Updated 04/2011
Dangerous Dogs
Contents
- Introduction to Dangerous Dogs
- Washington Court Cases
- Selected Background Readings
- Ordinance Provisions and Forms
- Related MRSC pages
Introduction to Dangerous Dogs
Note - Text for following sections are on a separate page entitled Introduction to Dangerous Dogs which addressess legal issues
- Introduction to Dangerous Dogs
- Summary of Dangerous Dog Statutes
- Local Regulation of Potentially Dangerous Dogs
- Breed-Specific Regulations
- Exemptions
Washington Court Cases
- Rabon v. City of Seattle, 135 Wn. 2d 278 (1998)
- American Dog Owners v. Yakima, 113 Wn.2d 213 (1989)
Selected Background Readings
- American Kennel Club - AKC's Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) Program Sponsored by K9 Advantix® - Program that is referred to in ordinances to receive exemption
- City Bites Dog - Regulating Vicious Dogs/Pit Bull Terriers (
), by Michael E. Weight, Legal Notes, MRSC Information Bulletin No. 444, February 1987.
- Dangerous Animal Legislation - Policy Position of American Veterinary Medical Association
- Find the Pit Bull (dog picture test) - Pit Bulls on the Web
- One City's Experience: Why Pit Bulls Are More Dangerous and Breed-Specific Legislation is Justified, by Kori A. Nelson, Municipal Lawyer, July/August 2005 MRSC Library Loan
- How to Avoid a Dog Bite - Humane Society of United States
Ordinance Provisions and Forms
Please note that any ordinances adopted prior to 2002 may have incorporated wording from the statutes (such as the definition of "dangerous dog") that was modified by Ch. 244, Laws of 2002. We recommend that a jurisdiction carefully review the current statutes when drafting local regulations involving dangerous dogs or potentially dangerous dogs. See also Service Dog Exemptions
- Auburn Ordinance No. 5829 - Dangerous Dogs (Fritz's Law), passed 5-04
- Amended by Auburn Ordinance No. 5996 (), passed 2-06 - Breed specific
- Amended by Auburn Ordinance No. 5996 (
- Burlington Municipal Code Ch. 6.06 - Dangerous Dogs and Potentially Dangerous Dogs
- Clark County Code Ch. 8.18 - Dangerous Dogs
- Colville Municipal Code Ch. 6.10 - Dangerous Dogs
- Des Moines Municipal Code Ch. 8.16 - Dangerous and Potentially Dangerous Dogs
- Everett Municipal Code Ch. 6.08 - Dangerous Dogs
- Kelso Municipal Code Ch. 6.04- Animal Control - See Sections 6.04.252-.256 - Dangerous Dogs
- Lynnwood Municipal Code Section 6.02.025 - Dangerous Animal
- Mason County Code Ch. 4.08 - Animal Code (See 4.08.050 and .060)
- Mill Creek
- Oak Harbor Ordinance No. 1480 () - Dangerous Dog and Potentially Dangerous Dog - Declaration and Provisions
- Pasco Municipal Code Section 8.02.320 ()- Potentially Dangerous and Dangerous Animals - Provides exemption for Canine Good Citizen test
- Richland Municipal Code Section 7.03.320 () - Potentially Dangerous or Dangerous Animal
- SeaTac Municipal Code Ch. 6.05 - Animal Control Regulations - See Section 110-135 Dangerous Dogs (Breed Specific)
- Snohomish County Ordinance 02-042 () - Amends Snohomish County Code Ch. 9.01 and 9.10 Relating to Dangerous Dogs, passed 9/02
- Tacoma Municipal Code Ch. 17.04 ()
- Whatcom County Code Section 6.04.090-.130 - Dangerous and Potentially Dangerous Dogs
- Yakima Municipal Code Ch. 6.18 - Pit Bull Dogs
- Yakima Municipal Code Section 6.20.160-.170 - Dangerous Dog Provisions