Chapter 6.08
DANGEROUS DOGS

Sections:

6.08.010    Potentially dangerous dogs.

6.08.020    Dangerous dogs.

6.08.030    Hearings.

6.08.040    Immunity.

6.08.050    Enforcement.

6.08.060    Penalties.

6.08.010 Potentially dangerous dogs.

A. It is unlawful for any owner of a potentially dangerous dog, who has been notified by an animal control authority that he or she is the owner of a potentially dangerous dog, to keep such dog within Skagit County unless such owner has procured a license from the animal control authority.

B. The animal control authority may find and declare an animal potentially dangerous if it has probable cause to believe that the animal falls within the definition set forth in BMC 6.04.010(K). The finding must be based upon:

1. The written complaint of a citizen who is willing to testify that the animal has acted in a manner which causes it to fall within the definition in BMC 6.04.010(K); or

2. Dog bite reports filed with the animal control authority as required by this title or state law; or

3. Actions of the dog witnessed by any animal control officer or law enforcement officer; or

4. Other substantial evidence admissible in municipal court.

C. The declaration of potentially dangerous dog shall be in writing, shall be served on the owner in one of the following methods:

1. Certified mail to the owner or keeper’s last known address, if known; or

2. Personally; or

3. If the owner cannot be located by one of the first two methods, by publication in a newspaper of general circulation;

4. The owner of any animal found to be a potentially dangerous dog under this section shall be assessed all service costs expended under this subsection.

D. The declaration shall state at least:

1. A description of the animal;

2. The name and address of the owner or keeper of the animal, if known;

3. The whereabouts of the animal if it is not in the custody of the owner;

4. The facts upon which the declaration of potentially dangerous dog is based;

5. The availability of a hearing in case the person objects to the declaration, if a request is made within five days;

6. The restrictions placed on the animal as a result of the declaration of potentially dangerous dog;

7. The penalties for violation of the restrictions, including the possibility of destruction of the animal, and imprisonment or fining of the owner.

E. If the owner of the animal wishes to object to the declaration of potentially dangerous dog:

1. The owner may, within five days of receipt of the declaration, or within five days of the publication of the declaration pursuant to subsection (C)(3) of this section, request a hearing before the municipal court by submitting a written request to the clerk of the court;

2. If the court finds that there is insufficient evidence to support the declaration, it shall be rescinded, and the restrictions imposed thereby annulled;

3. If the court finds sufficient evidence to support the declaration, it shall impose court costs on the appellant, and may impose additional restrictions on the animal;

4. In the event the court finds that the animal is not a potentially dangerous dog, no court costs shall be assessed against Burlington or the animal control authority or officer.

F. Following service of a declaration of potentially dangerous dog, and pending appeals under this section or to any other court with jurisdiction, the animal control authority may, if circumstances require, impound the animal at the owner’s expense, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, until a court orders either its redemption or destruction.

G. The owner of a potentially dangerous dog shall obtain a license for such dog from the animal control authority, and shall be required to pay the fee for such license in the amount set forth in subsection H of this section, or as hereafter amended. In addition, the owner of a potentially dangerous dog shall pay an annual renewal fee for such license in the amount set forth in subsection H of this section, or as amended after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title.

H. The license fee for each potentially dangerous dog to be licensed under this section is $250.00. The annual renewal fee for each potentially dangerous dog licensed under this section is $50.00. (Ord. 1114 § 3, 1987).

6.08.020 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 animal control authority shall issue a certificate of registration to the owner of a dangerous dog if the owner presents to the animal control authority 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 $50,000, payable to any person injured by the dangerous dog; or

3. A policy of liability insurance, such as homeowner’s insurance, issued by an insurer qualified under RCW Title 48 in the amount of at least $50,000, insuring the owner for any personal injuries inflicted by the dangerous dog.

C. A certificate of registration as used in this section shall be obtained from the animal control authority. The owner of a dangerous dog shall obtain a certificate of registration from the animal control authority, and shall be required to pay the fee for such certificate of registration in the amount set forth in subsection D of this section, or as amended after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title. In addition, the owner of a dangerous dog shall pay an annual renewal fee for each dangerous dog licensed under this section in the amount set forth in subsection D of this section, or as amended after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title, and shall submit proof of compliance with subsection B of this section.

D. The owner of a dangerous dog shall pay a fee for the certificate of registration in the amount of $500.00. The annual renewal fee for each dangerous dog licensed under this section is $100.00. (Ord. 1114 § 4, 1987).

6.08.030 Hearings.

A. Any owner against whom a civil penalty has been assessed under this chapter may contest such civil penalty by requesting a hearing in the Burlington municipal court by requesting such hearing within five days of notification of such civil penalty by the animal control authority.

B. Where an owner has requested a hearing pursuant to subsection A of this section, no potentially dangerous dog or dangerous dog which is in the possession of the animal control authority shall be destroyed until the resolution of such hearing; provided, however, that an additional civil penalty in the amount of $10.00 per day shall be assessed against any owner whose dog remains in the custody of the animal control authority during any hearings requested under this section where resolution of such hearing is that all or any part of the civil penalty against such owner is found to be properly assessed.

C. Following resolution of any contested hearing regarding a civil penalty as provided herein, the owner of any dangerous dog or potentially dangerous dog in the possession of the animal control authority shall pay all civil penalties which may have been assessed as authorized above within 10 days of the final resolution of any hearing regarding such civil penalties.

D. Any dangerous dog or potentially dangerous dog which has not been picked up from the animal control authority by its owner within 10 days of the final resolution of any hearing regarding any civil penalties under this section shall be destroyed in an expeditious and humane manner; provided, however, that an additional civil penalty in the amount of $65.00 for the cost of destroying such dog shall be assessed against the owner, and may be collected as provided in BMC 6.08.050. (Ord. 1446 § 1, 2000; Ord. 1421 § 1, 1999; Ord. 1114 § 7, 1987).

6.08.040 Immunity.

The city, the animal control authority and any animal control officer shall be immune from any and all civil liability for any actions taken pursuant to this title, or for any failure to take action to enforce the provisions of this title. It is not the purpose or intent of this chapter to create on the part of Burlington or its agents any special duties or relationships with specific individuals. This chapter has been enacted for the welfare of the public as a whole. (Ord. 1114 § 8, 1987).

6.08.050 Enforcement.

A. All civil penalties required to be paid by owners for violations of the provisions of this chapter shall be made to the animal control authority.

B. No potentially dangerous dog or dangerous dog confiscated by the animal control authority shall be returned to any owner until such owner has paid all civil penalties which have been assessed against such owner under this chapter.

C. The city shall have authority to place a lien upon the real property of any owner of a dangerous dog or potentially dangerous dog against whom a civil penalty has been assessed under this chapter, who has been given notice of such civil penalty and has failed to pay such civil penalty; provided, however, that no such lien shall be placed until 30 days has elapsed from the date of any final determination of the validity of such civil penalty. (Ord. 1114 § 6, 1987).

6.08.060 Penalties.

A. Any owner of a potentially dangerous dog who fails to obtain a license or renewal for such dog as described in BMC 6.08.010 shall be assessed a civil penalty in the amount of $250.00; provided, however, that no such civil penalty shall be assessed until five days have elapsed from the date such owner is notified by the animal control authority that such a license or renewal for such potentially dangerous dog is required, or until any appeal brought under that section has been completed, whichever is later.

B. Any owner of a dangerous dog who fails to obtain a certificate of registration or renewal for such dog as set forth in BMC 6.08.010 shall be assessed a civil penalty in the amount of $500.00; provided, however, that no such civil penalty shall be assessed until five days have elapsed from the date such owner is notified by the animal control authority that such a license or renewal for such dangerous dog is required.

C. Any dangerous dog or potentially dangerous dog for which a license or certificate of registration (or renewal) has not been obtained by its owner, pursuant to subsections A and B of this section, is subject to being impounded by the animal control authority. The owner of any potentially dangerous dog or dangerous dog so impounded shall be subject to a civil penalty in the amount of $10.00 per day for each day such dog remains impounded with the animal control authority. Any potentially dangerous dog or dangerous dog impounded due to the failure of the owner of such dog to obtain the required license or certificate of registration, and which remains impounded for a period of at least 20 days due to the failure of the owner to obtain such license or certificate of registration (or renewal), may be destroyed in an expeditious and humane manner by the animal control authority.

D. It is unlawful for the owner of a dangerous dog to permit the dog to be outside 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. Any owner who violates this provision shall be assessed a civil penalty of $250.00 for each violation thereof.

E. Any dangerous dog shall be immediately confiscated by an animal control authority if the: (1) dog is not validly registered under BMC 6.08.010; (2) owner does not secure the liability insurance coverage required under BMC 6.08.010; (3) dog is not maintained in a proper enclosure; (4) dog is outside of the dwelling of the owner, or outside of the proper enclosure and not under physical restraint of the responsible person. In addition, the owner shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable in accordance with BMC 1.24.020. The owner of any dog confiscated under this subsection may recover such dog from the animal control authority upon the payment of a civil fine which shall be in the amount of $250.00 plus $10.00 per day for each day said dog has been in the control of the animal control authority; provided, however, that in the event the owner has not picked up the dangerous dog within 10 days of being notified by the animal control authority that such dog is under the control of such authority, the dog shall be destroyed in an expeditious and humane manner and the owner shall be assessed an additional civil penalty in the amount of $65.00 for the cost of destroying such dangerous dog.

F. If a dangerous dog of an owner with a prior conviction under this chapter attacks or bites a person or another domestic animal, the Burlington police department shall notify the Skagit County animal control authority. In addition, the dangerous dog shall be immediately confiscated by an animal control authority, placed in quarantine for the proper length of time, and thereafter destroyed in an expeditious and humane manner. The owner of any dangerous dog confiscated and destroyed pursuant to this subsection shall be assessed a civil penalty in the amount of $15.00 per day for each day such dangerous dog is quarantined with the animal control authority and in the amount of $65.00 for the cost of destroying such dangerous dogs.

G. The owner of any dog that aggressively attacks and causes severe injury or death of any human, regardless of whether there has been any previous determination of whether such dog is potentially dangerous or dangerous, shall be reported to the Skagit County animal control authority. In addition, the dog shall be immediately confiscated by an animal control authority, placed in quarantine for the proper length of time, and thereafter destroyed in an expeditious and humane manner. The owner of any dangerous dog confiscated and destroyed pursuant to this subsection shall be assessed a civil penalty in the amount of $15.00 per day for each day such dangerous dog is quarantined with the animal control authority and in the amount of $65.00 for the cost of destroying such dangerous dog. (Ord. 1446 § 1, 2000; Ord. 1421 § 2, 1999; Ord. 1114 § 5, 1987).