On Wednesday, May 4, the Delaware House Health and Human Development Committee will hold a hearing on House Bill 378, legislation to fine owners for a dog that barks more than 15 minutes. Included is a mandate requiring police departments to enforce the law. The only exemptions given in the bill are for dogs barking at intruders and dogs who are provoked.
Obviously, a dog baying or barking during a hunt would be subject to violation. Fines for violating the legislation are $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second offense and $300 for each offense after that.
“This legislation is absurd and entirely unnecessary, there are already nuisance laws on the books that address animals that are causing a problem,” said Dillon Barto, manager of state services at the Sportsmen’s Alliance.
Delaware Sportsmen should oppose this legislation by contacting these members of the House Health and Human Development Committee:
Chairman David Bentz: David.Bentz@delaware.gov
Vice Chair Melissa Minor-Brown: Melissa.MinorBrown@delaware.gov
Representative Paul S. Baumbach: Paul.Baumbach@delaware.gov
Representative Ruth Briggs King: Ruth.BriggsKing@delaware.gov
Representative Nnamdi Chukwuocha: Nnamdi.Chukwuocha@delaware.gov
Representative Richard Collins: Rich.Collins@delaware.gov
Representative Debra J. Heffernan: Debra.Heffernan@delaware.gov
Representative Kevin Hensley: Kevin.Hensley@delaware.gov
Representative Kendra Johnson: Kendra.Johnson@delaware.gov
Representative John A. Kowalko: John.Kowalko@delaware.gov
Representative Sean Lynn: Sean.Lynne@delaware.gov
Representative Eric Morrison: Eric.Morrison@delaware.gov
Representative Charles S. Postles: Charles.Postles@delaware.gov
Representative Bryan Shupe: Bryan.Shupe@delaware.gov
Representative Michael Smith: Michael.F.Smith@delaware.gov
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.
