The Tacoma City Council is expected to vote tonight on changes to the city’s animal control ordinance that target dangerous dogs, problem pet owners, unlicensed mothers – and roosters.
City officials have been talking about and tweaking the proposed changes for about two years. If approved, they would:
• Expand the definition of dangerous and potentially dangerous dogs. Unlike some jurisdictions, the rules don’t address a particular breed of dog, but list the types of behavior that could get a dog labeled dangerous. They include an unprovoked attack that inflicts “severe injury” or kills a person; an unprovoked attack that kills or injures a domestic animal badly enough that it’s euthanized; and keeping a dog for the purpose of fighting.
• Requires euthanasia or removal from the city for all dangerous dogs.
• Prohibits bringing a dog to Tacoma that has been declared dangerous or potentially dangerous in another jurisdiction.
• Creates the designation “problem pet owner.” A person who commits three or more animal control violations in a 24-month period could be declared a problem pet owner and forced to surrender all of their animals.
• Makes it a civil infraction to sell or give away puppies or kittens born to an unlicensed animal. Owners would be required to include the mother’s license number in any published advertisements of puppies or kittens.
• Enacts a complete ban on roosters in the city limits, a response to complaints about noise. Hens are allowed.
• Make it a violation to improperly license a pet (to license an unaltered animal as an altered pet.)
• Make it a crime to create or use counterfeit license tags.
• Make it a violation to leave animal waste on public or private property, unless authorized.
• Make anyone younger than 18 ineligible to license pets.
The most controversial elements of an earlier proposal are no longer being considered. Those included banning of livestock and requiring pet owners to buy a breeder’s license if they didn’t spay or neuter their animals.
Jason Hagey: 253-597-8542
jason.hagey@thenewstribune.com
blogs.thenewstribune.com/politics
What should the county do about dangerous dogs? If you’ve got ideas, the Pierce County Auditor’s Office wants to hear them.
The office will host three public meetings to gather ideas for legislative, enforcement and administrative strategies on dangerous dogs.
The auditor is revisiting the county’s dangerous dog laws in light of several high-profile dog attacks this year, including the Aug. 21 mauling of Key Peninsula resident Sue Gorman in her home. Animal control officials say they need tougher laws to protect the public from dangerous animals.
Public meetings on the issue are schedule for:
• 7 p.m. today at the Graham Branch Library, 9202 224th St. E.
• 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Gig Harbor Civic Center, 3510 Grandview Drive, Gig Harbor.
• 7 p.m. on Jan. 7 at the Pierce County Fire Protection District #6-9 Training Room, 17210 110th Ave. E.
Stacey Mulick, The News Tribune
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