Dogs at large are becoming an increasing problem for the Washington Police Department. “At large” means off the premises of the animal’s owner and not under the control of a competent person, whether by use of a leash or electronic device; restrained within a motor vehicle; or housed in a veterinary hospital or kennel.
At the City Council’s Tuesday meeting, Police Chief Jim Lester shared his concerns on the issue, “I started to look at our April stats and we had 25 animal complaints in the 30 days of April. Fourteen or 15 of those were dogs at large. Those were the ones that the officers were called on, there’s others that it’s becoming quite a bit, several others for barking dogs and things like that.”
Currently the city code states any animal at large in violation of this chapter shall be seized and impounded. The owner may repossess the animal upon payment to the Clerk of the sum of $25 as an impounding fee for the first offense; $50 as an impounding fee for the second offense for the same owner or home within the same calendar year; and $100 as an impounding fee for the third and each successive offense thereafter. Chief Lester asked the City Council to review the current City code and possibly make changes in the future, that include potentially limiting the number of animals that would be allowed in each residence, and setting scheduled fines for violations. For example a first offense would be a $75 charge.
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