FORKS — The City Council is nearing a vote on the first portion of a two-part change in city animal laws.
On Tuesday, the council voted to conduct a public hearing Oct. 13 on animal ordinance amendments, including a controversial leash requirement.
The hearing will be at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, 500 E. Division St.
A final council vote is expected during a council meeting Oct. 27, said Rod Fleck, city planner and attorney.
Ordinances
Once the amendments are completed, the city is expected to focus on a new chapter of the ordinance that would limit pet owners to 11 animals and define humane conditions — to avoid a repeat of the Olympic Animal Sanctuary controversy last year.
The city currently has no ordinances regarding humane treatment of animals — those left in hot cars or in poor living conditions.
The city’s Code Review Committee began discussing improved animal control and enforcement in 2012.
The city’s current ordinance includes fines for domesticated animals running free, uncontrolled females in heat, barking dogs and the control of “dangerous” animals.
City ordinances specify that the laws apply to all animals kept as pets or livestock and is not limited to dogs.
Ongoing problem
The city has had an ongoing problem with loose dogs, which triggered the discussion on animal control issues, Fleck has said.
The Code Review Committee has discussed city ordinances that would assess fines and penalties for dog owners who fail to keep their dogs leashed or securely fenced, as well as rules to address kennel conditions and care, he said.
The leash law has been controversial, Fleck said.
Many residents have said the current “voice control” provision of the law is enough, he said.
These ordinance amendments are not related to the controversial Olympic Animal Sanctuary, in which Steve Markwell kept more than 120 dogs in a shelter within city limits.
In 2013, protests began against the sanctuary from people saying the animals inside the shelter at 1021 Russell Road were living in squalid conditions.
Forks sanctuary
Markwell left Forks with 124 dogs in December and turned the dogs over to the New York state-based Guardians of Rescue at a temporary shelter set up on land owned by Rescued Unwanted Furry Friends Foundation in Golden Valley, Ariz.
All of the dogs have been placed in new homes or other sanctuaries.
Markwell has since returned to Forks.
He would not report how many dogs he has now.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
