San Diego

The San Diego Community College District board of directors has authorized spending $500 to reduce, temporarily, noise from barking dogs kept as part of the Mesa College Animal Health Technology program. The board voted to add air vents and a floor drain to a barn so that eight of 18 dogs kept outdoors at the Mesa campus can be housed inside. By keeping some of the animals indoors, the board hopes to reduce noise as well as noise complaints from neighboring Clairemont residents. The barn modification, authorized Monday night, is seen as a temporary solution, according to district spokeswoman Kristin Tow. District technicians have been asked to report back within 30 days on how to reduce noise caused by the barking dogs, which are used to help train students to be veterinary assistants. Residents have complained frequently that the dogs often bark through the night.