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http://www.ferndalerecordjournal.com/index.php?goto=2008-10-23%2009:50:26&section=news

Good dogs win, bad owners lose

Animal control ordinance passes 7-0

by Erik Burge
Record-Journal reporter

City Council sent a clear and concise message to pet owners in Ferndale at it’s regular monthly meeting on Monday, Oct. 20, voting 7-0 in favor of adopting a revised and strengthened animal control ordinance.

The ordinance holds owners of “dangerous” or “potentially dangerous” pets residing inside Ferndale city limits personally responsible for the actions and behavior of their animals to the tune of being required to obtain $500,000 to $1 million in liability insurance, policies which Mayor Gary Jensen said are virtually impossible to obtain.

“If you’ve got a dangerous dog, you’re not going to have it in Ferndale,” said Jensen. “The new ordinance is very serious. Very straight forward. From here on, we’re going after owners, not dogs.”

Under the new ordinance, a dog or any pet can be labeled “dangerous” if it has inflicted severe injury on a human being, domestic animal or livestock without being provoked. “Potentially dangerous” pets are defined as those that aggressively bite and attack.

If the behavior of a “potentially dangerous” dog continues or worsens, it can either be upgraded to “dangerous” or euthanized the second time it is impounded. If a dog has attacked someone or caused serious harm and determined to be “dangerous”, that animal could be euthanized on the first impound.

The ordinance gives the Police Chief, with consultation of the Animal Control Officer, sole discretion in determining a dog to be “dangerous” or “potentially dangerous.” And it requires that this determination must be made solely on the basis of an animal’s proven and documented behavior, regardless of species or breed.

The ordinance also sets stricter limits on the number of pets that will be allowed in one household to four dogs and four cats, while requiring that all dogs be leashed whenever they leave their home residence. Any dogs that are caught roaming, running or being “at-large” without a leash may be confiscated and impounded.

Higher impound fees for dangerous dogs and a $600 confiscation fee are also being proposed. Current impound fees range from $40 to $80 for a dog’s first offense. But the fee rises in $20 increments for each subsequent impound, said Penny Cistaro, executive director of Whatcom Humane Society.

City officials and the Whatcom Humane Society have worked closely together in drafting the revised ordinance since August, after a number of aggressive pet-related incidents (including dog attacks on at least four cats and two people) occurred in residential neighborhoods.

Cistaro, who has been a part of revising Ferndale’s animal control ordinance, said he fully supports the changes.

“The city has put together a strong, solid ordinance,” Cistaro said, as quoted by the Bellingham Herald. “It sends a clear message the city takes animal control seriously.”