Patterson calls for tougher restrictions for owners of dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs

May 21, 2009

Summary

Protecting dogs and people

Story

Owners of dogs exhibiting dangerous or potentially dangerous behavior would face special restrictions and enhanced penalties under legislation introduced today by Metropolitan King County Councilmember Julia Patterson.

Patterson’s proposal is in response to a vicious attack on a 72-year old SeaTac woman last fall by two pit bulls. The attack left the victim in critical condition, with severed ears, a crushed arm and severe wounds across her body.

“Dogs bites are a serious problem that inflict considerable damage—both physical and emotional—on victims and their families,” said Patterson. “In order to prevent these tragic events, King County needs additional tools to protect our communities. I believe this proposed legislation is a great step in ensuring the safety and well-being of both our dogs and our residents.”

The Center for Disease Control reports that 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, with one in five dog bites resulting in injuries that require medical attention.

The proposed legislation would make revisions to King County Code to reflect current Revised Code of Washington provisions and to address public safety concerns regarding dog bites. The proposal would create special requirements, higher fees and fines, and disciplinary action for owners of dangerous and potentially dangerous dogs.

Specifically, the proposed legislation would require owners to:

• Spay or neuter dogs that are dangerous or potentially dangerous.
• Keep those dogs in a proper enclosures. When they leave the property, the animal must be on a leash and muzzled at all times.
• Acquire insurance or surety bonds for dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs.
• Display universally readable signage on their property that they own a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog.
• Microchip their dangerous or potentially dangerous dog.
• Pay higher license fees for their dangerous or potentially dangerous dog.

Washington state law defines dangerous dogs as dogs that inflicts severe injury on a human being, kills a domestic animal without provocation while the dog is off the owner's property, or has been previously found to be potentially dangerous because of injury inflicted on a human are considered. State law defines potentially dangerous dogs as dogs that when unprovoked, bite humans or domestic animals, chases or approaches persons in a menacing fashion, has a known tendency to attack unprovoked, or to cause injury or otherwise threaten the safety of humans or domestic animals.

The proposed legislation is not breed specific, but applies to all dogs exhibiting dangerous or potentially dangerous behavior.

Failure to comply with the fines and restrictions will result in additional fees. King County will use the revenue collected from the fines to educate dog owners in King County about responsible pet ownership.

Jurisdictions in other parts of the world have adopted comparable legislation with much success. Three years ago, Calgary, Alberta adopted bylaws similar to the requirements laid out in the proposed legislation. Today, attacks by aggressive dogs in Calgary are at the lowest level they have been in 25 years.