Kent City Council approves tougher leash, scoop laws

Kent’s putting more bite into its animal leash and scoop laws.

The City Council unanimously approved an amended animal control ordinance on Tuesday night to clarify the city’s leash law and add a scoop law so that more dog owners keep their pets on leashes and clean up after them.

The new law also gives Kent Police enforcement power rather than just King County Animal Control officers. Kent contracts with Regional Animal Services of King County to provide animal control officers and shelter services. That costs the city about $300,000 per year.

City staff made the new leash law similar to the city of Vancouver. Fines for failing to leash a dog are $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second, $400 for the third and $500 for four or more violations. The city could file criminal charges if someone has four or more violations in one year or fails to pay the fines that could lead to a $1,000 fine or 90 days in jail.

“This is not intended as punitive punishment but preventative, encouraging social norms to be as such and residents to know there is an ordinance to back them up if they let a fellow resident know to kindly put your dog on a leash,” said City Parks Director Jeff Watling at a Council’s Parks and Human Services Committee meeting on Aug. 27.

The new scoop law, similar to the city of Des Moines, includes a fine of $25 for the first offense, $50 for the second and $125 for the third and more.

With the scoop law, it is illegal for a person to fail to immediately remove any fecal matter deposited by an animal in their possession on public property or on any private property not belonging to the animal’s owner, custodian or other person having possession of the animal, according to city documents.

An initial proposal by city staff in June contained language with potential criminal charges for someone failing to obey the scoop law. But Councilwoman Deborah Ranniger, who chairs the Parks Committee, said she wanted to make sure no criminal charges would be part of the scoop law.

“I could not see making criminal charges for poop offenses,” Ranniger said at the committee meeting. “I felt like we would become the laughing stock of the South Puget Sound. It seemed to be too severe punishment to fit that situation.”

Tammy White, assistant city attorney, told the committee that Kent Police had no authority under the existing law to enforce the leash law because it fell under King County code with the city’s interlocal agreement with Regional Animal Services of King County. Officers had to call animal control to handle any leash issue.

Councilman Dennis Higgins said dogs running without a leash has been an ongoing problem at Clark Lake Park on the East Hill near Southeast 240th Street.

“My wife was bitten by a dog as a child, she won’t go to the park by herself because she’s worried about getting bit by a dog,” said Higgins, who added he often sees dogs running free at the park even with a sign that says dogs must be on a leash.

Watling confirmed the problem Higgins mentioned.

“Clark Lake Park has had off leash violations quite a bit,” Watling said. “We will work closely with animal services to have an officer up there from time to time so the park is accessible to all.”

Higgins said the city allows dogs to be off leash at parks on the West Hill (Grandview) and East Hill (Morrill Meadows).

The new law clarifies the leash law and reinforces it, Watling said.

“I think most park users respond positively while others think their God-given right is to use a park like they want to use it,” Watling said.

But now city officials want residents to know leash and scoop laws will be enforced.

“It lets residents know you have to pick up after your dog and you have to have your dog on a leash,” White said.