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BUCKHANNON -- The Upshur County Commission did not indicate they would pursue a barking dog ordinance but did agree to ask the animal control officer to visit a French Creek neighborhood after a couple complained about excessive barking dogs.
Theresa Servates told commissioners she lives on Kittle Run Road off of the Alton Road.
"We have a nuisance barking dog problem," she said. These dogs bark 24-7. There are three different people around our area that have these barking dogs and they never stop them from barking.
"I know if we lived in city limits, there is an ordinance I believe we would be able to do something about it," she said. "Being outside of city limits, we are told there is nothing that can be done. We are just asking for the same rights and peace of quiet people in city limits are able to have.
"No one should have to be bothered day and night by constantly barking dogs. There must be something that can be done to stop this."
If an ordinance is made, Servates asked there be fines or other punitive measures that people will take the ordinance seriously.
"This seems only the fair and reasonable solution for people in the country to have the same rights to peace and quiet as people inside the city limits," she said. "The anxiety and lack of sleep due to these dogs constantly barking has had a very bad effect on my husband's health. We pretty much have to stay in the house with the air conditioning on instead of being able to be outside."
She said the sound will worsen in the fall as the leaves come off the trees.
"Is there anything that can be done? Some type of ordinance that can stop these dogs? Stop these people from having these barking dogs constantly?" she asked.
Commission president Terry Cutright asked if the animal control officer had visited.
Cervates said animal control had talked to one of the neighbors who had about a dozen dogs approximately six months ago.
Chuck Servates said, "We've been dealing with this for over a year now."
One nearby neighbor visited the Servates to verify his dogs were the problem.
"He came up to our house and said it can't possibly be my dogs," Theresa said. " It was his dogs.
"At that time, they were barking. We said, 'Those are your dogs. They are right down there.'"
Although there is more than one home with barking dogs, the Servates said they can tell who the dogs belong to when they are barking.
Another person had told them their dogs only bark when they see a coyote.
"There aren't that many coyotes up there," Chuck Servates said.
Commission president Terry Cutright said they would ask the animal control officer to visit the neighbors again.
Theresa Servates said, " But if all he can do is just talk to them, there is no consequences they can have, then they are probably not going to do anything unless there is an ordinance."
The commission did not say they would pursue an ordinance.
Cutright said, "There are a lot of hunting dogs in West Virginia, so how do you divide them out? Hunting dogs bark."
Servates said, "But do hunting dogs bark constantly? Nobody should infringe on anybody's rights like that."