I have been following the debate on the barking dog issue and reading all the comments in the Acorn regarding this. Last week’s letter from Sherrill Strothman really hit home when she quoted Councilmember Glen Becerra.

The city should be here to help people, not make it harder for them to get some peace and quiet.

There are dog owners who purposely let their dogs bark day in and day out to irritate and make their neighbors mad. One in particular lives right behind me.

I have tried sending letters and politely talking to them. I have let them know that when their dog barks at 3 a.m it wakes up my husband and our kids, who have to go to work and school the next day.

I would rather work it out with them instead of filing a complaint. But these people do not care. They still let their dog out to bark all day and on top of that they blame me for the problem because I’m complaining. What?

Some dog owners are not responsible and do not want to take any responsibility for their dog(s) barking. I should be able to open my windows and get some fresh air without being bombarded all day and night with barking.

Most of the neighbors have dogs and are considerate, but theirs is the only one who is let out to bark all day and night. I do not let my kids go yell and scream in the backyard in the middle of the night to wake up the whole neighborhood, so why are dogs allowed to do so?

The statements made by Councilmember Becerra only add fuel to the fire of irresponsible dog owners and leave others like myself feeling helpless.

If the city does not step in and do something that really works— like a fine system—then what do they expect people who are being harassed by the noise to do? Laura Hicks Simi Valley