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55 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, September 10, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 12, 2003 Terry Donaldson wants Medford to change its ordinance regarding barking dogs, saying it�s too broad. Donaldson was warned about his dogs, Jack, foreground, a Rottweiler/beagle, and Pomeranian Mitzi and her two mixed-breed offspring, Jessie and Mia. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Man barks back at dog ordinance language By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune Terry Donaldson and his four furry friends have a bone to pick with City Hall. Since Donaldson’s recent warning from the Medford Police Department to silence his companions or face a fine because of a neighbor’s complaint, he’s decided to go before the City Council next week and seek a revision in the municipal code. But police, who respond to at least one barking dog complaint a day, say it’s not a code change that’s needed — it’s fewer barking dogs. After receiving the warning, Donaldson began looking for a solution. First he signed up for a workshop on how to curb his dogs’ barking. Then he did some research, talking with six neighbors who said they had not noticed a barking problem, he said. Then he did some of his own surveillance. Advertisement "I would go park in an alley to see if my dogs were the type that went ‘ruh, ruh, ruh,’ and they weren’t," he said. Donaldson’s hackles didn’t get raised until he looked at the ordinance, he said. According to Medford’s municipal code, a noise disturbance includes "barking dogs or other noisy animals which disturb the comfort and repose of any person in the vicinity." Donaldson was afraid that one yip out of Mitzi, Jessie, Mia or Jack, and he’d be fined. Noting that all dogs bark, Donaldson said the ordinance is too broad. "I think the law should change to allow some barking," he said, suggesting a 15-minute minimum time requirement or a maximum volume level. City Attorney Ron Doyle said the code does not translate into a citation for a lone bark. He said he would not recommend adding something like a minimum time or decibel level to the code. "Nationwide, that sort of provision never occurs," Doyle said. Medford police Lt. Mike Moran said his department receives at least one barking-dog complaint per day. He said while Medford’s statistics do not separate out woofing wolfhounds from other animal noise complaints, most of them are regarding barking dogs. The department received 990 animal complaints in 2002, 58 of which became written citations, said Moran. He said he didn’t think there were frivolous complaints. "People are pretty good neighbors," said Moran. "By the time they call us, they’ve listened to a lot of barking." The most common complaint is the dog barking through the night, keeping neighbors awake, he said. Dog owners aren’t always responsive, he said. "Usually there’s a lot of denial." He said officers talk with the complainant before warning or citing the owner to determine if the noise is chronic and annoying. Citations, if issued, carry a $75 to $150 fine, depending on whether the owner has multiple violations. "We’re not going to show up the first time Fluffy barks and give you a ticket," Moran said. He said barking can be a disturbing sound. "It’s right up there with fingernails on a chalkboard for people," he said. Penny Nelson, training instructor at PetSmart, said she became concerned about the ordinance’s wording after Donaldson pointed it out to her. She said it could be read to include all barking, even if a dog is barking when it greets someone. Nelson said she and PetSmart staff are discussing the possibility of offering a diversionary program to the Medford City Council in which violators could avoid a citation by taking the barking workshop offered by PetSmart. She said a lot of dogs are given up to the animal shelter or humane society because people don’t know what to do, but that she works regularly with people to rearrange their environment or habits to help their dog to bark less. Donaldson said there are a lot of people with strong opinions on both sides of the issue. "Basically what I wanted to do is get the word out to dog owners," he said. The next Medford City Council meeting is scheduled for noon and 7 p.m. Sept. 18 in Council Chambers, City Hall, 411 W. Eighth St., Medford. Dogs can be trained to be ‘a good neighbor’ According to Penny Nelson, training instructor with PetSmart, the first step in resolving barking is identifying the cause. She said there’s social barking, where one dog barks and everyone else in the neighborhood joins in. There’s separation anxiety, where a lonely, nervous dog barks. And there’s the bored barker — a dog releasing energy because he or she doesn’t get enough time running or playing. Nelson said her classes are about "teaching your dog to be a good household dog or good neighbor." She said one suggestion is to teach the dog to bark on command with rewards. Then they’ll tend to bark less when there are no rewards offered. She said dog training is like having a buried treasure. "The owner has to figure out how to unbury the treasure," she said. It’s important to reward your dog for accomplishing the behavior you desire, said Nelson. "Praise your dog for being good," she said. She said citronella or electric barking collars are a last resort, and may not work with every dog. In addition to ongoing eight-week obedience classes, PetSmart offers a $15 one-hour barking workshop. The next workshop is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Sept. 20. Call 772-5564 to register. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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