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Nuisance dog barking is the most common animal complaint received by Animal Services. We initially address these complaints by issuing a Courtesy Citation to the dog owner advising them of the complaint. It is helpful if Animal Services can speak with the reporting party so we may ask specific questions, such as the time of day or night that the dog barks. The identity of the reporting party is kept confidential and no fine is assessed to the dog owner who receives a courtesy citation. At this stage we are simply making the dog owner aware of the nuisance barking problem and helping to resolve it.
During our initial contact Animal Services also provides the dog owner with a brochure entitled Nuisance Dog Barking. This brochure contains municipal code and procedural information specific to barking dog complaints. It also contains information designed to help a dog owner curtail his/her dog's nuisance barking. This brochure is available to any Pleasanton resident upon request.
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If the nuisance dog barking complaint is not resolved with the use of courtesy citations, a citizen may request that an Administrative Citation be issued to the dog owner. The Administrative Citation, a form of citizen's arrest, levies a fine against the dog owner and requires the signature of the citizen filing the complaint. The complainant may be required to appear before a hearing officer, if necessary, to support his/her complaint.
Fine amounts levied against dog owners are as follows: |
| 1st Offense |
$100.00 |
| 2nd Offense |
$200.00 |
| 3rd Offense |
$500.00 |
| 4th and Subsequent Offenses |
$750.00 |
Once an Administrative Citation has been issued the dog owner is required to pay the fine amount due to the City within thirty (30) days from the date of service of the citation. A dog owner has the right to contest an Administrative Citation by requesting a hearing before a neutral hearing officer. To request a hearing, the dog owner completes a Request for Hearing form obtainable from the City Clerk's office. During the hearing, the hearing officer takes testimony from all involved parties to the complainant and issues a written decision approximately two weeks following the hearing. |
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