HILO, Hawai'i — A two-year County Council effort to address citizen complaints about endless nighttime barking and vicious dogs running loose on the Big Island was dealt a setback yesterday after dozens of pet owners rallied to block passage of the bill.

The County Council voted unanimously yesterday to rewrite a measure that would have increased fines for the owners of stray and noisy dogs.

A number of Big Island residents have complained to the council about vicious dogs roaming neighborhoods. Barbara and Lonny Tomono wrote to ask the council to impose higher fines for the owners of stray dogs after the couple's son was attacked by a loose animal in 2003.

The 11-year-old boy needed more than 100 stitches and had to undergo physical therapy to fully recover from his injuries.

The bill would have increased fines for owners of noisy dogs from $25 to $200, the present range, to $75 to $1,000.

The penalty for allowing a dog to stray would be increased from $10 to fines ranging from $75 to $1,000.

Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com.