Western Australia: A Single Dog Bark Shouldn't Be a Crime!
New, tougher dog laws in Western Australia could have dog owners investigated for nuisance behavior after a single barking complaint.
Continuous, loud barking does indeed disturb the peace, but dogs occasionally bark when they sense danger or are hurt. Dog owners often get dogs for this very reason: to warn them of danger on their property. The new dog laws would encourage complaints from people with a hidden agenda -- criminals, or people who simply don't like dogs, for example.
Enforcing the new laws would tie up law enforcement and would ultimately harm dogs whose owners can't afford training and/or equipment to make them stop barking. Dogs could even be surrendered and put down by owners unable to comply with the new rigid laws.
Please sign the petition to urge the Western Australian government to ease up on their dog laws so that a single complaint won't warrant an investigation.
We, the undersigned, are concerned about new, rigid dog laws which could have dog owners investigated for nuisance behavior after a single barking complaint.
Continuous, loud barking does indeed disturb the peace, but dogs occasionally bark when they sense danger or are hurt. Dog owners often get dogs for this very reason: to warn them of danger on their property. The new dog laws would encourage complaints from people with a hidden agenda -- criminals, or people who simply don't like dogs, for example.
Enforcing the new laws would tie up law enforcement and would ultimately harm dogs whose owners can't afford training and/or equipment to make them stop barking. Dogs could even be surrendered and put down by owners unable to comply with the new rigid laws.
We respectfully urge you to ease up on their dog laws so that a single complaint won't warrant an investigation. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider our petition.
