New Animal Control provisions summarized (March 7, 2005)

A new animal control law is in effect in the City of Washington as of March 15. Following are key components of that law.

• The new laws list specific requirements for animal care and make it illegal to abandon an animal.
• Persons keeping, feeding or harboring stray animals must now either call animal control immediately to pick up the animal or assume ownership by obtaining veterinarian care and rabies shots for the animal within 72 hours.
• The law restricts leaving animals unattended in motor vehicles under conditions harmful to their health and well-being and allows Animal Control or a Police officer to break into a vehicle to remove an animal showing signs of heat or cold stress.
• Animals must be properly restrained or confined when riding in an open vehicle to prevent them from being thrown, falling or jumping from the vehicle.
• The animal control officer may now confiscate an animal if its owner violates animal control laws.
• The law also makes distinctions between potentially dangerous, dangerous and vicious animals and establishes an Animal Control Appeals Board to provide due process to owners of animals that have been declared potentially dangerous, dangerous or vicious by the animal control officer.

These provisions are in addition to animal control regulations already in place in Washington. Existing provisions include:

• Animals must wear a collar and identification when off the owners’ property.
• Animals must be under control in public (restrained by leash or under voice command).
• Owners are required to clean up after their pets.
• No pets are allowed at athletic fields.
• No pets at allowed at special events.
• Dogs are allowed under control on the promenade.
• Dogs are not allowed on the boardwalk.