Animal control laws reviewed

By Rodika Tollefson, KP News

 
The recent mauling of a Key Peninsula woman by dogs that broke loose from their kennel brought regional media attention to a long-existing local concern about animal control. Some local residents say they cannot even walk out to their mailboxes or take a stroll down the block for fear of being attacked by roaming neighborhood dogs.

KP Community Council Director David Figuracion talks about dangerous dog issues during the auditor’s office presentation. Also in the photo is Director Tara Froode (right) and (in the back) Lisa Drury, manager with the auditor’s office. Photo by Hugh McMillan

Pierce County Auditor’s Office is hoping to change that, proposing revisions to the county code that will have more enforcement teeth, so to speak.

“As we’ve assumed control of the animal control division in our office, we have come to the conclusion that some things aren’t working and we need to make some adjustments,” says county Auditor Pat McCarthy, whose office was tasked with animal control and licensing early last year. The functions were formerly performed by Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society under contract with the county.

“The problem is not with the dog, it’s with the owners — their lack of responsibility and training,” said Lisa Drury, manager of recording, licensing and animal control, during a presentation on the issue at a Key Peninsula Community Council meeting in January. To help address that problem, the department is proposing stricter laws for dogs deemed dangerous and potentially dangerous, as well as for animal cruelty cases. The proposed changes include implementing or increasing existing fees for situations ranging from inspections to hearing examiner appeals, adding a variety of definitions, and adding infractions for instances such as bites, property damage and abandonment.

County code currently doesn’t address dangerous dogs, so officers have to use state law. The proposed laws would in some cases be more restrictive at county levels: For example, state law requires a $250,000 liability insurance/surety bond for dangerous animals, while the auditor’s office is proposing increasing that to $500,000.

The county has four animal control officers, who cover an area of about 17,000 square miles (minus municipalities like Tacoma that have their own enforcement) — a number many residents believe is far too low for effective response. McCarthy, who was also present at the KP forum, told the audience: “There are competing interests for budget money at county level… I don’t think we’ll ever have a big system where we’ll be completely satisfied but we do need more officers.”
 

Pierce County Auditor Pat McCarthy and animal control officer Clint Davidson during the KP presentation. Photo by Hugh McMillan

The KP presentation was part of a series of public meetings conducted throughout the county at the request of Pierce County Council, which will review the proposals. McCarthy says she hopes the county will adopt them very quickly, and said this is the most critical issue in the department. “What we have to do is make reasonable, rational laws that will not infringe on your rights,” she said.

McCarthy told the KP News the changes will help provide better public safety, but citizens need to keep in mind the laws apply to everyone equally — and would affect their pets, too, not just the neighbors.’”

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