MOUNT DORA, Fla. -- The city of Mount Dora is one stop closer to strengthening its dog-barking ordinance.

It is currently illegal for dogs to bark in Mount Dora for more than five minutes at one time.

However, if a new ordinance passes, dog owners will receive a ticket if their pets bark on and off for 30 minutes.

Some dog lovers think the change is ridiculous and they let City Council members know at a meeting Tuesday night.

"If you are going to say we have a 30-minute incident then my dog will be in jail forever," dog owner Pearl Herndon said.

"I think people are just getting carried away with themselves and it has got to stop," dog owner Robert Robison said.

Council members said the dog disturbance would have to be excessive for the owner to be ticketed.

They also said they wanted to dispel any misconceptions that the ordinance is a ban on dog barking or that the city of Mount Dora isn't dog-friendly.

"Mount Dora is probably one of the most dog-loving cities that I have ever heard of in Central Florida," Mount Dora Chief Randy Scoggins said.

"There are problems, not with the dogs, but with the dog owners and the dog's environment," Mount Dora Mayor James Yatsuk said.

The City Council plans to vote on the issue in two weeks.

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