Major Revisions Proposed to Washington County Animal Services Ordinance

Sponsored by: Health and Human Services Department, Animal Services Division

"We haven't had a major update to our local animal laws in about 30 years," says Animal Services Manager Debbie Wood. "We are taking this opportunity to provide a wholesale revision to our code, making it a modern, enforceable instrument for the protection of the people and pets of our community."

County staff have spent two years looking at best practices codes in the Portland area, around the nation and even in Canada.

"Our biggest concern in our current code has been our dangerous dog provisions, which broadly define many behaviors as 'dangerous' and don't provide any specific remedies for the community," says Wood. The proposed code lists increasingly problematic behaviors with concomitant increasingly serious sanctions.

The proposed code is available on the Animal Services website at www.WashingtonCountyPets.com.

Community Meetings: Animal Services will be holding two "Code Chat" sessions, one on Thursday, December 11, 6-8 p.m. and another on Saturday, January 10, 12-2 p.m. Wood and Animal Services Field Supervisor Randy Covey will be on hand during those hours to answer questions and discuss with any interested people the proposed code changes. The meetings will take place at the Bonnie Hays Small Animal Shelter, 1901 SE 24th Avenue, Hillsboro.

The Washington County Board of Commissioners will later hold a hearing on the changes, which is likely to be scheduled for January.

Among the proposed changes to the code are the following:

• Dangerous Dogs: The current code defines a dangerous dog as one that harms a person or animal. The only enforcement is a prohibition against owning a dangerous dog. We are proposing a modern, proven system of classifying dangerous dogs. The new system provides for progressive penalties, depending upon the seriousness of the incident.
• Cats: The current ordinance only uses the word "dog." The proposed code gives explicit authority to impound cats and other domestic pets and, if their owners do not reclaim them, take appropriate measures for their welfare (including spaying/neutering and adopting them to new homes). This does not change our current practices, but ensures current practices are clearly stated in the code. The proposed code revisions do not call for licensing cats in Washington County.
• Licensing of "Animal Rescue Entities": SB 6 passed the 2013 legislature, requiring counties to license "Animal Rescue Entities" and verify certain record-keeping requirements. The proposed code change allows Animal Services to implement this mandate.
• Clearer Definitions of Nuisance Violations and Other Community Conflict: Animal Services receives thousands of calls every year regarding barking dogs, dogs defecating in peoples' yards, dogs that are off leash, etc. These are issues of great conflict among neighbors. This code clarifies and updates our code to allow reasonable and clear responses to take place. Examples include:
• • Barking dogs: The current ordinance has sanctions against barking dogs –but no definition of how long and loud barking must be. The revisions will make definitions and fines specific, and therefore greatly reduce the frustration around these issues in the community.
  • Dog waste matter: We currently have no legal requirement to pick up dog waste. This is a matter of great community conflict as well as public health. In a survey of fecal bacteria in local streams conducted by Clean Water Services, dog waste accounted for almost 15% of the problem.
  • Sale of animals in public areas: The most disreputable breeders typically sell puppies in public places so that purchasers cannot see the conditions in which the animals live. This provision limits sale of animals to private property and to appropriate public areas (such as the Fairgrounds) when an animal sale is specifically approved.
• Kennel Licensing: The proposed code provides specifically for revocation of a kennel license for criminal animal abuse and neglect, language that is missing from the current code.
• Notification Procedure for Rabies Vaccination Certificates: Under state law (and universal practices globally), dog licenses are used to track rabies vaccinations. This has been one of the most important public health successes of the past century, and continued vigilance is important. We are asking to join other counties in the state, including Multnomah, Clackamas, Lane, Lincoln, Marion, Polk and Klamath Counties to change the procedure to have veterinarians notify the County when the vaccine is given (or they may alternatively sell a license for the dog at that time).
• Revision of County Administrative Enforcement Provisions: In addition to the Animal Services code changes, changes are proposed to the County's Administrative Enforcement Code to replace an unwieldy and costly (to the complaining party) process in which citizens can cite each other for code violations. Instead, Animal Services Officers or law enforcement officers would issue all citations for violations of the Animal Services ordinance. It also provides for a new fine schedule that allows for larger fines for serious violations (such as a dog attacking a human) and smaller fines for less serious offenses (such as barking dogs). Under current code, all violations are subject to the same $500 maximum.