EDITOR,

Having read the recent trail of letters on barking dogs, I have to add my two cents to the trail.

I have a dog and she is well-trained and only barks on command or when someone knocks at the door. So, to the reader who commented that “babies cry, dogs bark, get used to it,” I definitely agree.

But dogs should be trained to bark on command or at relevant times, at play or whatever (and babies grow out of crying). There is no excuse for a barking dog; it is the owner’s responsibility to train and control the dog.

To the reader who mentioned about time spent living in Tracy, this is a nonargument; everyone is entitled to the same quality of life, the same peace and quiet, as governed by the law or local codes.

I have a neighbor whose dog barks continually as soon as it is in the garden. It’s a small dog, so it’s less of a bark and more of a continual yap. To the reader who wrote “I am a prisoner in my own home,” I agree.

My family and I cannot sit in our backyard or lounge by the pool for long before the dog starts up. I’ve spoken to the owner twice — very cordially, I might add. The first time, the owner was sympathetic and kept the dog inside more often. It was the neighbor’s choice; I only asked the barking be controlled.

The second time I spoke to the neighbor, there was more hostility from the neighbor to the point of not wanting to discuss the issue further. Animal control and the local police all sympathized but didn’t really help. We’ve tried all of the online aids to stop the barking, but they didn’t work. In fact, they made matters worse by antagonizing the dog.

I think the Tracy city code says that no animal shall cause a disturbance to a neighbor where it affects the neighbor’s quality of life.

Bottom line: It is not the dog’s fault; it is the owner’s fault for not training the dog and not caring about disruption to the neighbor’s quality of life.