Put a muzzle on it? Barking dogs beware in Fla. town

PALMETTO BAY, Fla. - Officials in the South Florida village of Palmetto Bay will soon decide whether to put more bite into a noise ordinance aimed at quieting down the local pooch population.

Translation: The Mayor of Palmetto Bay, Shelley Stanczyk, is proposing that anyone should be able to file a complaint with the city, whenever a dog barks for 20 minutes or longer, or more than 5 times in an hour, according to CBS Miami.

The station says the first complaint would automatically lead to a warning. The second complaint would bring a $250 fine, and a third complaint would be $500 fine.

Before issuing a citation, the station says, the village's noise control officer would deliver a notice of civil infraction to the dog owner, and give the owner up to 30 days to correct the problem.

Also, the dog owner would be able to appeal the complaint. But CBS Miami reports the burden would be on the owner to prove his or her canine didn't bark for 20 minutes or 5 times in a hour.

One exception to the ordinance, according to the station, would be if a dog is barking because a person is trespassing or threatening to trespass upon private property, or if the animal is teased or provoked.

Palmetto Bay officials plan to discuss the stricter barking regulations at the council meeting next Monday.