Town Makes It A Jailable Offense For Allowing Dog To Bark

Jail time "puts some teeth into the rules," the town supervisor punned.
Police State USA
Oct. 04, 2014

UNION, NY — A central New York town has instituted jail time as a penalty for a wide variety of menial violations of the town’s extensive pet control laws.

With a population of 56,000, the Town of Union now stands out as having among the most draconian laws in the country for pet owners. Among the laundry list of pet “offenses” is a prohibition on barking.

Pet owners could face up to fifteen (15) days in jail or $250.00 fines for any of the following offenses — among others — listed in Chapter 71 of the town statutes:

Owning a dog without an annually-renewed $25 license [71-5 (H)]

Transferring ownership of a dog without a new license [71-4.1 (H)]

Failing to notify the Town Clerk of a dog’s death [71-4.1 (K)]

Owning a dog that annoys any person with “howling, barking, crying or whining” [71-5 (B)]

Permitting a dog to defecate or urinate anywhere outside of the owner’s property [71-5 (F)]

Disposing of dog poop in a toilet or sewer [71-5 (F)]

Owning a dog that chases cars [71-5 (E)]

Allowing a dog off of a leash, even on the owner’s property [71-5 (A) and 71-6]

Of note, cats and other domestic animals can also violate the “howling, barking, crying or whining” prohibition [71-13 (A)].

Town Supervisor Rose Sotak told WBNG that officials were anxious to “put some teeth into the rules” using the new police powers.