If your dog has a big bark then League City has a big bite -- a $207 ticket, as one resident found out, for what animal control calls excessive barking.
Myrna Sanders loves her three dogs, but animal control in League City says they are breaking the law by barking too loud.
"Since when can't dogs bark in broad daylight?" Sanders said.
The pink citation is for violating the League City noise ordinance under its excessive barking section. The ticket is $207.
Her nieghbor had never heard of the ordinance.
"They shouldn't have to pay for dogs barking. They're dogs, and that's what they do," League City resident OJ Thomas said.
We talked to League City about the excessive barking citations. They say Sanders had already been granted four deferred ajudication for the same violation last year.
"Obviously dogs do bark, but if it's a situation where it becomes a niusiance to the neighborhood or it keeps them from sleeping or some kind of nuisance to the neighborhood, then thats when it's considered excessive," said Kristi Wyatt, director of communications for League City.
League City animal control officers decide, when arriving on scene, if there is excessive barking. They also advise owners on ways to keep dogs quieter.
"She goes, now you can put citronella collars on them, you can put shock collars on them and they are very humane, and I'm like not from what I've heard," Sanders said.
Well, the potential of receiveing another citation pushed her husband to purchase three shock collars. While she consults with an attorney as she prepares for her pending court date.
"If you are going to single me out, then you need to single everyone around here or all of League City. Why single me out? That's saying me dogs can't bark but everybody elses can," Sanders said.
Sanders will go before judge next Wednesday and plans to plead not guilty. If the judge does not agree, $207 will be due before she leaves the League City Courthouse.
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