- Do pets need to be licensed?
- Where is the local animal shelter?
- What does it cost to license a pet?
- Where can a person obtain a license?
- Is there a leash law?
- What can be done if a neighbor's pets are loose and a nuisance?
- If a citizen needs to find a home for a pet will Animal Protection and Control pick it up?
- How can someone adopt a pet?
- What is the law regarding barking dogs?
- Can the office make a presentation to a community organization?
- What should a person do about an opossum in a backyard shed?
- How can a dog citation be appealed?
1. Do pets need to be licensed?
All dogs and cats older than eight weeks are required to be licensed. Pot bellied pigs are also required to be registered within the city of Vancouver.
2. Where is the local animal shelter?
The Southwest Washington Humane Society operates the animal shelter at 2121 St. Francis Lane in Vancouver. The society provides animal shelter, lost and found information, animal care education, and pet adoptions services in the county.
3. What does it cost to license a pet?
While pets are required to be registered at eight weeks, fees do not take effect until the pet is six months old. At six months, proof of current rabies immunization also is required. Licensing fees are:
- $40, unaltered dog
- $16, spayed/neutered dog
- $20, unaltered cat
- $10 spayed/neutered cat
- no charge, juvenile (under six months) pet
- no charge, seeing eye/hearing ear dog
- senior citizens may license one pet at half the normal fee, applies to spayed or neutered pets only
4. Where can a person obtain a license?
There are 25 locations within the county where a license may be obtained for a dog or cat. Many veterinarian offices, pet shops, the Humane Society, Animal Protection and Control and auto licensing centers may license a pet. For information about the closest location, call (360) 397-2489. Once a pet is licensed most annual renewal transactions may be handled in the mail. An owner receives a renewal form automatically in the mail each year.
5. Is there a leash law?
Yes. Dogs must be on leashes within the urban areas of the county. Within rural areas, dogs are not required to be leashed if they are under the control of their owner while off their owners premises. Animals may not run loose anywhere in the county. While cats are not required to be leashed, it is illegal for cats to be loose on public property or for cats to damage property of another person.
6. What can be done if a neighbor's pets are loose and a nuisance?
Call Animal Protection and Control. If violations are found the pet owner may be cited or the animals may be taken into custody. If this occurs the owner must pay fines at the animal shelter to redeem the pet. When serious violations involving vicious animals or animal cruelty are reported, Animal Control officers may ask neighbors to help establish evidence so they may take enforcement action.
7. If a citizen needs to find a home for a pet will Animal Protection and Control pick it up?
The county cannot provide free transportation and disposal of unwanted pets. The Southwest Washington Humane Society will attempt to assist owners with unwanted pets. Private businesses exist to provide transportation. Call (360) 397-2489 for information.
8. How can someone adopt a pet?
The Southwest Washington Humane Society, (360) 693-4746, maintains the community animal shelter for unwanted and stray animals available for new ownership. Second Chance Companions, (360) 687-4569, and the West Columbia Gorge Humane Society, (360) 835-3464, are other local organizations with pets for adoption.
9. What is the law regarding barking dogs?
It is a violation of local ordinances for dogs to disturb neighbors with habitual barking. Generally, habitual barking is considered noise for 10 minutes straight, or 30 minutes intermittently. Since it is not necessarily a violation of the law for a dog to bark, Community Mediation Services (CMS) (360) 619-1140, is often the most effective agency in finding a long-term solution to the problem. CMS utilizes trained volunteers to mediate disputes and arrive at satisfactory solutions for all involved participants.
10. Can the office make a presentation to a community organization?
Animal Protection and Control works with the Southwest Washington Humane Society to provide community presentations. The Humane Society provides humane education and responsible pet ownership presentations to schools and other organizations. At presentations, Animal Protection and Control emphasizes public safety such as prevention of dog bites, the legal responsibilities of animal ownership, and humane care of animals.
11. What should a person do about an opossum in a backyard shed?
The Washington State Department of Wildlife trains and licenses Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators (NWCO) to assist with nuisance wildlife problems. For more information, call the Washington State Department of Wildlife at (360) 696-6211, or Animal Protection and Control at (360) 397-2488. Wildlife may be humanely captured, relocated or delivered to the shelter. Animal Protection and Control's partnership program has located humane traps with various volunteer organizations within the County to make them more easily accessible.
12. How can a dog citation be appealed?
The majority of violations are cited as a Notice of Violation and may be appealed to an independent hearings officer. The hearings officer has the authority to modify or cancel penalties issued for violations. There is no cost to appeal a Notice of Violation. Simply follow the instructions on the back of the form and be sure the appeal is received by the date indicated. If a citizen receives a criminal citation for an animal violation and wishes to appeal, the citizen should appear at Clark County District Court on the date and time indicated on the citation.
