The Delaware House of Representatives will be considering a bill to regulate barking dogs in the state during Sunday’s (June 30, 2024) Sine die session starting at 2:00pm.
Delaware residents are encouraged to contact the members of the House of Representatives to express your concerns with House Bill 124 which seeks to regulating barking dogs. Scroll down for more information.
Summary:
As mentioned in a previous alert, House Bill 124 will prohibit dogs from barking continuously for more than 15 minutes, or more than 30 minutes total in a day. The bill does include exemptions if the dog is barking because a person trespassing or threatening to trespass upon private property; an animal intruding upon private property where the dog is located; or the dog is being teased or provoked. AKC was able to get exemptions added for dogs training, exhibitions, lawful performance competitions, hunting, and herding.
Yesterday (June 27), the Senate amended the bill to include dog day care and boarding facilities as well as dogs guarding livestock to the list of exemptions. Since the Senate amended House Bill 124, it now returns to the House of Representatives for final approval.
What you can do:
Contact your member of the House of Representatives – Type in your address on the AKC Legislative Action Center at www.akcgr.org/officials and let them know that while you appreciate the exemptions in the bill, you are still opposed to the bill. Respectfully let them know that you agree no one should be subjected to extended periods of continuous barking; however, this legislation:
- Ignores the fact that dogs bark for many reasons not covered by the bill. Some examples: dog outside playing in its own backyard with family members; dog barking at a siren or other strange noises; dog barking at mailman, paperboy, delivery persons, etc.; dog barking at an animal outside of its defined property line; and many other reasons that dogs bark.
- It does not protect dogs nor their responsible owners. Instead has the potential of making any dog owner in the state of Delaware subject to a complaint by any person who has issues with their dog owning neighbor, including those engaged in lawful activities nor individual situations.
- Barking dogs are, in realty, a nuisance issue best handled at the local level and not a state issue
AKC Government Relations continues to monitor legislation in Delaware impacting dog owners. For questions or more information, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.