Dog barking too much? Chicago considers $250 fine

Chicago dogs that bark incessantly may soon become more than just a headache for neighbors. They could become a pain in the wallet for dog owners.

The City Council’s Police Committee today authorized a crackdown that would slap hefty fines — ranging from $50 to $250 for each offense — against the owners of loudmouth dogs.

“It’s not an anti-dog thing. It’s not preventing dogs from being dogs,” said Ald. Pat O’Connor (40th), chief sponsor. “It just means that if you let your dog bark all day, every day, disturbing the peace for people who live in the area . . . police can do something.”

The ordinance defines “excessive noise” as “continued, repeated or habitual barking, whining, crying, howling, whimpering, crowing, or loud noise.”

Fines would be triggered, only if the racket “exceeds ten consecutive minutes” or occurs “intermittently for a significant portion of the day or night” and is “louder than average conversational level at a distance of 100 feet or more.”

Unless a police officer or animal control makes a “personal observation,” citations would have to be “signed and sworn to by residents of three different addresses.”

Ald. Jim Balcer (11th) noted that barking dogs are “one of the biggest deterrents” to criminals.”

“Let’s say you’re not home. Your dog sees someone or whatever that causes this dog to bark. That’s a concern I have. How am I to control my dog if he sees a dog next door or he sees someone down the street and he does what a dog naturally does?” said Balcer, the owner of a dog who loves to bark.

Police Committee Chairman Isaac Carothers added, “I don’t think people should be held accountable if dogs are doing their job and guarding your house when somebody is trying to break in.”

O’Connor said his target is “irresponsible dog owners.”

“Responsible dog owners ensure that their dogs have what they need when they’re not home. They ensure they’re not out disturbing every neighbor. They ensure that people can go out in their backyards and enjoy a barbecue without a dog running over and barking at them the entire time,” he said.

The three complaint requirement is aimed at preventing Hatfields-vs.-McCoys-style feuds between neighbors from triggering dog-barking complaints, O’Connor said.

“If I have a vendetta against my neighbor and he happens to own a dog and I only need my complaint to go after that person, that would be a way of trying to make my neighbor’s life miserable,” he said.

Although barking dogs are clearly the target, the ordinance refers to “any dog or other animal” that makes excessive noise. Ald. Lona Lane (18th) said she intends to use it.

“In our ward, we have chickens and roosters. Every morning, we hear this noise. It’s constant,” she said.

“If it keeps going on, we’re gonna put ’em in a hot pot, maybe on the stove.”