Chapter 4.48
WILD AND EXOTIC ANIMALS
Sections:
4.48.010 Use or possession of exotic and wild animals restricted.
4.48.050 Violations – Penalties.
4.48.010 Use or possession of exotic and wild animals restricted.
(1) No person shall have, keep, or maintain or have in their possession or under their control any exotic or wild animal.
(2) No person shall cause a performance of, or allow for the participation of, any exotic or wild animal in a traveling animal act. (Ord. 2024-06 § 1)
4.48.020 Exceptions.
This chapter shall not apply to:
(1) Domestic animals or farm animals;
(2) Equine activities;
(3) The use or possession of an exotic or wild animal:
(a) In an exhibition at a nonmobile, permanent institution, zoo, or aquarium accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), or the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS);
(b) As part of an environmental education program by a facility accredited by the North American Association of Environmental Education (NAAEE) or the Washington State affiliate of NAAEE; provided, that the animal used for such purposes is not so used for more than six months in any consecutive 12-month period, and is not kept in a mobile or traveling housing facility for more than a total of 12 total hours in any day;
(c) By a university, college, laboratory, or other research facility registered with the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States pursuant to 7 USC Section 2136 for the purpose of conducting research; or
(d) By the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, or an animal care and control agency;
(4) The use of indigenous wildlife in an exhibition or environmental education program by a wildlife rehabilitator that is accredited or certified by the National Wildlife Rehabilitation Association (NWRA) or the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC); provided, that the animal used for such purposes is not so used for more than six months in any consecutive 12-month period, and is not kept in a mobile or traveling housing facility for more than a total of 12 total hours in any day; or
(5) A federally permitted falconer. (Ord. 2024-06 § 2)
4.48.030 Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Animal care and control agency” has the same meaning as stated in RCW 16.52.011, as it now appears or is hereafter amended.
(2) “Cause a performance” means to be responsible for a performance, to financially benefit as an owner or operator from a performance, or to sponsor a performance.
(3) “Domestic animal” means any animal that is normally maintained as a companion or pet animal in or near the household of the owner or person who cares for the animal, such as a domestic dog (including a service dog), domestic cat, ferret, gerbil, horse, mouse, rat, guinea pig, rabbit, or hamster, but does not include any exotic animal or wild animal.
(4) “Environmental education program” means a program, which may include animal exhibition, that is professionally designed to impart knowledge or information for educational or conservation purposes about that animal’s natural behavior, habitat, life cycle, or similar pedagogical information, conducted by an individual qualified to impart such information, which does not include any performance of behavior that does not naturally occur for that animal in the wild state.
(5) “Equine activity” has the same meaning as stated in RCW 4.24.530, as it now appears or is hereafter amended.
(6) “Exotic animal,” “wild animal,” “exotic and wild animal,” and “exotic or wild animal” mean any animal that is not a domestic animal or farm animal, which is now or has historically been found in the wild or in the wild state, whether wild-born or captive-bred, and any hybrid of such an animal, including hybrid crosses with a domestic animal or farm animal, including but not limited to animals such as:
(a) Canidae (excepting domestic dogs);
(b) Cetartiodactyla (excepting alpacas, bison, cattle, deer, elk, goats, llamas, reindeer, swine, and sheep);
(c) Crocodilia;
(d) Edentata;
(e) Elasmobranchii;
(f) Elephantidae;
(g) Felidae (excepting domestic cats);
(h) Hyaenidae;
(i) Marsupialia;
(j) Mustelidae;
(k) Nonhuman primates;
(l) Perissodactyla (excepting horses, donkeys, and mules);
(m) Pinnipedia;
(n) Procyonidae;
(o) Ratites;
(p) Serpentes (poisonous);
(q) Spheniscidae;
(r) Testudinidae;
(s) Ursidae;
(t) Varanidae; and
(u) Viverridae.
(7) “Farm animal” means alpacas, cattle, sheep, swine, goats, llamas, poultry, rabbits, bison, horses, mules, or donkeys. The term does not include exotic animals or wild animals.
(8) “Mobile or traveling housing facility” means a transporting vehicle such as a truck, car, trailer, airplane, ship, or railway car, used to transport or house animals while traveling to, from, or between locations for performance purposes.
(9) “Performance” means any animal act, circus, ride, carnival, display, exhibition, fair, parade, petting zoo, race, performance, or similar undertaking in which animals are required to perform tricks, give rides, or participate as accompaniments for the entertainment, amusement, or benefit of an audience.
(10) “Traveling animal act” means any performance of animals where such animals are transported to, from, or between locations for the purpose of such performance, in a mobile or traveling housing facility. (Ord. 2024-06 § 3)
4.48.040 Exceptions.
Repealed by Ord. 2024-06. (Ord. 2543 § 4, 1984)
4.48.050 Violations – Penalties.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. For each act prohibited in this chapter of a continued nature each day shall be considered a separate offense. (Ord. 2543 § 5, 1984)