We, the constituents of Los Angeles City Districts 1-15, urge the Los Angeles City Council members to Vote No on the "Barking Dog Noise Requirements / Municipal Code Amendments: File Number 14-0681".

WE REQUEST CLEAR DEFINITION AND ORDINANCE LANGUAGE: Eliminating a clear definition of excessive noise and replacing it with something entirely subjective and essentially unprovable will only result in more dogs being removed from their homes. As it is now, LA is one of the most hostile cities in Southern California for animal owners between their dangerous dog laws and procedures and the existing barking dog ordinance and procedures. This will only make it much worse.

The current barking dog ordinance defines “excessive noise” as:

“For purposes of this section, the term "excessive noise" shall mean noise which is unreasonably annoying, disturbing, offensive, or which unreasonably interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property of one or more persons occupying property in the community or neighborhood, within reasonable proximity to the property where the dog or dogs are kept. The noise must be continuously audible for ten (10) minutes or intermittently audible for thirty (30) minutes within a three (3) hour period.”

The proposed amendments would eliminate that specific requirement and replace it with a nebulous set of factors to be considered at an administrative hearing:

“For purposes of this section, the term "excessive noise” shall mean noise which is unreasonably annoying, disturbing, offensive, or which unreasonably interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property of one or more persons occupying property in the community or neighborhood, within reasonable proximity to the property where the dog or dogs are kept. Factors to be considered in determining whether the barking is excessive may include but are not limited to: (i) the nature, frequency and volume of the noise, (ii) the tone and repetitiveness. (iii) the time of day or night, (iv) the distance from the complaining or affected party or parties, (v) the number of neighbors affected by or complaining about the noise, (vi) any other relevant evidence demonstrating that the barking is unduly disruptive, such as the working or sleeping habits of the complaining party, and (vii) whether the dog is being provoked.....”

WHY THIS MATTERS:

So many of these barking dog complaints aren’t really about barking dogs at all. Many of them are just disputes between neighbors, or “that one neighbor” (most neighborhoods have at least one person who complains about pretty much everyone and everything), and will allow those people to weaponize Los Angeles Animal Services against people they don’t like. Barking dog hearings are already used and abused by people who don’t want to incur the expense of a lawsuit (or who don’t have a viable legal claim) as a means of retaliating against neighbors.

For VOTING status and COUNCIL ACTIONS:

https://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=14-0681 

You can also CALL your City Council Members - Flood their phones with calls. They need to hear from you. You can find your council person here: http://neighborhoodinfo.lacity.org/ Enter your address and then click on the link for your "City Council Member" under "Elected Officials".

All Councilmember Email Addresses and Phone Numbers:

https://www.lacity.org/your-government/elected-officials/city-council/council-directory

LA City Council Districts Map:
http://navigatela.lacity.org/common/mapgallery/pdf/council_districts/CDindex_8.5_11.pdf