Title
A MOTION approving the report submitted by the county executive in response to Motion 12297 and making recommendations to improve enforcement of animal cruelty laws in King County.
Body
WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of a just and civilized society to establish laws and take necessary actions to protect the safety and well-being of animals, and
WHEREAS, animals are vulnerable to abuse and neglect and must be protected, and
WHEREAS, the state of Washington granted law enforcement and animal control agencies the power to enforce animal cruelty laws with RCW 16.52.015, and
WHEREAS, King County authorized the manager of the animal control authority and his or her authorized animal control officers to enforce animal cruelty laws with K.C.C. 11.04.170, and
WHEREAS, it is unlawful to be cruel to animals in King County, under K.C.C. 11.04.250, and
WHEREAS, in 2006 there have been several serious animal cruelty cases reported that resulted in the deaths of family pets in King County, and
WHEREAS, the council of King County passed Motion 12297, requesting the county executive to file a report making recommendations on how to improve: the county's efforts to reduce and eliminate animal cruelty; the investigations of animal cruelty allegations; and the coordination of resources among animal control and law enforcement, and
WHEREAS, Motion 12297 requested the county executive to evaluate alternative organization models for the enforcement of animal cruelty laws and make recommendations on how King County animal control should be organized for animal cruelty, and
WHEREAS, Motion 12297 also requested the county executive to improve animal control section policies and procedures for: coordination of animal cruelty enforcement between animal control officers and law enforcement officers; tracking and following up on animal cruelty cases, particularly repeat offenders; and accepting reports of alleged animal cruelty cases from private humane societies, and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 15652, Section 28, contained a proviso P1 for the records, elections and licensing services division, restricting the records, elections and licensing services division from spending two hundred fifty thousand dollars pending the council's review and approval by a motion, a report that describes opportunities to improve enforcement of animal cruelty laws in King County and containing information the council requested in Motion 12297;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
The county executive's report to the council in response to Motion 12297 and proviso P1 of Ordinance 15652, Section 28, has been reviewed and is hereby approved.