Edmonds Police Department Edmonds Animal Control and Ordinance Enforcement

Animal Control Officers and their Duties:

Animal control officers are special commissioned Washington peace officers sworn to enforce laws and ordinances for the control of animals, and for the regulation of parking, abandoned vehicles, litter control and other ordinances in the City of Edmonds.   They work under the direction of a Police Sergeant and are occasionally called by the Patrol Officers to assist with animals whose owners are arrested, involved in a traffic accident or at places where a search warrant is being executed.

These Officers are required to handle animals that pose a threat to public safety such as loose, vicious dogs, sick or injured animals, utilizing a variety of animal control devices and equipment including leashes, catch poles, nets, tranquilizer rifle and humane animal traps.

They must also be able to organize, prioritize and respond to complaints from the public; explain various ordinances regarding animal control to the public; resolve conflicts between parties; interpret and apply laws in the field to effectively and appropriately resolve complaints.  Animal Control Officers prepare written reports regarding investigations; prepare citations for offenders as needed; coordinate with prosecutors and other judicial officials for court action against offenders; and testify in court as needed.

Laws that the Officers Enforce:

The Animal Control Officers handle animal complaints, abandoned vehicles and are responsible for Parking Enforcement.  The “Top Ten Most Frequently Asked Animal Control Questions” can be found on the Police Departments main webpage at http://www.ci.edmonds.wa.us/anim_faq.stm. Those questions include:

1. What can be done about my neighbors barking dog?
2. Is there a leash law or control law as well as a scoop law in Edmonds and does it apply to cats?
3. What are the operating hours of Animal Control?
4. What are the licensing fees and where do I license my animals?
5. What are the Edmonds parks that allow dogs?
6. What happens when a dog bites a human or another animal?
7. Does Animal Control respond to calls concerning coyotes, opossum, and raccoons?
8. What should I do if I lose or find someone’s pet?
9. Can unclaimed animals be adopted?
   Follow this link to Petfinder.com to find animals available today.
   
10. What are the rules at the Off Leash Dog Park at South Marina Beach Park?

How to contact an Officer:

The best way to contact an Animal Control Officer is to call the police dispatch center called Sno-com by dialing 9-1-1.  The officers generally work from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm seven days a week.  In their absence, a Police Officer will be dispatched to handle the calls for service.  The Animal Control voice mail number is 425-771-0205 for non emergency messages. Updated information regarding West Nile Virus, dead crows, adoptions, etc. can also be found at this same number.  The officers check the voice mail through the day and return calls when they can.