-
A sign outside a residence on Atoah Street has renewed interest in a dog-barking controversy between a pair of adjacent properties, which has spanned almost two years.
Robbinsville – A neighborhood feud originating with a barking dog has resurfaced – with the sounds of honking car horns.
On Oct. 25, a sign was created from a pallet and black-and-white paint at the Eddings’ residence on Atoah Street.
“Honk if you love dogs” has created its intended response, with cars honking everyday on the busy roadway. Animal lovers may feel moved to honk in enjoyment.
However, there may be a deeper meaning to the sign and the effects it has on the community.
Eddings made a Facebook post of the sign with the caption, “Love thy neighbor, maybe if thy loved our dog!”
The dog in reference is the Eddings’ Great Pyrenees, Leo. In 2022, the Eddings received two noise-violation citations based on the former Town of Robbinsville noise ordinance, for the dog’s barking and loud music.
The fallout from recent events has spurned the town to update its ordinance.
Meaning
David Hall lives across from the Eddings, with his wife – who has Alzheimer’s Disease.
In the past, the dog’s barking has disturbed her. Now, the honking car horns are the main culprit.
Hall believes the goal of the sign is to disturb the neighborhood.
“Well, of course, a lot of people like dogs, they’re going to honk,” Hall passionately told The Graham Star in a recent interview. “What they don’t realize is that sign was put up as a vindictive act to get people to blow their horns to torment me and my wife.”
On a phone call, Eddings said the sign is “there to spread the love.”
“You can honk if you want or not,” Michael said to the Star.
Eddings stated that the sign is freedom of speech. He said the reason he put the sign up is because his next-door neighbor, Sally Morphew, put up no-trespassing signs. Eddings said he wanted to cover up her signs with one of his own.
Hall also said the Eddings put a “boombox” on the porch and play loud music. The honking car horns also make the dog bark in the back yard.
Graham County Sheriff Brad Hoxit said the sheriff’s office has received calls about unnecessary car honking. No one has made a complaint about the sign.
Eddings confirmed this and commented on how he would feel if someone complained about the sign.
“I can give two ***** if they complain about my sign,” exclaimed Eddings.
Past history
While speaking to the Star, Hall recalled when the issue of the dog barking started in late-2021.
A few days after the Eddings’ moved in, Hall was bringing his wife home from the hospital at 3 a.m. Leo was barking and Hall’s wife cried in bed wanting the dog to stop.
Hall went outside and yelled at the dog.
“It’s a Great Pyrenees. He barks at anything and everything that moves,” said Hall. “If you drive by, he barks at you. If you walk by, he barks at you. Anything that moves, he barks at it. He doesn’t need a reason, he just barks.”
In 2022, more than one neighbor – including Hall – made a complaint to the sheriff’s office about the barking dog and excessive noise.
At one point, the Eddings put a “boombox” on their front porch and started playing loud music. An unidentified deputy later said he could hear the music from three blocks away.
The next day, Eddings received a citation for violating the town’s dog ordinance.
Eddings and his wife, Katlyn Eddings, complained to the former sheriff about the citation and tried to file a complaint of harassment against Hall.
On May 31, 2022, Michael went to a hearing where District Attorney Caleb Decker – who represented the prosecution – made an offer to drop the charges, if Eddings surgically altered his dog’s vocal cords.
Eddings rejected the plea deal and was given a new trial date for Oct. 10, 2022. Shortly after Decker’s suggestion, he resigned.
The District Attorney’s office dismissed the charges and didn’t go to trial because they questioned whether a dog barking was a criminal matter according to state law.
Eddings started a GoFundMe page in 2022 titled “Help get justice for Leo,” which hoped to raise $10,000 to pay for their legal fees and $750 to pay for a privacy fence. The GoFundMe is no longer accepting money.
Eddings said the GoFundMe helped cover the court costs, but not the privacy fence. Eddings is still planning on putting up a privacy fence.
New ordinance
In July, the Town of Robbinsville’s Chapter 14 “Ordinance to Regulate the Care and Control of Animals” was updated regarding noise.
Section 13 (1) states, “Any animal which habitually and repeatedly makes noises sufficient to interfere seriously with neighboring residents’ reasonable use of their property is considered a public nuisance. Animals may be impounded by the Designated Party.”
Section 14 explains the penalty for a public nuisance. A citation can be issued for the violation. The first violation is $50; the second, $100; the third, $150. The violator will have to pay the citation – which is a civil penalty – to town hall within 14 days.
If the violator does not pay the civil penalty within 14 days, a criminal summons will be issued. This is a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment; the subject will receive a fine of $500.
So far, Hall has not filed a complaint because he does not want to engage with the Eddings anymore. Hall wants the situation to be over.
At the moment, Hoxit said the sheriff’s office will only give a citation if someone files a complaint.
According to both Hoxit and Robbinsville Mayor Shaun Adams, Eddings is aware of the new ordinance. Adams himself delivered the new ordinance to Eddings – hesitantly, as he did not want to deliver the ordinance and said Hoxit contacted him multiple times to do so. Adams felt like it was not the mayor’s place to deliver a copy of an ordinance or go to a noise complaint.
Adams mentioned that he used to live near the Eddings before they moved to Atoah Street.
“I was neighbors with the Eddings for several years and their dogs never bothered me,” said Adams. “In fact, I treated their dogs like my own and enjoyed them coming to my house.”
The Eddings’ used to have another dog – which has since passed away – along with Leo.
The board of aldermen passed the animal control ordinance unanimously. Adams did not vote on the refreshed ordinance, since it is regulation that the mayor only votes in the rare event of a tie, or if someone excuses themselves from the vote.
“The reason that the board brought this into vote is because David Hall has repeatedly contacted town officials and has spoken at multiple meetings in reference to the animal control ordinance,” said Adams. “The aldermen never got to hear the Eddings side of the story at a town meeting.”
Aldermen Debbie Beasley and Kenneth Hyde approved the ordinance because it is important to control animals for the safety and wellbeing of community members.
“It is important for each citizen to be respected and it’s wrong for an animal to not be controlled,” Beasley told the Star, when contacted for comment on this report.
Hyde said there were numerous complaints about dogs barking and getting loose. It was not just a single incident that lead to the animal ordinance being changed and approved, he added.
It was also noted that the Eddings were invited to a meeting to speak on the issue and the ordinance, but they did not show. Beasley said it is up to the Eddings to voice their opinion to the aldermen.