PORT TOWNSEND — One year after it was last addressed and following a promise from a retiring county commissioner of its enactment, the Jefferson County commissioners have put an animal control ordinance in place.
The code defines what are acceptable limits on dogs barking and other pet activity.
Continuous howling or barking that lasts for more than 10 minutes or intermittent noise lasting longer than 30 minutes represents a violation, the law said.
It is also a violation if the noise is between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. and can be heard within 150 feet of the property line where the animal is located, or if it can be heard 100 feet away between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Chasing vehicles, jumping and barking at pedestrians, and running in packs is prohibited, said the code.
Also prohibited is allowing a cat or dog that is in heat to prowl unrestricted.
The document, which deals primarily with dogs but also includes cats and livestock, also defines dangerous dogs.
“I’m glad that it’s finally passed,” said Sheriff’s Deputy Alex Mintz, the county’s animal control officer.
“There are certain things that will make the law easier to enforce.”
Mintz said that complaints about barking dogs have been unenforceable for a number of years and the new ordinance sets out objective criteria for such enforcement.
“I will be able to respond to complaints about barking dogs from a neighbor with a citation, rather than just promising to go visit the offender to just talk about it,” he said.
Those violating any part of the statute will receive a notice of infraction tied to fines established in a free schedule.
Penalties will increase for multiple violations, according to the ordinance, and a separate notice will be issued for each day the violation isn’t corrected.
First offenders will be assessed a $114 fine with second and third offenders respectively fined $209 and $309.
District 3 Commissioner John Austin, who stepped down in January after two terms, had promised constituents that the ordinance would be enacted before he left office.
During the public comment period, Austin said the ordinance is still a work in progress.
“This ordinance is imperfect, and it’s ironic that some of the people who want this ordinance to be passed today are going to point out changes you will need to make,” he said.
“This may require a public hearing, so it will go on and on.”
Austin said the new ordinance would make enforcement easier and would “also allow our beleaguered county administrator [Philip Morley] to move on to something else.”
Morley took responsibility for the delay, saying that it occurred due to other priorities and a lack of resources.
Over the past year, Morley said the county had received considerable public feedback that resulted in several small changes, including renaming the measure the Animal Control Act to replace its previous designation, the Animal Responsibility Act.
One addition was the waiving of the initial recovery fee for licensed cats or dogs impounded by the shelter, which Morley called “a back-door way of convincing people to license their pets.”
Licensing fees
Dog licensing is compulsory while cat licensing is voluntary, with options for either two-year or lifetime licenses.
The license fees for a fertile dog are $48 for two years and $266 lifetime, while sterilized dogs are $20 and $112.
Fertile cats are assessed $18 for two years and $197 lifetime, sterilized ones are assessed $7 and $38.
During the comment period, Jefferson County resident Tom Thiersch lauded a section prohibiting pets in food establishments.
“This is overdue; animals should not be running around where food is served,” Thiersch said.
To view the entire ordinance, go to tinyurl.com/PDN-Animal.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
