"I just feel the whole thing is ludicrous. I think it's unfair,” said Niskayuna resident Linda Rizzo.

Rizzo was one of many Niskayuna residents speaking out against the proposed changes to the dog barking ordinance during a public hearing Tuesday night.

That's because many believe this new ordinance would hurt businesses like the Aqueduct Animal Hospital.

"You cannot stop a canine from barking. One canine barks, you're going to have 20 start barking,” said Rizzo.

Currently, the town ordinance states a dog needs to continuously bark for 15 minutes for an owner to get fined.

The proposal calls for the owner to get fined if the dog barks 10 minutes straight or intermittently over 20 minutes between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

During the hours of 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., it would be 20 minutes of straight or 30 minutes of intermittent barking.

"This ordinance is poorly written and could have unintended consequences,” said Dr. Matthew Pike, Aqueduct Animal Hospital.

Pike says the change would be unfair to his animal hospital.

He says especially since the facility has been in the community for 60 years, well before all the homes were developed around the animal hospital.

"I have tried to work with the town to address neighborhood concerns and we're asking you to make a good faith effort to work with us,” said Pike.

Town Councilman John Della Ratta says Aqueduct isn't being targeted by this change.

He says the town has received more than 100 barking complaints over the last two years.

Della Ratta says the goal of the change is to make the ordinance easier to enforce.

"Niskayuna has always been considered a dog-friendly community, and personally I think it should stay that way,” said resident Douglas McManus.

Pike say he would like to work out this issue with all parties involved, and let the current ordinance stand. But he says if the change does happen, Aqueduct shouldn't be exempted from the new ordinance.

The town board says the proposal will continue to be reviewed in committee meetings.

There is no word yet on when it could be voted on.