Fury as seaside city set to slap fines to dog owners for dogs 'barking too loud'

A controversial new rule will see owners of dogs fined if their pet barks too loud.

The new rule in a seaside city in Panama will see a $100 (£78.70) fine for dog owners if their dog’s bark is above 50 decibels.

Pet owners will only be eligible for the fine between the hours of 6pm and 7am. The fine has been introduced due to noise complaints which have been filed over loud dogs. 

Some agree with the rules which will encourage owners to be considerate of their neighbours while others say it is inhumane.

The new rule has sparked controversy and has been rejected by activists.

Mayor of Arraiján, Stefany Dayan Peñalba, signed the decree which was published in the official gazette on October 31 and shared by local media on Tuesday. 

Animal defenders have objected to the new rule - according to the Animal Protection Community, the consequences of this "totally absurd" regulation will be more abandonment and mistreatment of animals in the Central American country.

2Barking is a natural act, so it cannot be prevented; it cannot be modulated, but owners can try to recognise why dogs bark and based on this take measures to calm them," says the association.

The group Defenders of Animals Panama warned that "a dog's bark can vary in volume depending on size, breed, and temperament of the animal, but generally, dog barks are estimated to reach between 60 and 90 decibels."

Decree 08 of the Mayor's Office of Arraiján establishes a total of 101 administrative offences. 

Some of them concern animals, such as the noise they may cause, or "not displaying the chip, QR code, ear tag or the corresponding means to identify and determine the details of the animal, whether domestic or farmyard, including those of its owner."

This carries a fine of $500 (£393.50) per animal and for failing to collect excrement of animals, a fine of $100 (£78.70) applies.

Panamanian lawyer and congressman Ernesto Cedeño said on his social networks that the mayoral decree is "largely illegal", and called on Panama's Office of the Ombudsman to give courses on local government because "this is getting out of control."

Today, the rule remains in place despite objections.