Howard County family fights dog barking fines after neighbor disputes

The Davis family in Mount Airy is currently in a legal dispute with a neighbor over the barking of their guard dog. The couple argues that the animal is necessary to protect their home and livestock, while the neighbor claims the noise is unbearable. This conflict has turned into a series of court hearings and county fines over the past year.

Jennifer and Steven Davis moved to Mount Airy in 2022 to gain more space after living in a townhouse with a short driveway. They established a garden and a poultry farm in their backyard to be self-sufficient. To protect their animals and children, they adopted a dog named Suki last summer.

Steven Davis stated that a guardian dog is required to keep free-range livestock safe. The family trained Suki and placed signs warning passersby that the dog would bark. Despite these measures, the Howard County Animal Control Department issued multiple fines to the house starting in December.

The fines accused Jennifer Davis of disturbing the peace due to Suki's barking. Steven Davis said he was confused and angry because other dogs in the neighborhood bark frequently and often louder than Suki. The citations were issued based on complaints filed by neighbor Eileen Stewart.

Stewart declined an interview request but provided sworn statements in the legal process. In one declaration, she wrote that Suki barked day and night. She also submitted a detailed log of every instance she heard the dog bark. A county spokesperson noted that Animal Control requires evidence for complaints but does not need to investigate before issuing a fine. If a fine is contested, the Animal Affairs Board reviews the case.

Jennifer Davis decided to contest the citations after reviewing video evidence provided by Stewart. In one clip, Stewart is seen filming Suki barking in the Davis front yard from behind the fence. The camera position appears to be from the yard directly across the street. Jennifer said the neighbors recorded their guardian dog barking at them, which served as their proof of excessive barking.

The Davis family has since found a new home for Suki. However, they argue that state and county laws regarding agricultural rights should have protected the dog's barking. Jennifer Davis has a trial scheduled for January regarding two of the remaining violations.

One violation was declared guilty earlier this year, and the family is attempting to overturn that decision. One other violation has already been dismissed. The legal battle continues as the family navigates the county's animal control processes.

The case highlights the tension between residential noise ordinances and the practical needs of small-scale farming in suburban areas. The Davis family maintains that their actions were reasonable given their living situation and the purpose of their property.