‘Dog-Barking Rights’

The article by Merrill Joan Gerber (Editorial Pages, April 7), “Dog-Barking Rights Should End Where My Ears Begin,” promptly outraged me.

Gerber wrote about the various noises in her neighborhood that her doctor says can cause her high blood pressure, while staying home to work. (At least by staying home she can avoid the commuter stress with which most of us must contend in Los Angeles.)

Gerber goes on to complain about professional and amateur gardeners who create noise in her neighborhood that disturbs her concentration while she works, and barking dogs that disturb her at all hours of the day and night.

For noise abatement, she goes on to propose solutions. “For gardener noise, let us institute laws that would limit machine use to one morning per neighborhood per week.” This solution is absurd! It appears that the illogical Ms. Gerber has never taken the time to really think out her proposal. I personally can not understand how to coordinate a professional gardener’s schedule with that of a homeowner-gardener. Working people generally work Monday through Friday--not on weekends. This creates a conflict. Which would she eliminate--the professional gardener who works during the week, or the amateur gardener, who works during the week and mows on the weekend?

Her other pet peeve is about barking dogs. Here she states that she has consulted her lawyer over this one, and has been assured that it is next to impossible to do anything about the noise.

Well, my neighbors and I have a great many dogs, and while living in San Gabriel, Granada Hills (Los Angeles) and now in Agoura I have never been awakened by a barking dog. Furthermore, all three communities have strict noise laws that limit all loud noise after 10 p.m., including barking dogs. Maybe she should call the police (and not her lawyer) the next time and complain if her neighbors can’t keep their pets quiet after a courteous phone call reminding them of their civic responsibility.

Gerber has recommended that dog owners “de-bark” their pets, or move to the country to avoid disturbing their neighbors, but it appears that a much better solution for the cantankerous Ms. Gerber would be for her to move to the country to avoid city noise, and work in a more antiseptic environment, away from ordinary human beings who make up the majority of suburbanites.

HAL JACOBS

Agoura Hills