Last year, the Sportsmen’s Alliance reported on Delaware House Bill 378, a bill to prohibit dog barking, whining, or howling for more than 15 continuous minutes or intermittently for 30 minutes or more. HB 378 was defeated.
On Wednesday, March 29, at 11 a.m., the House Health & Human Development Committee is scheduled to hear House Bill 84, this year’s version of HB 378. The only difference between the two versions is this year’s bill does not prohibit but states, “no person who owns, possesses, harbors, or controls a dog may allow the dog to cause a noise disturbance by barking, whining, or howling for more than 15 minutes or intermittently, for 30 minutes or more.” Do not fall for this animal-rights extremist “bait-and-switch” tactic. They are just working to get this language into law, so they can return year after year to broaden the language.
And the Sportsmen’s Alliance still has the same concerns with the rest of the bill as it did last year. It still spells real trouble for sporting-dog kennels, which are most often located in rural areas, because the bill makes no exceptions for whether the barking occurs in metropolitan areas or in the country.
This bill still extends beyond kennels, as it still applies to baying or barking hounds during a hunt. And still mandates that police officers assist the Office of Animal Welfare (OAW) in the implementation of laws that protect and control animals. This means that police departments are required to enforce this law. Notably, the OAW is anticipating the need to hire a new investigator for each county to be responsible for enforcement, according to the bill’s fiscal note. This means aggressive enforcement will be the norm and spells real trouble for owners of sporting dogs and sporting dog kennels.
Please use our Take Action button to email the committee urging them to OPPOSE HB 84. Law enforcement and the office of animal welfare have more pressing issues than ensuring a dog is not barking, whining, or howling for longer than 15 minutes.
Don’t forget to share this message with your family, friends, and fellow gun owners urging them to also email the committee urging them to OPPOSE HB 84.
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
