HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-032 Pit Bull Dogs ORDINANCE NO. 2001- 32
AN ORDINANCE relating to public safety and morals; amending the definition of "pit
bull dog," creating an exception for pit bull dogs at dog shows and
canine sporting events; making possession of a pit bull dog a gross
misdemeanor and imposing mandatory penalties therefor;
amending sections 6.18.010, 6.18.020, 6.18.025 and 6.18.026 and
repealing section 6.18.030; all of the City of Yakima Municipal
Code.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
Section 1. Section 6.18.010 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code is hereby
amended to read as follows:
"6.18.010 Definitions
"Pit bull dog" means any dog over the age of six months known by the owner to
be a pit bull terrier. "Pit bull terrier" means any American pit bull terrier, Staffordshire bull
terrier, American Bulldog or American Staffordshire terrier breed of dog or any mixed
breed of dog which contains as an element of its breeding the breed of American pit bull
terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, or American Staffordshire terrier so as to be identifiable
as partially of the breed American pit bull terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, or American
Staffordshire terrier."
Section 2. Section 6.18.020 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code is hereby
amended to read as follows:
"6.18.020 Keeping of Pit Bull Dogs Prohibited.
A. It is unlawful to keep, or harbor, own or in any way possess a pit bull dog
within the GCity of Yakima. Violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor. The
minimum fine for a violation of this section shall be $250 for a first offense and $500 for
a second or subsequent offense, which fine shall not be suspended or deferred. For
purposes of this section, proof of a prior violation shall not require proof that the same
pit bull dog is involved. Each day of violation shall be a separate offense.
B. This chapter shall not apply to pit bull dogs which: 1) do not reside in the
City of Yakima, 2) are brought into the city for the purposes of participating in a doq
show or canine sporting event for which the owner is able to show proof of entry, and 3)
do not remain in the City of Yakima for a period exceeding 96 consecutive hours."
Section 3. Section 6.18.025 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code is hereby
amended to read as follows:
6.18.025 Impounding Pit Bull Dogs.
A. Whenever a pit bull dog is found within the City of Yakima the owner shall
be notified in writing of the prohibitions contained in this chapter and of the procedure
required to redeem the animal. Such notice shall be served upon the owner or, if the
owner is not present, then upon any person of suitable age and discretion residing at
owner's residence. Whenever a pit bull dog is found within the City of Yakima, the
animal ma be tem•oraril detained b Cit of Yakima Animal Control for the •ur•ose of
transporting the animal and having a microchip implanted in the animal for future
identification. Such detention shall not exceed 72 hours, provided that, if the owner is
not available to receive the animal, the animal may be held for such longer period as
may be necessary to ensure the safety of the animal and the public. The owner shall be
responsible for the cost of microchip implantation and any kenneling fees.
B. The owner must permanently remove the pit bull dog from the City of
Yakima within thirty days of such the notice required by this section. Failure to
microchip a pit bull dog within coventy -two hours of notico or failuro to remove a pit bull
dog within thirty days of such notice shall result in the immediate impoundment of the
animal. Whenever any pit bull dog is found within the City of Yakima and the owner has
previously had the notice required by this section, the dog may immediately be taken up
and impounded by such officer charged with the enforcement of this chapter. Pit bull
dogs impounded under this subsection may be redeemed or adopted pursuant to the
provisions of Section 6.20.110 of the Yakima Municipal Code.
Section 4. Section 6.18.030 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code is hereby
repealed:
!
Thc provisions of Section 6.18.020 shall not bc applicable to any owners,
keepers, or harborcrs, of pit bull dogs licensed by the city of Yakima before the effective
Yakima" and "licensed" when used in this chapter shall m an licensed pursuant to the
terms of Chapter 6.22 of this code.
Thc keeping of such licensed dogs shall bc subject to the following standards:
1, Sale or Transfer of Ownership Prohibited. No person shall sell, barter, or
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Section 5. Section 6.18.026 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code is hereby
amended to read as follows:
"6.18.026 Impounding Potentially Dangerous Pit Bull Dogs and Pit Bull Dogs at
Large.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 6.18.020(B) or 6.18.025, any pit bull
dog running at large in the City of Yakima which is not in the possession or control of its
owner or owner's agent, or which is a dangerous dog or potentially dangerous dog as
those terms are defined in Chapter 6.20 of this code, shall be immediately impounded
by a Yakima animal control officer or Yakima police officer. Such animal shall be
redeemed, adopted or destroyed pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.20.110 of the
Yakima Municipal Code."
Section 6. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect 30 days after its
passage, approval, and publication as provided by law and by the City Charter.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, signed and approved this 17thday of
July , 2001
M 'lace, Mayor
ATTEST: ,�
NA M
,4
By °
C 774 City Clerk v 0 EAL
Publication Date: .. hING1
Effective Date: u_19._2oo
, I
BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT l
Item No. �O
For Meeting of 1 —t7 2001
ITEM TITLE: An ordinance relating to public safety and morals; amending the definition of "pit bull
dog," creating an exception for pit bull dogs at dog shows and canine sporting
events; making possession of a pit bull dog a gross misdemeanor and imposing
mandatory penalties therefor; amending sections 6.18.010, 6.18.020, 6.18.025 and
6.18.026 and repealing section 6.18.030; all of the City of Yakima Municipal Code.
SUBMITTED BY: Jeff B. West, Senior Assistant City Attorney
CONTACT PERSON/TELEPHONE: Jeff B. West, 575 -6033
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
The proposed legislation, at the request of Councilmember Buchanan, increases the
penalty for possessing a pit bull dog from a misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of
90 days in jail and /or a fine of up to $1000.00 to a gross misdemeanor with a
maximum penalty of 365 days in jail and a $5000 fine. The ordinance would also
impose a minimum fine of $250 for a first offense of possessing a pit bull dog in the
City of Yakima and $500 for each subsequent offense. These mandatory fines,
including costs and assessments would be $475 and $950 respectively. At the
request of staff and Mr. Buchanan, YMC 6.18.030, which allowed persons who owned
pit bull dogs prior to the original passage of the pit bull ban in 1987 to license their
animals, is repealed because there are no licensed animals remaining alive at this
time. This has been verified through City records.
(cont. on pp 2)
Resolution Ordinance X Other (Specify)
Contract Mail to (name and address):
Phone:
Funding Source
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL City Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:Council Policy Issue
BOARD /COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
COUNCIL ACTION: See page 2 of Agenda Statement for the disposition -
Agenda Statement
Pit Bull Dogs
(page 2).
At the request of Councilmember Barnett, the ordinance also creates an exemption for
pit bull dogs brought into the city for the purpose of a dog show or canine sporting
event. At the request of staff, the ordinance would be amended to include the
"American Bulldog" as a banned breed. This breed is not the English Bulldog. The
term "American Bulldog" is just another pseudonym for the pit bull and has been
developed in order to thwart ordinances such as the City's. Staff further requests that
the ordinance be amended to allow animal control officers to temporarily seize pit bull
dogs in order to ensure that the dog is microchipped. These ordinance changes are
not anticipated to have any fiscal impact.
AMENDMENTS MADE TO THE EXISTING PIT BULL REGULATIONS INCLUDE:
1) Raise the maximum penalty from a misdemeanor to a gross misdemeanor
2) Create a minimum fine of $250 for a first offense and $500 for each
subsequent offense.
3) Create an exception for dogs brought into the city for dog shows and canine
sporting events,
4) Add the American Bull Dog as a banned breed.
5) Repeal the grandfather clause allowing dogs that were originally in the city as
there are no original dogs remaining
6) Change the procedure for micro - chipping these dogs to assist the Animal
Control officers.
Ordinance passed. ORDINANCE NO. 2001 -32
CITY OF YAKIMA
LEGAL
DEPARTMENT
200 South Third Street Yakima Washington 98901 -2830 phone: (509) 575 -6030; fax (509) 575 -6160
PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL: COVERED BY THE ATTORNEY- CLIENT AND
ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT PRIVILEGES
MEMORANDUM
July 12, 2001
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Jeff B. West, Senior Assistant City Attorney
SUBJECT: Pit Bull Amendments
Attached please find the proposed changes to the pit bull ban. These changes
reflect the input of both councilmembers and staff. The proffered changes
include raising a violation from a misdemeanor to a gross misdemeanor. The
effect of this amendment is to raise the maximum penalty from 90 days in jail
and /or a $1000 fine to up to 365 days in jail and /or a $5,000 fine.
The amendments would also require, in the case of a person being convicted of
violating the pit bull ban, a mandatory minimum fine of $250 on a first offense
and $500 on a second offense would be imposed. Once all state assessments
and costs are added to the base fine, this would result in the person convicted
actually paying $475 on a first offense and $950 on a second or subsequent
offense. This fine structure could be required even should the council decide to
not increase the maximum penalties by raising the charge from a misdemeanor
to a gross misdemeanor. This same fine structure is used for violations of the
ban on drug paraphernalia and possession of less than 40 grams of marijuana.
The amendments would also allow animal control officers to temporarily detain a
pit bull dog in order to have the animal microchipped. This change responds to
the problem experienced by animal control officers that, unless they actually walk
an individual through the microchipping process, they have found little
compliance with the microchipping requirement. This, in turn, results in time and
effort being spent to generate an additional warrant to check up on the animal to
i
Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
July 12, 2001
Page - 2
ensure compliance. A search warrant would still be required to enter private
property to seize a pit bull dog.
Another proposed change allows persons to bring pit bull dogs to canine sporting
events and dog shows. Such animals must still be leashed at all times and may
only remain in the City for up to 96 hours. This change promotes the City as a
site for dog shows and canine sporting events.
The definition of Pit Bull Dog is also amended to add the "American Bulldog" to
the list of banned breeds. This is not the English Bulldog. Pit Bull owners
have created a new breed name of "American Bulldog" in order to avoid pit bull
bans such as the City's. This is a name change only and does not, in fact, ban
additional animals.
JBW /jbw memo .pilbullpencovr.doc
02/09/2001