give recourse to people, particularly in the urban areas, with regards to nuisance dogs,” Supervisor David L. Slutzky said.
The new ordinance makes it unlawful for an owner to harbor a dog that disturbs the neighborhood’s peace and quiet through loud barking. As described in an article in today’s Charlottesville Daily Progress, a neighbor upset with a barking dog can go to the magistrate’s office and swear out a warrant. If the magistrate finds the complaint is justified, a court date is set.
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