Thursday, March 28, 2024

Bridgeport revisits pit bull animal control measure

State overturns specific breed ban

Posted

BRIDGEPORT – City council members met in special session on Dec. 30 to address a Bridgeport Municipal Code (BMC) ban on pit bull dogs that is now disallowed after the state Legislature passed and Gov. Inslee signed House Bill 1026 last year that ends breed-specific dog bans as of Jan. 1, 2020.
At the time the bill was signed last spring more than two dozen cites across the state had breed-specific bans, most targeting put bulls, on their books.
The BMC Chapter 6.10 prohibited the keeping of pit bull dogs within the city under Section 6.10.020 which read in part “It is unlawful to keep, harbor, own or in any way possess a pit bull dog within the city.”
Following an extended discussion between council member regarding how the revised dog ordinance should be framed, members voted to amend Section 6.10.020 to allow pit bull dogs in the city and address other aspects of the dog ordinance at a later meeting.
The new state law provides that those dogs that pass a good-behavior test are exempt from breed-specific regulations for at least two years. Dog that fail the good-behavior test can be retested after a specified period.
Mayor Janet Conklin said that the American Kennel Club/Wenatchee Club in East Wenatchee saw the need for certified testers coming with the passage of the state law and is recruiting more licensed testers to handle the demand. Conklin said Bridgeport’s ordinance will require additional tweaking to arrive at the way the city wants the amended ordinance to read.
The City of Brewster allowed pit bulldogs in the city under Title 6 of the Brewster Municipal Code, but with a list of restrictions outlined in Section 6.10.040 that included licensing, confinement, signs, microchips, leashes, muzzles and more.
Brewster city clerk/treasurer said the Brewster council advised the police chief not to enforce the existing code provisions after the new state law took effect. The council was scheduled to revisit its dog ordinance during the first regular meeting of the new year.

 

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here