6.08.020 Dangerous dogs—Certificate of registration required—Prerequisites.
A. It is unlawful for an owner to have a dangerous dog in the city of Everett without a certificate of registration issued under this section. This section shall not apply to police dogs. Within fifteen calendar days following a declaration of dangerous dog, or the exhaustion of any appeal therefrom, the owner of a dangerous dog shall obtain a certificate of registration for such dog.
B. Everett animal control shall issue a certificate of registration to the owner of a dangerous dog upon payment of the registration fee if the owner presents to Everett animal control sufficient evidence of:
1. A proper enclosure to confine a dangerous dog and the posting of the premises with a clearly visible warning sign that there is a dangerous dog on the property. In addition, the owner shall conspicuously display a sign with a warning symbol that informs children of the presence of a dangerous dog; and
2. Either:
a. A surety bond issued by a surety insurer qualified under Chapter 48.28 RCW in a form acceptable to Everett animal control and the city attorney in the sum of at least two hundred fifty thousand dollars per dangerous dog, payable to any person injured by the dangerous dog; or
b. A policy of liability insurance, such as homeowner’s insurance, issued by an insurer qualified under RCW Title 48 in a form acceptable to the Everett animal control and the city attorney in the amount of at least two hundred fifty thousand dollars, insuring the owner for any personal injuries inflicted by the dangerous dog.
C. The term for a certificate of registration is one year from the date of issuance or until the dog is moved to another address outside the corporate limits of the city of Everett, whichever is less. The owner of a dangerous dog must renew the certificate of registration annually, unless the dog is moved to another address outside the corporate limits of the city of Everett.
D. The owner of a dangerous dog shall allow an annual inspection of a proper enclosure that holds the dog. If the proper enclosure is a residence, the inspection shall be limited to the exterior of the residence. Refusal to allow an annual inspection is a violation of the certificate of registration requirement. An owner who refuses to allow an annual inspection shall have his or her certificate of registration revoked and may be fined for each day the inspection is refused.
E. An owner who fails to pass inspection will be subject to a fifty dollar reinspection fee per occurrence. Reinspection must occur during the prescribed fifteen-calendar-day period; it does not extend the allotted time frame.
F. Upon each annual renewal of the dangerous dog registration, the owner shall provide two current color photographs (in electronic or printed format) of the dog for identification purposes. (Ord. 3705-19 § 4, 2019; Ord. 2782-04 § 3, 2004; Ord. 2393-99 § 5, 1999.)