Chapter 4.48
DANGEROUS ANIMALS
Sections:
4.48.010 Keeping restricted – Permit required.
4.48.020 Seller duty to purchaser.
4.48.030 Running at large prohibited.
4.48.050 Violations – Penalties.
4.48.010 Keeping restricted – Permit required.
(1) No person shall have, keep or maintain or have in his/her possession or under his/her control, within the city limits of the city of Wenatchee, any bear, chimpanzee, gorilla, badger, wolf, coyote, fox, nondomestic feline, including but not limited to, lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, bobcats, ocelots, lynx and cougars, or vicious or venomous/poisonous wild animals; provided, persons residing within the city limits of the city of Wenatchee may keep potentially dangerous wild animals other than bear, chimpanzee, gorilla, badger, wolf, coyote, fox, nondomestic felines, including but not limited to, lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, bobcats, ocelots, lynx, and cougars or vicious or venomous/poisonous wild animals if they obtain a permit from the city of Wenatchee commissioners and its duly authorized representative.
(2) Such permit shall be granted only upon a showing by the applicant that adequate safeguards have been instituted and will be maintained which effectively control any dangerous or vicious propensities of such animal and eliminate any danger to individuals and properties; and providing, that the keeping and maintaining of such animal will in no way constitute a nuisance to the occupant of any surrounding property.
(3) “Animal” includes all reptiles, birds, invertebrates, mammals, amphibians and fishes.
(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed to exonerate anyone from liability that accrues from the keeping of such wild animal whether under permit or not. (Ord. 2543 § 1, 1984)
4.48.020 Seller duty to purchaser.
Any persons offering for sale or as a gift any animal in the city of Wenatchee which falls within WCC 4.48.010, shall have the duty to advise the purchaser or recipient of the wild nature of the animal and its vicious, venomous/poisonous or dangerous propensities and the fact that it is regulated or prohibited by the city code. (Ord. 2543 § 2, 1984)
4.48.030 Running at large prohibited.
No person owning or having charge, custody, control or possession of any animal specified in WCC 4.48.010 shall permit or allow the same to run at large upon any highway, street, lane, alley, court or any other place, public or private, or within the premises of such person, in such a manner as to endanger any person lawfully entering such premises. (Ord. 2543 § 3, 1984)
4.48.040 Exceptions.
WCC 4.48.010 shall not apply to any person keeping or maintaining or having in his possession or under his control any animal defined in that section when such person is transporting such animal or reptile through the city of Wenatchee, provided he has taken adequate safeguards to protect the public, and has notified the chief of police of his proposed route of transportation of the time that such trip is to take place, nor shall WCC 4.48.010 apply to any person who has custody of such animals or reptiles in connection with the operation of any zoo or circus properly licensed by the city of Wenatchee or in connection with any program of medical or scientific research, providing such person has taken adequate measures to safeguard persons and property. Nor shall this chapter apply to the following organizations: United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington State Game Department, any humane society. (Ord. 2543 § 4, 1984)
4.48.050 Violations – Penalties.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. For each act prohibited in this chapter of a continued nature each day shall be considered a separate offense. (Ord. 2543 § 5, 1984)