HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 12 Correspondence from Bill Kelly and Barbara Allen, Springfield, Oregon Regarding Barking Dogs Ordinance
To: Springfield City Council and Springfield City Manager
From: Bill Kelly and Barbara Allen, 815 Prescott Lane, Springfield, OR 97477
Re: Barking Dogs - change in regulation
Date: October 25,2007
Although we are owners of two dogs, we join many others in their annoyance at relentlessly barking dogs.
We find it particularly frustrating that our dogs bark mostly at our neighborhood's many, free-range cats.
Our dogs bark as:
· the cats stroll by on theIr cat paths through the empty lot next to us.
· the cats cross our deck to sit under our bird feeders.
· the cats use our garden as their personal cat box.
· the cats pounce on a goldfinch for their morning snack.
· the cats put their scent mark on our trees, chairs, posts and/or barbeque grill cover.
· the cats sit basking in the sun, quietly taunting our dogs who are confined.
Ifwe're home, the dogs must limit their barking to the inside the house. We stop their barking and scare the
cat away from view. If the dogs are outside in their dog run, we bring them in.
Ifwe're gone, the dogs are free to use their dog run by access through their dog door. They no doubt bark at
a meandering neighborhood feline if one is in view. The dogs can't chase the cats away, because they are
confined to their dog run. We respect our neighbors and don't want our dogs to disturb them.
This problem of excessive barking is not just a dog and dog-owner problem. It's about our other family
friend - the unrestricted domestic cat. If we get fined because our dogs bark over 15 minutes, we would
need to confine our dogs to the house---while cats use our whole neighborho<;>d as their personal territory.
Ignoring the cause while focusing on the effect is an affront to man's best friend. Please do not approve of
this further restriction on barking dogs. Let's find an alternative.
Co-signed by:
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Jaz complains bitterly of the behavior of neighborhood cats, while Jing sadly nods in a~reement.