Barking dogs spoil neighborhoods

I’d like to thank A. E. Lantis for the letter to The Bee (May 17) regarding “Dog etiquette for ponding basins.” I appreciate the plea to dog owners to exercise responsibility for their pets. I’d like to expand upon that plea.

In the past couple of years, the dog population has increased dramatically in my neighborhood: Most homes now seem to have at least two dogs. Some of the increase in dog population can be attributed to pet-rescue efforts, which I applaud. The downside of this story is the attendant increase in barking-dog noise pollution.

Pets are members of our communities and well-behaved animals are usually quite welcomed. But barking dogs degrade the neighborhood environment. What good is it to rescue a dog only to have it keep your neighbors awake at night and have it bark all day long while you’re at work?

Please be good dog owners and good neighbors: Take care of your pets and make sure they’re good, quiet members of our communities.

This story was originally published May 24, 2016 at 3:18 PM with the headline "Barking dogs spoil neighborhoods."