Letters

SCRAPS should also respond to barking dogs

A recent article in the Valley Voice stated that Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service needs more funding for its operations.

Many of the calls SCRAPS agents handle stem from barking-dog complaints as well as dogs running loose. Spokane County Animal Control Ordinance 5.04.070(7) states it is unlawful for any dog owner to allow dogs to howl, yell, whine or bark in such a manner as to disturb any person or group of persons to an unreasonable degree. Citations will be issued if problems are not resolved.

In our experience with SCRAPS and barking neighbor dogs, the agents seem to follow up on the complaints but do not take the necessary actions to correct the problems. We have had trouble with our neighbor’s barking dogs for over seven years. Especially barking late at night and early morning. Not one citation has been issued. Yet they have been out numerous times talking to the owners regarding this problem.

We continue to have the problem with the barking dogs. Seems to us this is costly to SCRAPS. We feel they could generate as much revenue from correcting these types of problems, which they are in business to handle, as well as making sure all dogs and cats are licensed. If Nancy Hill would run animal control the way it was intended, perhaps it wouldn’t need the additional funding from Spokane Valley.

Doug and Tammy Fountaine

Spokane Valley