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The following are declared to be Class 3 Civil Infractions:

A. Animals at Large. It is unlawful for the owner or person having control or custody of any animal to cause or permit such animal to leave the premises where the owner resides, unless the animal is under physical restraint adequate to the size and nature of the animal. Exceptions to this restriction are pets engaged in formal training, hunt or competition, or animals lawfully within a designated off-leash park, or service dogs engaged in activity for which they are trained or in service. Any such animal may be seized and impounded. A violation of this subsection is a Class 3 Civil Infraction.

B. Agitating an Animal. It is unlawful to intentionally agitate, harass, or provoke an animal. A violation of this subsection is a Class 3 Civil Infraction.

C. Animal Bites. It is unlawful to own an animal that bites a person while such person is on public property or lawfully on private property. A violation of this subsection is a Class 3 Civil Infraction.

D. Animals Chasing Livestock. It is unlawful for the owner or person having control or custody of any animal to cause or permit such animal to chase another owner’s livestock when not engaged in the specific work of herding said livestock as approved and permitted by the owner of the livestock. A violation of this subsection is a Class 3 Civil Infraction.

E. Animals Chasing Vehicles on Public Roads. It is unlawful for the owner or person having control or custody of any animal to cause or permit such animal to chase, run after, or jump at vehicles lawfully using the public road, street, avenues, alleys, and ways. Any such animal may be seized and impounded. A violation of this subsection is a Class 3 Civil Infraction.

F. Animals Jumping and/or Threatening Pedestrians. It is unlawful for the owner or person having control or custody of any animal to cause or permit such animal to frequently or habitually snarl at, growl at, jump upon, or threaten persons upon the public sidewalks, roads, streets, alleys, or public places. Any such animal may be seized and impounded. A violation of this subsection is a Class 3 Civil Infraction.

G. Confinement of Female Dogs and Cats in Heat. Every female dog and cat in heat shall be confined in a building or secure enclosure in such a manner that such female dog or cat cannot come into contact with a male of the species, except for planned breeding. It is unlawful for any person having control or custody of a dog or cat in heat to cause or permit such animal to be unconfined. Any dog or cat not so confined when in heat, whether or not such dog or cat is licensed, may be seized and impounded, and will be subject to mandatory spaying in accordance with the process in PCC 6.02.085. A violation of this subsection is a Class 3 Civil Infraction.

H. Failure to License. A violation of Chapter 6.04 PCC is a Class 3 Civil Infraction.

I. Damaging Property. It is unlawful for the owner or person having control of any animal to cause or permit their animal to leave the premises of the owner and thereafter cause damage to anything of value which does not exceed $250.00, including another pet or livestock. A violation of this subsection is a Class 3 Civil Infraction.

J. Failure to Provide Adequate Care. It is unlawful for any owner or person having control or custody of any animal to fail to provide adequate care as defined in PCC 6.02.010 under circumstances not amounting to animal cruelty as defined in RCW 16.52.205 or 16.52.207. A violation of this subsection is a Class 3 Civil Infraction. (Circumstances that amount to animal cruelty as defined in RCW 16.52.205 and 16.52.207 are addressed pursuant to those provisions.)

K. Confinement of an Animal in a Motor Vehicle. It is unlawful for an owner or person to confine any animal in a motor vehicle in such a matter that places it in a life- or health-threatening situation by exposure to a prolonged period of extreme heat or cold, without proper ventilation or other protection from such heat or cold. In order to protect the health and safety of such animal, an animal control officer or law enforcement officer who has probable cause to believe that this Section is being violated shall have the authority to enter such motor vehicle by any reasonable means under the circumstances, after making a reasonable effort to locate the owner. A violation of this subsection is a Class 3 Civil Infraction.

L. Public Disturbance Noise and Public Nuisance Noise Made by an Animal. Any Public Disturbance Noise made by an animal and Public Nuisance Noise made by an animal is unlawful and shall be enforced under the provisions of Chapter 8.72 PCC. Violations and penalties are defined in Chapter 8.72 PCC.

M. Sale or Transfer of Animals in Public Places Prohibited. It is unlawful to sell, barter or otherwise transfer for the purpose of changing ownership any animal in an area open to the public unless such activity is licensed pursuant to Chapter 5.24 PCC. A violation of this subsection is a Class 3 Civil Infraction.

N. Failure to Provide Humane Restraint. Any animal, excluding livestock and poultry, that is restrained by a tether must be restrained in compliance with this Section. All tethers must meet the following requirements:

1. Chains must be adequate to restrain the animal, but appropriate size and weight for the animal.

2. The use of chains, pinch/prong collars, or choke chains as collars is prohibited. This subsection does not apply to pinch/prong collars or choke chains used for training purposes when a person is present at all times and is actively engaged in training the animal.

3. A tether must be connected to a collar or harness on a swivel or in a manner that prevents entanglement.

4. The tether must not cause injury, disfigurement or physical impairment to the animal.

5. A tether must allow access to food, water and shelter while restrained.

6. A tether must not allow the animal to leave the owner’s property.

7. If there are multiple animals, each animal must be restrained with a separate tether in a manner that prevents entanglement.

A violation of this subsection is a Class 3 Civil Infraction.

O. Operating a Facility without a License (First Offense). It is unlawful for any person to own, maintain, or have six or more dogs and/or cats, or operate a commercial kennel or cattery, boarding kennel/cattery, short-term boarding facility, or pet shop, within the unincorporated areas of Pierce County without an applicable license as provided for and defined by Chapter 5.24 PCC. The first violation of this subsection is a Class 3 civil infraction.

Code Revisor's Note: Ordinance No. 2013-10s erroneously showed subsection J above as part of PCC 6.03.020. Subsection J. is correctly located within PCC 6.03.010.

(Ord. 2013-10s § 3 (part), 2013; Ord. 2011-43s § 1 (part), 2011; Ord. 2008-14 § 1 (part), 2008)