Stricter rules needed to deal with area dogs

Dear editor:

Regarding Mr. Heinen's letter, dated November 7, 2007, "Dogs." I whole heartedly agree with Mr. Heinen. Mountain Home is a city of dogs. We have more dogs per square inch than any city in this great nation of ours and, at times, it may appear as the dogs have more rights than the people. I am not a dog hater, in fact, I love all animals, especially dogs. In fact, I consider myself as a "dog lover." I even love people, but I feel dogs have their place either on a ranch or a farm, not in a small backyard in the city where they can drive their neighbors crazy with their incessant barking (this doesn't mean all dogs) and their fowl smell, especially in the summer time when the temperature is in the hundreds.

It's simply a matter of civil rights, certainly the dog lovers have the right to have a dog or dogs, but on the other hand we all have the right to our privacy and peace, especially when we are in bed trying to fall asleep, and the neighbor's dog won't stop his incessant barking.

The dog lovers brag about how smart their dog is when they tell the dog to sit up or roll over, but there is one command dogs won't do or can't do, the command of "stop barking."

Mr. Heinen did offer a solution, place an "anti-barking collar" on the dog. And, if this doesn't work, then I suggest rather reluctantly, call the police. I, however, am not to keen on this solution, since it will place a heavy burden on our overworked police and I 'm sure they have more important and urgent calls than answering dog barking complaints. But, if they should find a little spare time to address these complaints, I would suggest the officer actually hear the dogs barking and command the dog to stop barking, if the dog doesn't stop, and after three complaints the dog will be put down. The cost will be placed on the dog owner and, not the taxpayer.

Since, we are about to get a new city government, mayor and city council, I would suggest a review of the city ordinance regarding dogs and other animals.

I might add that we had a serious incident this week when an elderly woman was viciously attacked in her own yard by a pit bull. We might amend the city ordinance to make it illegal for any person to have a vicious animal, namely a pit bull or rottweiler, within the city limits. Violation of this ordinance -- the owner would pay a heavy fine and the vicious animal would be put down.

Emil Gasior