7.08.040 Dangerous Dogs and Potentially Dangerous Dogs – Certificate of Registration Required – Prerequisites.
A. It is unlawful for an owner to have a dangerous dog or a potentially dangerous dog in the City of Snohomish without a certificate of registration issued under this section. This section shall not apply to police dogs.
1. The owners of all dangerous dogs or potentially dangerous dogs shall obtain a certificate of registration from the City of Snohomish immediately on the next business day, upon the animal moving to the City. This includes dogs found to be dangerous or potentially dangerous in other jurisdictions that move to the City of Snohomish.
2. After paying the registration fee and registering a potentially dangerous dog with the City of Snohomish, the owners of potentially dangerous dogs labeled so by another jurisdiction based solely on breed classification alone without any aggressive acts, may request review by the Community Services Officer/Animal Control Officer to determine if that specific breed classified potentially dangerous dog will be considered a potentially dangerous dog for registration purposes in the City of Snohomish.
a. The owner of the potentially dangerous dog shall make their request in writing to the Community Services Officer/ Animal Control Officer and will have the responsibility to provide written documentation that the animal was determined to be a potentially dangerous dog based solely on breed, without any aggressive acts.
b. The Community Services Officer/Animal Control Officer will make the determination of whether the dog will be considered a potentially dangerous dog for registration purposes. There is no appeal of that decision.
c. The Community Services Officer/Animal Control Officer will make her decision based upon contact with the jurisdiction declaring the potentially dangerous dog to determine whether the dog was declared a potentially dangerous dog solely based upon breed or whether there is record of any aggressive behavior or acts. If the record shows no aggressive behavior or acts and that the declaration was based solely upon breed, then the dog will not be required to be registered as a potentially dangerous dog in the City of Snohomish. If there is any record of aggressive behavior or acts then the dog will be required to be registered as a potentially dangerous dog in the City of Snohomish.
d. The Community Services Officer/Animal Control Officer will provide her decision in writing whether the potentially dangerous dog will be considered a potentially dangerous dog for registration purposes in the City of Snohomish. If the Community Services Officer/Animal Control Officer’s decision is that the dog will not be considered a potentially dangerous dog for registration purposes in the City of Snohomish then the fees will be refunded and the dog shall have regular licensing requirements.
B. The City of Snohomish shall issue a certificate of registration to the owner of a dangerous dog or potentially dangerous dog upon payment of a registration fee set by resolution of the City Council, if the owner presents to the City of Snohomish sufficient evidence of:
1. A proper enclosure to confine a dangerous dog or potentially dangerous dog and the posting of the premises with a clearly visible warning sign that there is a dangerous dog on the property. In addition, the owner shall conspicuously display a sign with a warning symbol that informs children of the presence of a dangerous dog or potentially dangerous dog; and
2. Either:
a. A surety bond issued by a surety insurer qualified under RCW 48.28 in a form acceptable to the City of Snohomish and the City Attorney in the sum of at least two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000), payable to any person injured or owner of an animal injured by the dangerous dog; or
b. A policy of liability insurance, such as homeowner’s insurance, issued by an insurer qualified under RCW Title 48 in the amount of at least two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000), insuring the owner for any personal injuries inflicted or injuries to an animal inflicted by the dangerous dog.
C. The term for a certificate of registration is one year from the date of issuance or until the dog is moved to another address outside the corporate limits of the City of Snohomish, whichever is less. The owner of a dangerous dog or potentially dangerous dog must renew the certificate of registration annually, unless the dog is moved to another address outside the corporate limits of the City of Snohomish. (Ord. 2100, 2005; Ord. 2299, 2016)