Pet owners in Chiefland may face fines for noise disturbances.
City manager Mary Ellzey proposed an ordinance March 14 to reduce the amount of noise complaints about barking dogs within city limits. Ellzey said they aren't as worried about cats and other animals.
Police chief Robert Douglas said his department receives a lot of noise complaints, and the proposed ordinance would allow a warning to be given first, he said. A citation with a fine would be given after repeated noise complaints.
The current ordinances don't cover the issues with barking dogs, Douglas said. When complaints come in, it's usually because a dog has been barking for a week.
"I believe if you live in town, you need to be a good neighbor," he said. "And if you have a barking dog that's keeping all your neighbors awake, you do one of two things: you either keep the dog in at night, or you get rid of the dog."
Benjamin Andrews, who lives in Chiefland and has two dogs of his own, said he doesn't think the proposed ordinance is necessary.
Barking is "how they let us know when something is on your property or something is around your property," he said.
Ellzey said the ordinance has not yet been approved and is an extension to the noise restrictions already in place in Levy county.
Locals can report noise by contacting the Chiefland Police Department or the city hall.