‘Dangerous dogs’ to get due process

SEATTLE—After a three-year tug-of-war between dog owners and public safety advocates, the Seattle City Council Monday revised the City’s animal control code to strengthen its rules on so-called “dangerous dogs.”

The new law creates a civil citation for potentially dangerous dogs that allows due process for a dog owner to explain why the pet may have menaced or attacked a person or other animal. The citation carries a fine, to be determined by Seattle Municipal Court.

The law also defines “provoked” and allows for dogs to escape a conviction if it is successfully argued that the pet was provoked into action. The law says that children under the age of six cannot legally provoke a dog. This means dogs that attack children will likely be found to be dangerous.

In addition, the law allows owners of convicted dangerous dogs the option of moving their dog outside the City limits, provided that the jurisdiction the dog is moved to will allow the pet and the local animal control authority is notified. Also, the breed of a dog cannot be used to determine if a particular dog is dangerous.

“This is a fair compromise to uphold public safety and give dogs and their owners adequate due process for arguing against a complaint,” Councilmember Jan Drago, whose committee oversees animal control issues, said.

The Council’s unanimous vote Monday ends a saga that began three years ago when the City last updated its animal control code. At that time, dog owners complained about a lack of due process and the possibility of subjective enforcement regarding dangerous dogs.

Seattle City Council release, June 9

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