Excerpts from Tacoma Municipal Code
Tacoma, Washington

Chapter 5.26 
DOGS - KEEPING

Sections: 
5.26.010 Definitions.
5.26.080 Jumping and barking at pedestrians. 
5.26.140 Violatíons - Penalty.
5.26.170 Directing dog with malicious intent - Prohibited. 
5.26.180 Use of dog in illegal activity - Prohibited.
5.26.190 Directing dog with maiicious intent toward public safety officer Prohibited.
5.26.200 Probable cause to impound dog.

5.26.010 Definitions.
Within the provisions of this chapter the following definitions shall obtain:
A. "Dog" shall mean and include female, spayed female, male and neutered
male dogs.
B. "Cat" shall mean and include female, spayed female, male and neutered male cats.
C. "Animal" shall mean and include female, spayed female, male and neutered male animals, excepting any goat, horse, mule, cattle, swine, ass or other livestock, and excepting any dog or cat.
D. "Owner" shall mean any person, firm or corporation owning, having an interest in, or having control or custody or possession of any dog, cat or animal.
E. "At large" shall mean off the premises of the owner or keeper of the dog, cat or animal, and not under restraint by leash or chain or not otherwise controlled by a competent person.
	F.	"Person" shall include any person, partnership, corporation, trust or 		association of persons. 	G.	The present tense shall include the past and future tense, and the future the 		present. Each gender shall include all genders. 	H.	The singular number shall include the plural, and the plural the singular. 	I.	Whenever a power is granted to or a duty is imposed upon the Humane 		Society, pound master or other public officer, the power may be exercised or 		the duty may be performed by a deputy of the officer or by a person 		authorized pursuant to the law by the officer unless this chapter expressly 		provides otherwise. (Ord. 27074 § l; passed April 26, 1988: Ord. 23600 ~ 6;
GPLG 14 (9/96)
passed April 29,1986: Ord. 23462 ~ I; passed Sept. 10, 1985: C~rd. 1611I; passed May 19, 1958: Ord. 15161 ~ l; passed Nov. 22, 1954.)
5.26.080 Jumping and barking at pedestrians.
It shall be unlawful for any owner to keep or harbor any dog or animal that frequently or habitually snarls and growls at or snaps or jumps upon or threatens persons lawfully upon the public sidewalks, streets, alleys or public places of the city, and the san~e is hereby declared to be a nuisance and any such dog or other animal may be seized and impounded in the City Pound. (Ord. I5161 § 8; passed Nov. 22, 1954.)
5.26.140 Violations - Penalty.
The following penalties may be imposed against persons convicted of violating this chapter:
A. For violation of Sections ~.26.030, 5.26.050, 5.26.060, 5.26.070, 5.26.080, ~.26.085, and 5.26.086 the maaci.mum penalty shall be not more than $500.00.
No jail sentence shall be imposed.
B. For any violation of Sections 5.26.170, 5.26.180, or 5.26.I90, the maximum penalty shall be not more than $5,000 nor more than one year in jail.
C. Any person who fails to appear in court or fails to pay the fines and penalties imposed in thís section shall be found guilty of a misdemeanor. The penalty shall be a maximum fine of $1,000, but no jail sentence shall be imposed. (Ord. 24462 ~ 1; passed Oct. 31, 1989: Ord. 23600 ~ 10; passed April 29, 1986.)
5.26.170 Directing dog with malicious intent - Prohibited.
No person having control or custody of any dog shall direct, encourage, cause, allow, or otherwise aid or assist any dog to threaten, charge at, intimidate, bite, harass, menace, or attack any person within the City of Tacoma. (Ord. 24462 ~ 2; passed Oct. 31, 1989.)
5.26.180 Use of dog in illegal activity - Prohibited.
No person shall keep, maintain, control, or retain custody of any dog in conjunction with or for the purpose, whether in whole or in part, of aiding, abetting, or conducting any illegal activity or committing any crime within the City of Tacoma. {Ord 24462 ~ 2; passed Oct. 3I, 1989.)
5.26.190 Directing dog with malicious intent toward public safety officer Prohibited
It shall be unlawful for any person having control or custody of any dog to allow, direct, encourage, cause, or otherwise aid or assist any dog to threaten, charge, intimidate, bite, harass, menace, or attack any public safety officer engaged in the conduct of his/her duties. (Ord. 24462 § 2; passed Oct. 31, 1989.)
~.26.200 Probable cause to impound dog.
Any law enforcement officer having probable cause to believe that any person has violated Sections ~.26.170, 5.26.180, or 5.26.190 hereof may impound or cause to be impounded any dog. Such impoundment shall be subject to all other sections of this chapter and all other munícipal laws, induding but not Iimited to Tacoma City Code Sections 5.27.010 et seq. and 5.36.010 et seq. (Ord. 24462 2; passed Oct. 31, 1989.)
Chapter 5.27
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOGS
Sections:
5.27.010 Definitions.
5.27.020 Declaration of dogs as potentially dangerous-Procedure. 5.27.040 Confinement of potentially dangerous dogs.
5.27.04~ Notification of status of potentially dangerous dog. 5.27.050 Penalty for violation.
5.27.010 Definitions.
Within the provisions of this chapter, the following def~nitions shall apply: A. "Potentially dangerous dog" means any dog which:
l. Unprovoked, inflicts bites on a human or a domestic animal, either on public or prívate properiy; or
2. Unprovoked, chases or approaches a person or domestic aninlal upon the streets, sidewallcs, or any public or private property in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack; or
3. Is known to have a propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack unprovoked or to cause injury or otherwise to threaten the safety of humans or domestic animals on any public or private property.
	B.	"Securely enclosed and locked" means a pen or struc~ture which has secure
		sides and a secure top. If the pen or structure has no bottom secured to the
		sides, then the sides must be embedded in the ground no less than one foot.
	C.	"Unconfined" means not securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed
		and locked pen or structure upon the premises of the person owning,
		harboring, or having the care of the animal. (Ord. 24462 § 3; passed Oct. 31,
		1989: C~rd. 24074 ~ 3; passed April 26, 1988.)
5.27.020 Declaration of dogs as potentially dangemus - Procedure.
A. The Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society ("agency") shall classify potentially dangerous dogs. The agenry may find and declare an animal
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potentially dangerous if an animal control officer has probable cause to believe that the animal falls within the definitions set forth in Section 5.27.010.A. The finding must be based upon:
l. The written complaint of a citizen who is willing to testify that the animal has acted in a manner which causes it to fall within the definition of
Section 5.27.010.A; or
2. Dog bite reports filed with the agency; or
3. Actions of the dog witnessed by any animal control officer or Iaw enforcement officer; or
4. Other substantial evidence.
B. The declaration of potentially dangerous dog shall be in writing and shall be served on the owner in one of the following methods:
1. Certified mail to the owneř s last lrnown address; or
2. Personally; or
3. If the owner car~not be located by one of the first two methods, by publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
C. The declaration shall state at least:
l. The description of the animal.
2. The name and address of the owner of the anímal, if lrnown.
3. The whereabouts of the animal, if it is not in the custody of the owner. 4. The facts upon which the declaration of potentially dangerous dog is based.
5. The availability of a hearing in case the person objects to the declaration, if a request is made within 10 days.
6. The restrictions placed on the anin~al as a result of the declaration of potentially dangerous dog.
7. The penalties for violation of the restrictions, including the possibility of destruction of the animal, and imprísonment or fining of the owner.
D. If the owner of the animal wishes to object to the declaration of potentially dangerous dog:
l. The owner may request a hearing before the director of the agency, or the director's designee, by submitting a written request and payment of a $25.00 administrative review fee to said director or director's designee within 10 days of receipt of the declaration, or within 10 days of the publication ef the declaration pursuant to Section 5.27.020.B.
2. If the director or the directoř s designee finds that there is insufficient evidence to support the declaration, it shall be rescinded, and the restrictions imposed thereby annulled.
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3. If the director or the director's designee finds sufficient evidence to support the declaration, the owner may appeal such decision to the Hearing Examiner of the City of Tacoma; provided that payment of a fee of $75.00 is submitted to the office of the Hearing Exa~niner within 10 working days after a request for hearing is received. Appeals of the Hearing F:xaminer's decision must be taken in the Superior Court of Pierce County within 30 days of the date of the written decísion.
4. During the entire appeal process, it shall be unlawful for the owner appealing the declaration of potentially dangerous dog to allow or permit such dog to:
a. Be unconfined on the premises of such person; or
b. Go beyond the premises of such person unless such dog is securely leashed and humanely m» ~~led or otherwise securely restrained. (Ord. 24462 § 4; passed Oct. 31, 1989: Ord. 24074 ~ 3 (part), passed April 26, 1988.)
5.27.040 Confinement of potentially dangerous dogs.
Following a dedaration of potentially dangerous dog and the exhaustion of any appeal therefrom, it shall be unlawful for the person owning or harboring or having care of such potentially dangerous dog to allow or permit such dog to:
A. Be unconfined on the premises of such person; or
B. Go beyond the premises of such person unless such dog is securely leashed and humanely muzzled or otherwise securely restrained. (Ord. 24074 ~ 3; passed April 26, I988.)
5.27.045 Notification of status of poteníially dangerous dog.
The owner shall immediately notify the agency when a dog which has been classified as potentially dangerous:
A. Is loose or unconfined;
B. Has bitten a human being or attacked another animai; C. Is sold or given away, or dies;
D. Is moved to another address.
Prior to a potentially dangerous dog's being sold or given away, the owner shall provide the name, address, and telephone number of the new owner to the agency. The new owner shall comply with all of the requirements of this chapter. (Ord. 24462 ~ 6; passed Oct. 31, 1989.)
5.27.050 Penalty for violation.
Any person who violates a provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be found guiity of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished by a fine in an amount not exceeding $I,000 or incarceration for a period not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. In addition, any person found guilty of
violating this chapter shall pay all expenses, including shelter, food, veterinary expenses for identification or certification of the breed of the animal or boarding and veterinary expenses necessitated by the seizure of any dog for the protection of the public, and such other expenses as may be required for the destruction of any such dog. Any potentíally dangerous dog which is in violation of the restrictions contained in Section 5.27.030 of this chapter or restrictions imposed as part of a declaration as a potentially dangerous dog shall be seized and impounded. Furthermore, any potentially dangerous dog which attacks a human being or domestic animal may be ordered destroyed when, in the court's 3udgment, such potentially dangerous dog represents a continuing threat or serious harm to human beings or domestic ani.mals. (Ord. 24074 ~ 3; passed April 26, 1988.)
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