HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 2015-020 Animal Tethering Title 8 ORDINANCE NO. 2015-020
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO ANIMAL TETHERING AND AMENDING
TITLE 8 OF THE ARLINGTON MUNICIPAL CODE
WHEREAS, the city has the authority to regulate the treatment of animals within the
City of Arlington; and
WHEREAS, the city staff has recommended changes and updates to the City's animal
code; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has considered the ordinance and has determined
the proposed revisions are in the best interests of the citizens;
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Arlington, Washington,
do ordain as follows:
Section 1. The following definition shall be added to Arlington Municipal Code
section 8.05,030 and shall read as follows:
"Tether" means:
(1) to restrain an animal by tying or securing the animal to any object or
structure; and
(2) a device, including but not limited to a chain, rope, cable, cord, tie-out,
pulley, or trolley system for restraining an animal.
Section 2. Arlington Municipal Code section 8.10.110 shall be and hereby is
amended to read as follows:
8.10.110 - Unlawful tethering.
(a) Any animal that is restrained by a tether must be restrained in compliance with
this section.
(b) If chain is used for tethering, it must have links of 5/16 of an inch or smaller.
(c) The use of chains or choke chains as collars is prohibited. This subsection
does not apply to choke chains used for training purposes when a person is
present at all times and actively engaged in training the animal.
(d) Any tether must be connected to a collar or harness on a swivel or in a
manner that prevents the tether from tangling.
(e) The tether may be connected to the animal only by a buckle-type or snap-on
collar or a body harness made of nylon or leather. Any collar or harness must fit
ORDINANCE NO. 2015-020 1
the animal properly.
(f) Any tether must be at least ten feet in length, and the animal must have access
to clean water and adequate shelter while tethered. The shelter and water vessel
must be constructed or attached in such a way that the animal cannot knock over
the shelter or water vessel.
(g) If there are multiple animals tethered, each animal must be on a separate tether
and not secured to the same fixed point.
(h) It is a violation:
(1) To tether any animal in such a manner as to permit the animal to leave
the owner's property;
(2) To tether any animal in such a manner that allows the animal to be
within ten feet of any public right-of-way;
(3) To tether any animal in such a manner that the animal can become
entangled with any obstruction or any other tethered animal or be able to
partially or totally jump over any fence;
(4) To tether any animal in a manner that prevents it from lying, sitting,
and standing comfortably, and without the restraint becoming taut;
(5) To tether any animal that is sick, injured, or in distress, in the advanced
stages of pregnancy, or under six months of age;
(6) To tether any animal during any severe weather advisories, warnings,
or emergencies that have been issued or declared by the national weather
service for the location at which the animal is tethered, unless the animal
is provided with natural or manmade shelter that is adequate to keep it
safe, dry, and protected under such conditions;
(7) To tether any animal in a manner that results in the animal being left in
unsafe or unsanitary conditions, or that forces the animal to stand, sit, or
lie down in its own excrement or urine; or otherwise endangers the health
or safety of the animal.
(8) To tether any animal between the hours of 11 pm and 5 am.
(i) A first offense of this section is a class 1 civil infraction under RCW
7.80.120(I)(a). A second or subsequent offense is a misdemeanor.
Section 3. Severabili!y. Should any section, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase
of this ordinance be held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such
invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of any other
ORDINANCE NO. 2015-020 2
section, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance.
Section 4. Effective Date. A summary of this Ordinance consisting of its title
shall be published in the official newspaper of the City, and shall take effect and be in full
force five (5) days of the date of publication.
PASSED BY the City Council and APPROVED by the Mayor thig:9A* day of
4� , 2015.
CITY OF ARLINGTON
e)
Barbara Tolbert, Mayor
Attest:
Kristin anfield, City Clerk
Approved as to form:
Ste en . P if c
Cit itorney
ORDINANCE NO. 2015-020 3
CERTIFICATION OF ORDINANCE
I, Kristin Banfield, being the duly appointed and acting Clerk of the City of Arlington,
Washington, a municipal corporation, do hereby certify that the following Ordinance No. 2015-
020 was approved at the September 21, 2015 City Council meeting.
ORDINANCE NO. 2015-020
"AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO ANIMAL TETHERING AND
AMENDING TITLE 8 OF THE ARLINGTON MUNICIPAL CODE"
A true and correct copy of the original ordinance is attached.
Dated this 22nd day of September, 2015.
1
j Krikin\j3anfield
City Clerk for the City of Arlington
SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE ADOPTION
You are hereby notified that on September 21, 2015, the City Council of the City of
Arlington, Washington, did adopt Ordinance No. 2015-019 entitled,
"AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ARLINGTON, WASHINGTON
ADOPTING ARLINGTON MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER
15.24 REGARDING THE STORAGE OF FLAMMABLE AND
COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS"
And Ordinance No. 2015-020 entitled,
"AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO TETHERING AND AMENDING
TITLE 8 OF THE ARLINGTON MUNCIPAL CODE"
These ordinances are effective five days from passage and publication, except as
otherwise specified in the ordinance.
The full text of the ordinances is available to interested persons and will be mailed upon
request.
Kristin anfield
City Clerk
City of Arlington