Winneshiek Co. officials consider dog-barking ordinance

DECORAH - Winneshiek County officials are being asked to consider a dog-barking ordinance.

Bob Watson of rural Decorah and Mike Meyer of Ossian submitted their proposal to the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors Monday. Watson said the Winneshiek County sheriff and county attorney's office have had input on it.

“It's a way to return civility to neighborhoods,” Watson said.

The ordinance would have to be published and a public hearing would be required before it could be considered for adoption, according to Winneshiek County Auditor Ben Steines.

The proposal states: “If multiple neighbors complain once to the sheriff, or a designated county employee, about dogs barking and have a log of barking incidents or if one neighbor complains multiple times to the sheriff, or a designated county employee, and has a log of the barking incidents, and the sheriff or a designated county employee verified the barking;

“If a conversation with the dog owner by the sheriff, or a designated county employee, doesn't result in abatement of the barking;

“The owner of the dogs will need to either put the dogs inside so that barking is not noticeable to the neighbors, and/or lease-to-buy a barking collar from the county or obtain privately, so that the barking is abated and the neighbors do not have to hear the barking.

“If the owner fails in taking action to abate this barking through the aforementioned steps, the owner will be subject to daily fines by the county until action is taken resulting in neighbors not having to listen to barking from said owners' dog (s).”

Watson said the ordinance is being suggested as an easy way to address residents' concerns.

Thirty years ago, such matters could be dealt with simply by talking to your neighbor, he said.

“Dogs can be trained not to bark,” Watson added.

‘Ludicrous'

Sarah Haugen of rural Decorah said she didn't believe an ordinance is needed.

“It's ludicrous to regulate dogs in the country. Throughout the year we hear all kinds of noises - birds, owls, coyotes. I can hear the six o'clock whistle go off (in Decorah), tractors that don't' have mufflers, grain dryers, it's not a quiet place,” she said.

“How prevalent is it (dog barking) in Winneshiek County and why would it need regulating?” Haugen asked.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Dean Darling said he's aware of a “couple of cases” in the northern part of the county where neighbors have “undoubtedly suffered.” He also said it becomes a problem in areas of the county where there are concentrations of homes.

Darling said the question is whether the county needs an ordinance to minimize the disruptive influence of barking dogs.

Supervisor Les Askelson said the Board needs to talk about the issue with the sheriff and find out how many complaints he's received.

Watson said many don't complain because they don't think there's anything that can be done about it.

“We will discuss whether we think it's a good idea to proceed,” Darling said.

“It wouldn't hurt if there was an ordinance in place for the whole county,” Meyer commented.

What is perceived as an issue for one person may not be for someone else, Deb Bachelder of rural Decorah said.

If supervisors do pursue an ordinance, she said it should include a scientific way to prove there is a nuisance.

-By Sarah Strandberg