Barking Not Part Of Free Speech, Court Rules

Freedom of speech is guaranteed by the Constitution, but what about the freedom to bark? The North Dakota Supreme Court has rejected a claim that an anti-barking ordinance is unconstitutional. Fred Kilkenny got a ticket for his barking dogs in Belfield, N.D., even though he was in Mississippi at the time helping Hurricane Katrina victims. His lawyer argued that Belfield's anti-barking law is too vague to be fairly enforced. But the judges on the state's high court saw no reason to muzzle local officials. The ruling noted that similar dog-barking ordinances have constitutional teeth. Kilkenny may take his case to the U.S. Supreme Court.