I said “BE QUIET!”… Tustin gets new barking dog fines.

(Photo Courtesy Brian Lance)

A new barking fine to dog owners may help or hurt Tustin’s property values. Buyers might find comfort in the idea that their neighborhood would be more proactive with noise complaints from dogs barking. However, buyers with dogs may be turned off by the idea of being fined for Fido’s unruly behavior.

According to the OC Regsiter’s article “Tustin to tone down barking dogs” by Cameron Bird, the Tustin City Council approved a measure to institute a program that will cost the City about $9,350 but will provide a means to counsel dog owners first and issue citations second. Before this measure, it was the Police that had to deal with complaints on barking dogs. Here are relevant excerpts from the article:

When Tustin council members first considered the “barking dog ordinance” last year, Mayor Jerry Amante asked for a six-month continuance so that the law could be vetted by statistics.Since then, 17 of 19 other cities under Orange County Animal Care Services’ jurisdiction have adopted the law, which essentially decriminalizes unruly canine behavior.

Besides Tustin, signed-on cities include Brea, Cypress, Fullerton, Garden Grove and Anaheim.

Jennifer Phillips, director of Animal Care Services, delivered results at Tuesday’s meeting from the first eight months of the law’s implementation.

Of the 952 complaints filed, 72 have resulted in citations, 22 in guilty convictions, and the rest have been resolved without charges, she said.

Under the law, owners of first-time offending dogs receive a visit and tips on quelling their pets from an Animal Control Officer. Second-time offenders may receive a fine of $250.

Bird reports that this program “decriminalizes unruly canine behavior.” The approach seems to be placing more of a focus on education and collaboration rather than just plain old fines and punishment. But, will it be effective?

Oh and by the way, if you’re a seller and have complaints about a barking dog, do you know you are required to disclose this nuisance to the buyers? I posted on these prickly disclosures back in January (Sell My House: Disclosing the bad and the ugly). The bottom line is: if you know about, you are required to disclose it.