HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 4964Amends ORD 3777,
4185 & 4916
Amended by ORD 4983,
5024 5356
CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON
ORDINANCE NO. 49fi4
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON,
AMENDING SECTIONS 6-6-3, 6-6-4, 6-6-8, AND 6-6-11, AND ADDING A
NEW SECTION, 6-6-12, WILD AND DANGEROUS ANIMALS, OF
CHAPTER 6, ANIMALS AND FOWL AT LARGE, OF TITLE VI
(POLICE REGULATIONS) OF ORDINANCE NO. 4260 ENTITLED
"CODE OF GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF RENTON,
WASHINGTON" BY UPDATING REFERENCES TO TITLE IV TABLES,
ADDING DEFINITIONS, AND ADDING PENALTY PROVISIONS FOR
UNLAWFUL ACTS.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN
AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. Sections 6-6-3 and 6-6-4 of Chapter 6, Animals and Fowl at Large,
of Title VI (Pohce Regulations) of Ordinance No. 4260 entitled "Code of General Ordinances of
the City of Renton, Washington" are hereby amended to read as follows:
6-6-3 FOWL AT LARGE:
It shall be unlawful for any person to allow or permit any chicken, pigeon or other
domestic fowl owned or in the custody or control of said person, to run at large in the City. The
number of fowl permitted on a lot shall be consistent with RMC 4-2-060, Zoning Use Table.
Violations of this Section shall constitute a civil infraction punishable by a fine of up to $250,
not including costs.
6-6-4 DEFINITIONS:
For the purpose of this Chapter the following definitions shall be controlling:
ORDINANCE NO. 4964
ANIMAL CONTROL AUTHORITY: An entity acting alone or in concert with other
local governmental units for enforcement of the animal control laws of the City, County and
State, and the shelter and welfare of animals.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER: Any individual employed, contracted with or
appointed by the City for the purpose of aiding in the enforcement of this Chapter or any other
law or ordinance relating to the licensure of animals, or seizure and impoundment of animals,
and includes any State or local law enforcement officer or other employee whose duties in whole
or in part include assignments that involve the seizure and impoundment of any animal.
ANIMALS, WILD OR DANGEROUS: Any animal which is not domesticated and
habituated to human presence, and/or any animal which poses a threat to human life or well-
being. Examples of wild and dangerous animals include, but are not limited to, venomous
snakes, alligators and crocodiles, carnivorous or omnivorous predators such as bears, mountain
lions, cloven-hoofed herbivores unaccustomed to humans such as deer or elk, any wolf, wolf-
hybrid, or any dog portrayed as a wolf, and other animals as determined by the animal control
officer to be a threat to public safety and human well-being.
DANGEROUS DOG: Any dog that, according to the records of appropriate authority: a)
has inflicted severe injury on a human being without provocation on public or private property,
b) has killed a domestic animal without provocation while off the owner's property, or c) has
been previously found to be potentially dangerous, the owner having received notice of such and
the dog again aggressively bites, attacks or endangers the safety of humans or domestic animals.
OWNER: Any person, firm, corporation, organization or department possessing,
harboring, keeping, having an interest in or having control or custody of an animal.
ORDINANCE NO. 4964
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOG: Any dog that when unprovoked: a) inflicts bites
on a human or a domestic animal either on public or private property, or b) chases or approaches
a person upon the streets, sidewalks or any public grounds in a menacing fashion or apparent
attitude of attack, or any dog with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack
unprovoked, to cause injury, or to cause injury or otherwise to threaten the safety of humans or
domestic animals.
PROPER ENCLOSURE OF A DANGEROUS DOG: While on the owner's property, a
dangerous dog shall be securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or
structure, suitable to prevent the entry of young children and designed to prevent the animal from
escaping. Such pen or structure shall have secure sides and a secure top, and shall also provide
protection from the elements for the dog.
SEVERE INJURY: Any physical injury that results in broken bones or disfiguring
lacerations requiring multiple sutures or cosmetic surgery.
VICIOUS: An animal other than a "dangerous dog" or "potentially dangerous dog" that
displays the characteristics or propensity to do an act that might endanger the safety of a person,
animal, or property of another, including but not limited to a disposition to mischief or fierceness
as might occasionally lead to attack on human beings or other animals without provocation,
whether in play or an outbreak of an untrained nature.
SECTION II. Section 6-6-8, Dangerous Dogs, of Chapter 6, Animals and Fowl at
Large, of Title VI (Police Regulations) is hereby amended, to read as follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 4964
6-6-8 DANGEROUS DOGS:
A. It is unlawful for an owner to have a dangerous dog in the City without a certificate of
registration issued under this Section. This Section shall not apply to dogs used by law
enforcement officials for police work.
B. The Police Department of the City shall issue a certificate of registration to the owner of
such dangerous dog if the owner presents to the animal control unit sufficient evidence of:
1. A proper enclosure to confine a dangerous dog and the posting of the premises
with a clearly visible warning sign that there is a dangerous dog on the property. In addition, the
owner shall conspicuously display a sign with a warning symbol that informs children of the
presence of a dangerous dog;
2. A surety bond issued by a surety insurer qualified under chapter 48.28 RCW in a
form acceptable to the animal control authority in the sum of at least fifty thousand dollars
($50,000.00), payable to any person injured by the vicious dog; or
3. A policy of liability insurance, such as homeowners's insurance, issued by an
insurer qualified under title 48 RCW in the amount of at least fifty thousand dollars
($50,000.00), insuring the owner for any personal injuries inflicted by the dangerous dog;
4. It is unlawful for an owner of a dangerous dog to permit the dog to be outside of
the proper enclosure unless the dog is muzzled and restrained by a substantial chain or leash and
under physical restraint of a responsible person. The muzzle shall be made in a manner that will
not cause injury to the dog or interfere with its vision or respiration but shall prevent it from
biting any person or animal;
5. Dogs shall not be declared dangerous if the threat, injury or damage was sustained
by a person who, at the time, was committing a wilful trespass or other tort upon the premises
ORDINANCE NO. 4964
occupied by the owner of the dog, or was tormenting, abusing, or assaulting the dog or has, in the
past, been observed or reported to have tormented, abused or assaulted the dog or was
committing or attempting to commit a crime.
C. A violation of this Section shall constitute a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of
up to $1000, not including costs, and up to 90 days in jail.
SECTION III. Section 6-6-11, Cruelty to Animals; Failure to Aid Injured Animal
Unlawful, of Chapter 6, Animals and Fowl at Large, of Title VI (Police Regulations) is hereby
amended, to read as follows:
6-6-11 CRUELTY TO ANIMALS; FAILURE TO AID INJURED ANIMAL
UNLAWFUL:
It shall be unlawful for any person to wilfully or cruelly injure or kill any animal by any
mode or means causing it unnecessary fright or pain; it shall further be unlawful for any person,
by neglect or otherwise, to cause or allow any animal to endure pain, suffering or injury, or to
fail or neglect to aid or attempt alleviation of any pain, suffering or injury so caused to any
animal by such person or persons. A violation of this Section shall constitute a misdemeanor
punishable by a fine of up to $1000, not including costs, and up to 90 days in jail.
SECTION IV. A new Section, 6-6-12, Wild or Dangerous Animals, of Chapter 6,
Animals and Fowl at Large, of Title VI (Pohce Regulations) is hereby added, to read as follows:
6-6-12 WILD OR DANGEROUS ANIMALS:
A. The keeping of wild or dangerous animals is prohibited, with the exception of
dangerous dogs under the provisions of RMC 6-6-8. A violation of this Section shall constitute a
misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1000, not including costs, and up to 90 days in jail.
ORDINANCE NO. 4964
SECTION V. This ordinance shall be effective upon its passage, approval, and
30 days after publication.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 13th day of May , 2002.
\AJL \i- JS'XLIJ-*-
Bonnie I. Walton, City Clerk
APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this 13th day of May , 2002.
Jesgj/Tanner, Mayor
Approved as to form
Lawrence J. Warren, City Attorney
Date of Publication: 05/17/2002 (s ummar y)
ORD.985:4/16/02:ma