Several people have written about the problems with barking dogs in their neighborhoods. They have written views on both sides, both as dog owners and as victims of a dog disturbing their peace.

As one writer mentioned, there are issues of more importance to write about locally, and I agree. But to those of us who live near dogs that continually bark, this is an important issue.

Local letter-writer J. Wilder said, “Keep in mind that birds fly, babies cry and dogs bark.”

That sounds exactly like something my inconsiderate neighbor would say. This, of course, is a neighbor with a dog guilty of barking all day. Yes, dogs bark, but with training, they can learn not to bark while their owner is gone for 10 or 12 hours a day, five days a week. They can be trained to bark only to ward off strangers and trespassers, instead of for attention — attention they won’t get, because no one is home to give it.

When did we start looking at dogs for what they do for us, such as guard the house, and stop looking at them as family pets, worthy of love and affection?

J. Wilder also wrote that “understanding” and “a good nature CD” can put things in perspective for a person who lives next to a barking dog. But try being understanding after putting in 10 or 12 hours on a graveyard shift and barely dozing off before waking to the sound of a dog barking so loud that it sounds as if it’s in your yard. Try functioning at work after you are deprived of sleep, day after day. Depending on your job, that could be a safety issue.

I agree with what another writer, E. Ferguson, said on this issue, that a noisy dog is the owner’s fault for not taking the time to train it. I also agree that it is irrelevant whether the dog-owner has lived in the neighborhood longer than anyone else. That doesn’t give one person any more right than another. Everyone should be able to sit in their yard or sleep in their house in peace.

Now, you might ask, why haven’t I spoken to the dog’s owners and let them know their dog continually barks while they are gone? The answer is, I have. This particular neighbor was not responsive. Actually, he did have a response — one that I can’t repeat — but he was nonresponsive as far as correcting the problem.

The next step one might consider is calling the police. First of all, it is sad that people can’t be considerate of others on their own, without being told by a police officer. And let’s be real: The police department has more important things to do than to tell people to get their dogs to stop barking. Judges also have more important cases to hear than one involving a barking dog.

What really needs to be done is for our city government to get on the ball and give animal control the power to take more effective action on repeat calls to the same barking dog. Maybe if the owners of dogs that bark all day had to pay fines, there would be incentive for them to remedy the problem. When it affects the wallet, people seem to react more quickly. Some people need this type of persuasion.

I also find it strange that some dog owners are deaf to their dogs’ continual barking, even when they are home.

Yes, dogs bark — but usually for a reason. They are hungry; there’s a stranger on the property; or they are looking for love and attention. I’m not saying all dog owners are guilty of neglecting their dogs in the area of attention, but those of you who do, well, you know who you are.

My question to you is, why have a dog?

I would never suggest that a person abandon a pet, but if you don’t want the dog and all the responsibility that goes with it, do your neighbors a favor and find the dog a new home — one in which the owner has the time to take the dog on walks, spend time with it and train it.

• Sandy Lebien is a Tracy resident.

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