Is Your Dog Creating a Nuisance?

I get it. It’s too late or too early, and it’s cold, snowy, and icy, and you don’t want to take the dog for a walk. Instead, you put the dog out in the backyard and leave it there or forget it’s out there. It barks and barks, disturbing the neighbors because it wants to come back inside. County law Section 17.302, states that a nuisance occurs when:

“A domesticated animal disturbs the public peace. This can occur when pet owners let their pet out in the yard early in the moring or late at night and then leave the dog out there or forget to bring the dog back in. A dog barking all day and night is considered a nusiance. Other nusiances are: a domesticated animal runs at large (off the property of its owner), a domesticated animal disturbs garbage on public property or garbage properly placed for disposal; a domesticated animal damages the property of persons other than the animal’s owner; or the odor of a domesticated animal fouls the air and creates an unreasonable annoyance or discomfort to neighbors or others in close proximity to the premises where the animal is kept…. Domesticated animals must not be permitted to threaten the safety or welfare of other domesticated animals or people. Domesticated animals are considered to be exhibiting threatening behavior when they endanger the life or health of another domesticated animal or person, attack a domesticated animal or person, or otherwise molest and interfere with a person’s freedom of movement in a public place.”

If a domesticated animal is on an owner’s property, either chained or behind an invisible fence, this is not considered to be at large. If you have concerns, need to report a nuisance, or suspect neglect, contact Animal Control at 410-313-2780.