Stanwood City Council moves to define ‘dangerous dog’

STANWOOD — City leaders are considering new animal control regulations that would define what makes a dog dangerous or potentially dangerous.

The proposed ordinance also lays out an appeal process for owners of such dogs, updates exotic animal restrictions and removes limitations on cat ownership.

The City Council voted unanimously Thursday to move forward with adopting the new rules. A final vote is scheduled for April 9.

City officials and police say they haven’t heard from the public about the changes, though dangerous dog rules have been known to spark heated debate in communities around the country. Usually, breed restrictions cause the most concern, and Stanwood’s proposal doesn’t fall into that category, City Administrator Deborah Knight said.

The ordinance defines a dangerous dog as one that severely injures a human without provocation; kills a domestic animal without provocation while off the dog owner’s property; or was classified as potentially dangerous and attacks or endangers someone.

A potentially dangerous dog is one that has bitten a human or domestic animal, or has chased or tried to attack someone on public property, like a park or sidewalk.

“It’s not based on breed,” Stanwood Police Chief Rick Hawkins said. “It’s based on actions of the dogs.”

If a dog attacks or injures someone who is trespassing on the owner’s property, or someone who is or has in the past abused the dog, the animal would not be labeled as dangerous, according to the ordinance.

Under the new rules, people also could appeal a dangerous dog designation by submitting a written claim to the police chief within five days of being notified that their pet is listed as dangerous or potentially dangerous. The appeal would go to the Stanwood hearing examiner for consideration.

Owners of dangerous dogs are required to pay higher licensing fees, get their pet chipped, muzzle the dog in public and have a secure kennel at home. It can be costly, Hawkins said.

The new rules also would require a dog to be quarantined after biting someone unless the owner has proof of a current rabies vaccination.

Police occasionally respond to reports of aggressive or biting dogs, but it hasn’t been a big problem for the city, Hawkins said. No specific event inspired the review of animal control regulations. The city’s rules were simply outdated.

“We’ve had dog bites, but nothing that would reach the level of a dangerous dog,” he said. “But the reality is that could happen and we weren’t prepared.”

When city staff went through the dangerous dog section, they realized the city’s animal control regulations needed to be overhauled, Knight said.

The new ordinance would formally adopt state law prohibiting people from owning, breeding, buying or selling exotic or wild and dangerous animals. The state’s list includes wolves, bears, venomous snakes, rhinoceroses, elephants and large cats like lions and tigers.

Also, the city’s rules previously capped the number of dogs a person could own without a kennel license at four and the number of cats at four. The new ordinance would keep the dog limitation but remove the limit on cats. However, people should still be responsible pet owners and cannot have so many cats that they become a nuisance or start getting hurt or neglected, Hawkins said.

The Stanwood City Council also is scheduled to review animal licensing fees during the April 9 meeting, Knight said.

A new fee chart proposed by city staff would double the cost to license a dog — currently $25 per dog, discounted to $5 if the animal is spayed or neutered — and increase commercial kennel fees from $25 to $175. City Council members also might eliminate the lifetime fee, meaning that people would need to renew their dog’s license every year. People who already have a lifetime license would not be affected.

Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, left, introduces Xichitl Torres Small, center, Undersecretary for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a talk at Thomas Family Farms on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free

At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called the Direct File program safe, easy and secure.

Former Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy Jeremie Zeller appears in court for sentencing on multiple counts of misdemeanor theft Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ex-sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 1 week of jail time for hardware theft

Jeremie Zeller, 47, stole merchandise from Home Depot in south Everett, where he worked overtime as a security guard.

Everett
11 months later, Lake Stevens man charged in fatal Casino Road shooting

Malik Fulson is accused of shooting Joseph Haderlie to death in the parking lot at the Crystal Springs Apartments last April.

T.J. Peters testifies during the murder trial of Alan Dean at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Bothell cold case trial now in jury’s hands

In court this week, the ex-boyfriend of Melissa Lee denied any role in her death. The defendant, Alan Dean, didn’t testify.

A speed camera facing west along 220th Street Southwest on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Washington law will allow traffic cams on more city, county roads

The move, led by a Snohomish County Democrat, comes as roadway deaths in the state have hit historic highs.

Mrs. Hildenbrand runs through a spelling exercise with her first grade class on the classroom’s Boxlight interactive display board funded by a pervious tech levy on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lakewood School District’s new levy pitch: This time, it won’t raise taxes

After two levies failed, the district went back to the drawing board, with one levy that would increase taxes and another that would not.

Alex Hanson looks over sections of the Herald and sets the ink on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Black Press, publisher of Everett’s Daily Herald, is sold

The new owners include two Canadian private investment firms and a media company based in the southern United States.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.