Update: Court Orders Woman to Jail Over Barking Dogs | News

TOWN OF TONAWANDA, NY--  A  77-year-old woman was  supposed to spend 24-hours behind bars because of her barking dogs. But Barbara Creighton tells 2 On Your Side that when she reported to the Alden Correctional Facility Friday night she was told by jail officials that she had served her time and was released after  several minutes of waiting.  

Creighton says the jail officials told her the judge knew when he imposed the sentence on Wednesday night that she would not really have to spend the night in jail. She now considers the matter a waste of time and money which caused stress for her.   

Town of Tonawanda Police tell 2 On Your Side they have received numerous complaints over the course of three-years because of Barbara Creighton's barking dogs at her home on Zimmerman Boulevard.

Lt. Nick Bado says neighbors have complained that Creighton's two dogs named Shadow and Lacey bark incessantly, day and night.

She disputes that by saying her dogs are not "notorious barkers" and that she goes to bed at 10:30PM and does not take the dogs out in the early morning hours. She says she has plenty of letters of support from other neighbors stating her dogs are not a problem but claims police and the prosecutor just ignore them. Creighton says she has also offered to use barking dog control collars which emit a slight shock to stop the dog from barking.

Police say Creighton has received tickets and up to $2,000 dollars in fines, but that nothing has changed. That is why Town Justice Daniel Caravello sentenced her Wednesday night to do one day behind bars.

Police warn they may arrest her at her home next time and have her actually booked at the town police station if there is another violation. But Creighton says she may speak with a criminal defense attorney to see if she can fight the charges.