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New Jersey Newspaper Displays Sensitivity of Attila the Hun Colts Neck Committee Wastes Time on Barking Problem

Editorial in the Asbury Park Press - October 6, 2004

Enough of the yapping already. The Colts Neck Township Committee surely has more pressing matters than barking dogs. But it spent a portion of another meeting last week -- as well as a Sept. 14 public hearing -- clarifying exactly when barking is a nuisance.

The discussion was particularly absurd because the initial "barker" and "barkee" had their grievance mediated in court long ago. The complainant actually said he was more concerned about his family's safety when a neighbor's dogs intruded on his property.

After the now-moot dispute was brought to the committee's attention, it drafted an amendment to its animal ordinance stating that dogs are not allowed to bark, howl or cry continuously for more than 20 minutes between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., or more than 10 minutes overnight.

The silliness of clarifying the allowable duration and frequency of barks and howls includes the latest amendment that if a dog takes a breather of less than a minute, it doesn't stop the 20-minute clock. Yeesh.

It's time to put a muzzle on such inane matters.

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