Chapter 10.80
POLICE DOGS
Sections:
10.80.020 Interference with and abuse of police dogs prohibited.
10.80.030 Reimbursement of costs to city.
10.80.040 Exemptions from animal control code.
10.80.050 Violation – Misdemeanor.
10.80.010 Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context or subject matter clearly requires otherwise, the following words or phrases shall have the following meanings:
(1) “Police dog” means a dog used by a law enforcement agency, specially trained for law enforcement work and under the control of a dog handler.
(2) “Dog handler” means a law enforcement officer who has successfully completed training as prescribed by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission in police dog handling. (Ord. 8-87 § 2, 1987).
10.80.020 Interference with and abuse of police dogs prohibited.
It is unlawful for any person to:
(1) Willfully or maliciously interfere with, obstruct, torture, beat, kick, strike, mutilate, disable, shoot, poison, kill or in any other way abuse or harass any police dog;
(2) Harass a police dog while such police dog is confined in its quarters, an automobile, kennel, fenced area, training area, or while it is under the control of a dog handler;
(3) Willfully or maliciously interfere with a police dog or dog handler while said police dog or dog handler is engaged in lawful police activities. (Ord. 8-87 § 3, 1987).
10.80.030 Reimbursement of costs to city.
Any person who kills or permanently disables a police dog as a result of any unlawful act set forth in BMC 10.80.020 shall be liable for, and shall pay to the general fund of the city, the value of the police dog at such time the incident occurred, which shall include costs incurred in the training, care, feeding and purchase cost of such police dog. (Ord. 8-87 § 4, 1987).
10.80.040 Exemptions from animal control code.
All police dogs and all dogs being trained as police dogs shall be exempt from all provisions of this code relating to animal control, specifically Chapter 9.30 BMC. (Ord. 8-87 § 5, 1987).
10.80.050 Violation – Misdemeanor.
Any violation of this chapter constitutes a misdemeanor. (Ord. 8-87 § 6, 1987).