Henry County mulls possible noisy dog rules

By News in Brief
Published: December 29, 2008

MARTINSVILLE–Fido’s late night barking could land him in hot water under proposals being considered by Henry County officials, including one that could see noisy dogs euthanized.

The county Board of Supervisors will consider two proposed ordinances at its meeting earlier this month, one of which would declare persistently noisy animals a public nuisance.

Under that proposal, a judge could order the animal to be removed, confined or euthanized.

County Attorney George Lyle says he doubts it would come to that on a first offense.

Lyle has also drafted a second ordinance that would define noisy animals as a private nuisance, which would make it easier for people to bring civil lawsuits against the pets’ owners.

Henry County Commonwealth’s Attorney Bob Bushnell believes that’s a better option.