Police - Animal Control

To contact Animal Control
Immediate Problems (bites, loose dogs, lost pets etc) call 911
Ongoing problems (barking issues, nuisance animals) call 293-4684 Mon-Fri 8-4

Commonly Asked Questions:

Do I need a license for my pet?
What is the leash law?
What about "scooping?"
My neighbor's dog barks constantly, what can I do?
I suspect an animal is being abused, what can I do?
Help! My pet is lost.
What do I do in case of an animal bite?
I'm having problems with nuisance wildlife.
How can I make sure my pet is safe in the event of a disaster?
I think my neighbor is starting a zoo, how many animals can they have?

Animal Licenses

All dogs within the city limits of Anacortes and over the age of four months, must have a City of Anacortes dog license.
The fee for neutered or spayed dogs is $5.00; non-altered dogs are $15.00
The fine for not having a dog license is $65.00.
Dog licenses may be obtained at City Hall (6th and O Avenue) in Finance.
If your dog is injured and unlicensed, Animal Control may not authorize treatment for them. A licensed pet will be taken to their listed vet for care.
A current license will also help us be able to return your animal to you rather than place it in impound, thus avoiding impound fees.

Leash Law
Anacortes does have a leash law. This law requires that any dog, while off it’s owners property, must be on a leash (less than eight feet in length) and in physical control of a person. This includes public parks and school grounds.

While on their property, dogs must be fenced or tied. Dogs may be loose on their own property if the owner is outside with them and can control them. (That means that if a dog were to leave its property, the owner could call it back and it would stop what it was doing immediately and return to its owner)

The fine for the 1st offense of Dog Running at Large is $65.00
2nd offense is $130.00
3rd offense is $500.00
Also, please keep in mind the severe coyote problem we are experiencing in town.
Do not allow pets out alone from dusk to past dawn. We are seeing animal attacks closer and closer to downtown so remember to go out with your pet and help keep them safe!!

“Scooping”
Per City ordinance no. 2692, you are required to remove fecal matter deposited by his/her dog on public property or private property of another before the owner leaves the immediate area where the fecal matter was deposited. Owner must have in possession the equipment necessary to remove his/her dogs fecal matter when accompanied by said dog on public property or public easement.

Barking Complaints
Anacortes does have a nuisance animal ordinance that includes barking dogs.
If you are bothered by a continual howl or chronic barker, we encourage you to first speak with your neighbor about the problem and let them know that you are being disturbed by the noise created by their pet.
Try and work out a solution in a neighborly fashion. Offer suggestions or alternatives that might reduce the noise.
Allow the pet owner some time to try and work out a solution.
If the problem persists, call the Police Department while the barking is occurring. Provide the address of the owner and a description of the dog (aside from “the one who is barking….”)
It is helpful if you can maintain a log of the dates and times the dog is barking.
To prosecute against a dog owner it takes 3 or more neighbors to sign a complaint and agree to appear in court.

Determine for yourself whether your dog is a neighborhood noise nuisance by answering the following questions:

Does your dog bark excessively:

When he is left alone?
When you come home?
When he is outside and wants to come in?
When neighbors come and go from their homes?
When another dog barks?
At wildlife or pedestrians passing by?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, your dog could be a noise nuisance. Contact Animal Control for a copy of our “Barking Dog/Owner” brochure.

Animal Abuse
If you suspect an animal is being abused, call 911. An Officer will investigate. Documenting what you have observed can help that investigation.

Lost/Impounded Pets

If your pet is missing, call 911 or the non-emergent number (428-3211) to make a report and check if they have been impounded.
You might also call the local veterinarian’s office to check if the animal has been turned in to them.
All lost and found information is compiled on a list that can be used to match up a pet and its owner.
Also, talk with your neighbors and advise them that your pet is missing, provide them your phone number so they can contact you if they see your pet.
Impounded animals are taken to the Dog Pound and held until they are claimed or adopted.
Unclaimed animals that are not adopted may be euthanized so PLEASE check with us in a timely manner if you are missing a pet.
Impounded animals may be claimed Monday-Friday 8am-4pm.
There is a $20 impound fee and $8 per day holding fee.

Animal Bites
If someone is bitten by an animal, provide the appropriate First Aid and call 911. An Animal Control or Police Officer will respond, take a report, contact the animal owner and determine what action needs to be taken from there.
If your animal bites someone, contact that person, or their parent in the event of a child, advise them of your name, address, phone number and your pet’s vaccination status. Having your pet properly vaccinated can allow you to keep the animal at home for a quarantine period rather than in supervised impound.

Wildlife Problems
For advice on how to handle nuisance wildlife, contact Animal Control at 293-4684.

Disaster Planning
If a disaster struck today, what would happen to your pet? Your family plan should
include your pets too. These are things you can do now to prepare:

Take a color picture of your pets and store them in a re-sealable, plastic bag.
Set aside a week’s supply of food and water for each pet along with your own emergency supplies. If your pet eats canned food, get the kind with a pull-off lid. Set aside dishes to feed them from and store small animal food in plastic, airtight containers.
If your pet requires medication, have a weeks worth stored with emergency kit. Keep up to date on the medication’s expiration date.
If you have a cat or ferret, set aside litter and a litter pan.
Be sure your pet is wearing identification NOW. This is the single, most important provision you can make for your pet.
Keep a leash and chain/cable tie-out in your emergency kit and car. If walls are not standing and fences are down, containing your pet could be a real problem.
Have an animal crate large enough for each pet to comfortable stay in.
Keep your vet’s name and number and vaccination records in your pet’s first aid kit.
Talk with your neighbors on how to handle emergency arrangements.

Limits on animals
The City allows four dogs per household; this does not include new puppies who have not been weaned.