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 The city’s rules were simply outdated.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.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order halting work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett will welcome new CEO in June

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Kelli Littlejohn, who was 11 when her older sister Melissa Lee was murdered, speaks to a group of investigators and deputies to thank them for bringing closure to her family after over 30 years on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘She can rest in peace’: Jury convicts Bothell man in 1993 killing

Even after police arrested Alan Dean in 2020, it was unclear if he would stand trial. He was convicted Thursday in the murder of Melissa Lee, 15.

Ariel Garcia, 4, was last seen Wednesday morning in an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Dr. (Photo provided by Everett Police)
Everett police searching for missing child, 4

Ariel Garcia was last seen Wednesday at an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Drive. The child was missing under “suspicious circumstances.”

The rezoned property, seen here from the Hillside Vista luxury development, is surrounded on two sides by modern neighborhoods Monday, March 25, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Despite petition, Lake Stevens OKs rezone for new 96-home development

The change faced resistance from some residents, who worried about the effects of more density in the neighborhood.

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.

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.