Every dog has its day and night.
I can't sleep at night, neither can I nap in the day! So the internet gave me a terrific option. BOW_WOW NOISE CODE...
There is a new noise code in the US that will fine owners of dogs if their dog barks for more than 5 minutes in the night. NYTimes had reported that pet owners can be held responsible if their dog’s barking is “unreasonable and plainly audible” from nearby homes for a continuous period of at least 10minutes (from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.) or 5 minutes (from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.).
Newsday quoted a dog owner, Marlene Hussey “How are you going to tell a dog you only have five minutes?”
What will happen if such a law is brought in by eager babu's in India?
Let's say, the dog has been trained to bark for 10 minutes, three times a day by his vet/trainer/owner to get rid of his angst—what will be the parameters of fining for exceeding 5 mins in the day. Can the owner charge the authorities for retraining bills?
The flip side is that the next great invention could possibly be something to measure the bark— A barking metre.
What about the neighbours complaints? Again an interesting question? The important aspect of this law is the validity and veracity of the neighbour's complaint, his/her timing of the event. How true could the bow report be?
Next, what about the role of the Police in all this—who takes precedence for action—the shop breaker, the wife beater or the dog barking owner. Maybe nature’s call will take precedence.
Barking dogs don’t bite—so if a dog has a successful record of biting, will that be a good defense against allegations of barking.
The warning boards on gates of bungalows in Chennai already reads, "Beware of Biting Dogs"--so is this in preparation of a new bark-code? Will visitors have to bark (not exceeding 5 minutes) to gain entry?
Some canines may have a dogged defense that it was the owner who barked, then in the event who will gain the benefit of doubt.
Owners may also claim that it was the TV, another neighbour’s dog or a venomous spouse. How do you verify this? Who will get punished?
And what about Vets and dog-creches who have kennels full of home/sick dogs? Will they be bowwow-deep in trouble?
Finally, if the owner is ready to pay the penalty n number of times, will that be okay? Will a limit be set for the penalty? Will the dog have to be jailed for trying the patience of sympathetic judges--also canine owners? Will the dog be allowed on parole for bark-behaviour?
In all this what about Noise Pollution and the dog catchers. The neighbourhood dogs have great sessions every night barking news and abuse to each other and chasing two wheelers on the rampage. They also have how(l)-ooing serenades to dogs on heat. So in this case who gets penalised?
The last words--what about animal activists--what will they say?
Sleepless in Chennai Padmum
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Hi All
Thanks for your votes, notes and quotes! Didn't know that a bark could create such ripples!
I've made new friends and am 'purring' about it!
God bless you all.
Padmum
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Hy Padmum,
Reading one of your blogs for the 1st Time... Well I guess we indians could do with a little bit of the rules though specially the one that does not allow neighbours to let their recor players blare loud pyayers at 5 in the morning... not that I dont believe in God... I do... just that I love my sleep too
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Woof! Thanks all for making my blog a favourite, the first time in my blogging history.
It is interesting...Do dogs take on the behaviour of their masters, general surroundings and environment? The dogs in your area seem to be a pretty well disciplined lot.
In India we are generally unruly, love barking and biting within and outside our homes. We have no discipline even though we claim to have Maryada Purushottams and Bhishma Pratigna as examples to follow.
Another interesting argument..is the bark of a dog worse than its bite or vice versa. At least I hear that the 40 odd injections you needed around your navel after a dog bite has been drastically reduced! Thank heavens as it was a laboured joke in all media....
Padmum
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All dogs who loved this humorous blog, say woof woof!!
Brilliant and funny!
It is icy and snowy where I live. Some dog owners leave their dogs out in the backyard all night in a doggy shed and yet I do not hear a whimper. I guess a frozen dog's bite is harder than its bark! I have always been amazed when dog owners in US say 'shut up' and the dogs simply obey! So, obedient dogs need to be issued coupons with barking discounts. Wish they had similar bark control laws for nagging humans.
Great! I am recommending this one.
Ranjini
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Padum,
You brought out the ridiculousness of the proposed law. And then these lines...
Owners may also claim that it was the TV, another neighbour’s dog or a venomous spouse. How do you verify this? Who will get punished?
Cheers,
Dagny
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Padmum your post was not only informative it was hilarious too! Enjoyed it. - S.Uma
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Oh dear, my daughter got into trouble in Sydney becoz her pet barked in the wee hours of the morn. A snooty neighbour came marching into her house at that time and barked at her. Since tht is also not done she got away. But abroad it is indeed an offence and the dog can be confined or taken away.Imagine this in India. We rear dogs for barking only.hehe
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Sleepless in Chennai...it is a wow! Or should I say, 'Bow, wow'....
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My dear padmum garu,
There are so many animal activists in my city who go to court and to any lengths to stop the Municipal Corporation from catching the stray dogs. U r writing about plain barking. We have great symphony of dogs barking in C minor and B major continuously for hours. Sure we need a law just for the heck of it. because the animal activists will anyway find many loopholes mentioned by u.
Good post.
Ramarao.
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Join the 'Sleepless in Chennai because of dogdom' Club!
Padmini Natarajan
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