A. Registration Required. The owner of an animal declared to be dangerous by the animal control authority or by a court shall register the dangerous animal with the city pursuant to RCW 16.08.080 within 30 days of the date the animal is declared dangerous. Thereafter, the owner of the dangerous animal shall register the animal annually before or during the month of July.
B. Registration Expiration. Certificates of registration for dangerous animals shall expire on June 30th of each year.
C. Registration Fee. The annual registration fee for a dangerous animal is $100.00. This registration fee is in addition to regular licensing fees. The initial registration fee shall be prorated according to the number of months remaining in the registration year.
D. Certificate of Registration Application. An application to obtain a certificate of registration of a dangerous animal shall contain the following information:
1. Name, address and telephone number of the applicant owner;
2. Type, name, age, color, sex and distinguishing characteristics of the animal;
3. A diagram to approximate scale, showing the secure enclosure proposed to confine the dangerous animal;
4. Evidence of the posting of the owner’s premises with a clearly visible warning sign that there is a dangerous dog on the property, and a conspicuously displayed sign with a warning symbol that informs children of the presence of a dangerous dog;
5. Pursuant to RCW 16.08.080, sufficient proof of a surety bond issued by a surety qualified under Chapter 48.28 RCW in the amount of at least $50,000; and
6. Sufficient proof of a liability insurance policy in the amount of at least $100,000 insuring the applicant owner for personal injuries inflicted by the dangerous animal.
E. Pre-Certificate On-Site Inspection. An employee of the animal control authority shall make an on-site inspection of the applicant’s site for keeping the dangerous animal to ensure that the site is properly enclosed and posted. The inspection shall occur within 30 days of the animal being declared dangerous.
F. Non-Compliance. In the event the owner of a dangerous animal fails to comply with the requirements of this section or RCW 16.08.080, the animal control authority may take immediate action pursuant to RCW 16.08.100. Rules and regulations for notifying owners of the confiscation of a registered dangerous animal shall be formulated by the animal control authority.
G. Issuance of Certificate of Registration. The city shall issue the certificate of registration, if the registration fee is paid and the application and site inspection show that the applicant meets the requirements of this section and applicable state law. The certificate of registration shall contain its expiration date, and a statement of the applicable state criminal penalties. The certificate of registration shall be prominently displayed by the owner of the dangerous animal in an appropriate location.
H. Annual Inspections. Prior to the renewal of a certificate of registration, the animal control authority shall inspect the premises where the dangerous animal is kept at a time mutually convenient to both the animal control authority and the owner of the dangerous animal. The purpose of the annual inspection shall be to ascertain that the site remains in compliance with this section. The inspection shall occur during the month of June before the expiration of the certificate of registration. Failure of the owner of the dangerous animal to cooperate in the inspection may result in further action pursuant to RCW 16.08.100 and subsection F of this section.
I. Change of Ownership Prohibited. An owner of an animal declared dangerous shall not sell or otherwise transfer the ownership, custody or residence of the animal without first obtaining a written court order authorizing the transfer. An owner or keeper seeking court approval shall notify the animal control authority of its intent. In determining whether to grant or deny approval, the court shall consider the following criteria:
1. The information set forth in subsection D of Section 6.04.055;
2. Any previous violations of this title by the proposed new owner;
3. The facilities proposed to contain the animal at its new site; and
4. The characteristics of the neighborhood surrounding the proposed new owner’s premises, i.e., number of children, schools, day care facilities, etc. (Ord. 91-41 § 2, 1991)