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HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 4916Amends ORD's 3773, 4185, 3777, 4463, 4964 CITY OF RENTON. WASHINGTON Amended by ORD 4983 5476,5508 ORDINANCE NO. 4916 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, AMENDING SECTION 5-4-1 OF CHAPTER 4, ANIMAL LICENSES, OF TITLE V (FINANCE AND BUSINESS REGULATIONS); AND SECTIONS 6-6-1, 6-6-3, 6-6-4, 6-6-5, AND 6-6-9, 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 MAKING THE VIOLATION OF SOME STATUTES AN INFRACTION, ADDING A DEFINITION, AND CLARIFYING THE CONFISCATION PROCEDURE FOR DANGEROUS DOGS. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: SECTION I. Section 5-4-1 of Chapter 4, Animal Licenses, of Title V (Finance and Business Regulations) of Ordinance No. 4260 entitled "Code of General Ordinances of the City of Renton, Washington," is hereby amended to read as follows: 5-4-1: REQUIRED AGE FOR LICENSING: It shall be unlawful to own or keep a dog or cat of more than four (4) months of age within the City unless the owner or custodian thereof shall have a valid animal license for each such animal. A violation of this section shall constitute a civil infraction punishable by a fine of up to $250, not including costs. SECTION n. Sections 6-6-1, 6-6-3, 6-6-5, and 6-6-9 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," are hereby amended to read as follows: 6-6-1: UNLAWFUL TO RUN AT LARGE: It shall be unlawful for any horses, cattle or other domestic animals, except for dogs and cats, to run at large on any street, alley or public place or to trespass upon any private property 1 ORDINANCE NO. 4916 within the limits of the City; and it shall be unlawful for the owner of any such animal or any person who has control of the animal or to whom custody of the same has been entrusted, to permit the same to run at large contrary to the provisions of this Chapter. A violation of this section shall constitute a civil infraction punishable by a fine of up to $250, not including costs. 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. On any parcel of land less than one acre in size, the size of the flock of fowl shall be limited to no more than twelve (12) animals. To the extent that any flock above twelve (12) animals exists as of the time of adoption of this Chapter, it shall be reduced to no more than twelve (12) animals within ninety (90) days. A violation of this section shall constitute a civil infraction punishable by a fine of up to $250. not including costs. 6-6-5: DOGS AT LARGE; REQUIREMENT OF LEASH OR CHAIN: A. It shall be unlawful for any owner or custodian to cause, permit or allow any dog owned, harbored, controlled or kept by him or her in the City to roam, run or stray away from the premises where the same is owned, harbored, controlled or kept, except that while away from said premises such dog shall at all times be controlled by means of a leash or chain not exceeding eight feet (8') in length by the owner or some duly authorized and competent person, or is at heel of such owner or custodian, such control to be exercised by such owner or custodian or other competent authorized person. "At heel" shall mean that the dog shall be immediately at the owner's or custodian's heel; provided, however, that such leash or chain is not required for any dog when otherwise safely and securely conlined or completely controlled while in or upon any vehicle. Furthermore, this section shall not apply to dogs which are in special areas designated 2 ORDINANCE NO. 4916 by the City as dog training areas and as long as the regulations of the City, or its authorized representative, with respect to the use of such areas, are complied with and said dogs are under the custody and control of a competent trainer. A violation of this section shall constitute a civil infraction punishable by a fine of up to $250, not including costs. B. It shall further be unlawful for any owner or custodian: 1. To suffer or permit any animal, reptile or fowl to travel upon private or public property so as to damage, disturb, injure, destroy or soil any property or thing of value. A violation of this section shall constitute a civil infraction punishable by a fine of up to $250, not including costs. 2. To permit a dog to run at large within the City at any time without a license as provided in Chapter 4, Title V, of the City Code. A violation of this section shall constitute a civil infraction punishable by a fine of up to $250, not including costs. 3. To permit any animal, whether licensed or not, to run at large in any public park, public beach, pond, fountain, stream, public playground, school ground or any other public facility permitting swimming and/or boating activities; provided, however, that this section shall not prohibit a person from walking or exercising a dog in a public area, except on any public beach, pond, stream or similar facility which permits swimming and/or boating activities, when such dog is on a leash or otherwise under the immediate control of its owner or custodian and proper safeguards are taken to protect the public and property from injury or damage from said dog. The Park Director is hereby authorized and directed to post such areas as hereinabove set forth. A violation of this section shall constitute a civil infraction punishable by a fine of up to $250, not including costs. 3 ORDINANCE NO. 4916 4. To permit any animal to enter any place where food is stored, prepared, served or sold to the public or any other public building or hall; provided, however, that this Section shall not apply to service dogs, blind persons using a trained seeing eye dog, veterinary offices or hospitals, or to animal shows or exhibitions where at least twenty-four (24) hours advance notice has been given to the agency designated herein to enforce the provisions of this Chapter. A violation of this section shall constitute a civil infraction punishable by a fine of up to $250, not including costs. 5. To permit any female dog, whether licensed or not, to run at large while in heat. A violation of this section shall constitute a civil infraction punishable by a fine of up to $250, not including costs. 6. To permit any dog to chase, run after or jump at vehicles using the public streets and alleys. A violation of this section shall constitute a civil infraction punishable by a fine of up to $250, not including costs. 7. To keep or harbor any dog, cat or other animal or fowl, whether licensed or not, which by habitual howling, yelping, barking or other noise disturbs or annoys any person in the neighborhood, or to keep any domestic bird or animal that emits frequent or long, continued noise so as to disturb the peace, quietness and comfort of the neighboring inhabitants. A violation of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor in accordance with RCW 9A.20.021(3), as now or hereafter amended. 8. To keep, harbor or maintain any vicious dog or dog with vicious propensities in a manner which may or does endanger the safety, health and well being of persons or the safety of property being or located off the owner's or custodian's premises or 4 ORDINANCE NO. 4916 lawfully on said premises. A violation of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor in accordance with RCW 9A.20.021(3), as now or hereafter amended. 9. To allow a vicious dog or dog with vicious propensities to run at large at any time, or allow such dog off the owners or custodian's premises unless securely leashed and in the control of a person of suitable age and discretion to control and/or restrain such dog at all times. A violation of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor in accordance with RCW 9A .20.021(3), as now or hereafter amended. C. Any dog doing or performing any of the acts prohibited in this Section is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and such animal may be seized and impounded by the City's Animal Control Officer, or its duly designated representative. D. This Section shall not apply to police animals while being exhibited, exercised or used in discharging or attempting to discharge any lawful duty or function or power of office, by any bona fide officer or representative of such officer, or any police agency. 6-6-9: CONFISCATION PROCEDURE FOR DANGEROUS DOGS: Any dangerous dog shall be immediately confiscated by an animal control authority if the dog is not validly registered, the owner has not secured the liability insurance as required, or the dog is not maintained in the proper enclosure and is not under physical restraint of the responsible person. Such dog shall be placed in quarantine for a reasonable length of time and thereafter destroyed in an expeditious and human manner. Costs of this procedure shall be assessed against the owner or keeper of the dangerous dog. SECTION III. Section 6-6-4, Definitions, of Chapter 6, Animals and Fowl at Large, of Title VI (Police Regulations) of Ordinance No. 4260 entitled "Code of General 5 ORDINANCE NO. 4916 Ordinances of the City of Renton, Washington," is hereby amended by adding the following definition, to read as follows: 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 IV. This ordinance shall be effective upon its passage, approval, and 30 days after publication. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this iQth day of September ,2001. APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this 10th day of September ,2001. I .awrenee J. Warren. City Attorney Date Of Publication: 9/14/2001 (Summary) ORD.925:8/2/01:ma 6