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Island County adopts potentially dangerous-dog code, broadens enforcement language
Summary
The Board of Island County Commissioners on June 9 adopted ordinance C37-26 to establish a county code for potentially dangerous dogs (Is. Co. code ch. 6.24). Commissioners approved minor wording changes recommended by the district court and agreed to use the plain-language term 'new' and to replace 'animal control officer' with 'animal control authority.'
Island County commissioners voted June 9 to adopt ordinance C37-26, establishing Island County code chapter 6.24 governing potentially dangerous dogs and the associated processes for declaration, appeals and enforcement.
Sheriff Felicci told the board that Washington state law defines dangerous and potentially dangerous dogs but leaves local enforcement and adoption of local code to counties; the draft code has been before the board previously and Sheriff Felicci presented several non-substantive wording changes recommended by district court staff (for example, replacing the word "note" with "schedule" in the appeals section). The sheriff described the changes as not altering the substance of the code.
Commissioners discussed plain-language phrasing for the appeals process. One commissioner proposed avoiding the Latin phrase "de novo" in favor of an ordinary-English alternative; the board agreed to use the word "new." They also debated whether references to the person who initiates investigation and declaration should read "animal control officer" or be broadened. Commissioners and the sheriff agreed to replace "animal control officer" with "animal control authority" to allow response and enforcement flexibility when a designated ACO is not available.
Several commissioners stressed public-safety reasons for having a clear enforcement process. One commissioner recounted repeated reports of a dog that chased children off a school bus before ultimately biting a child, saying the code's goal is to prevent such escalation.
Sheriff Felicci and Officer Gordon said that deputies already respond to animal incidents when necessary and that an animal control officer is not the only person who can act: "In fact, we have deputies working on animal calls all the time," the sheriff said, noting that deputies can initiate interventions and that ACOs typically follow through with the formal process.
After discussion and the agreed wording changes, a motion to adopt ordinance C37-26 (as amended) carried and the board approved the code establishing the potentially dangerous-dog process for Island County. The ordinance will be added to county code, and staff will proceed to update procedural materials and enforcement protocols to reflect the amended language.
The board recorded the adoption vote and closed the public hearing on the code.
