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For the past year，Cornelia Czarnecki said，the barking of her neighbors German shepherdl has awakened her repeatedly at 4 a.m.The dog often barks for hours at a time，said Mrs.Czarnecki，a Clifton resident. That dog is out there barking day and night，and we dont know what to do anymore，she said. Mrs.Czarnecki became so upset about the dog that she filed a municipal complaint3 against him under the towns general noise ordinance.The case is set to be heard in municipal court on August 6.Complaints like the ones Mrs.Czarnecki lodged with the police4 and city officials led the Clifton City Council to draft an ordinance that could result in fines for residents whose dogs are barking，howling，cryingor making any.other loud noises for more than 30 minutes in an hour. I cant wait，Mrs.Czarnecki said.The council took up the ordinance for a first reading on Tuesday;a final vote is scheduled on August 8. Its a quality of life issue，said Councilman Frank C.Fusco，who introduced the measure.Clifton is far from alone in seeking to silence noisy dogs.At least 144 of New Jerseys municipalities have laws that address whining and barking5，according to a municipal ordinance database online at www.generalcode.com. In New York，at least 30 towns in Nassau and Suffolk Counties have similar laws，as do about 25 towns in Westchester County.Connecticut has a statewide law barring dogs that are a nuisancebecause of excessive barking or other disturbance. | 
