King County steps up enforcement of dog rules in parks
June 2, 2010
NEW — 7:30 a.m. June 2, 2010
King County Animal Care and Control officers have started emphasis patrols at King County Parks to enforce rules related to unlicensed, aggressive and unleashed dogs.
County rules pets are required to be leashed and under control at all times. The code also requires owners to clean up after pets.
The increased patrols came in response to numerous complaints from park users over the past year about aggressive and uncontrolled dogs in county parks.
Pet owners, beware of distemper outbreak
April 20, 2010
King County and state wildlife officials encouraged residents to avoid feeding wildlife, keep domestic pets away from wild animals and ensure pets have updated vaccinations, in response to a canine distemper outbreak last week.
King County Animal Care and Control responded to a report of a raccoon believed to have distemper in Gilman Village just after noon April 9. Officers took the animal into custody and had the animal euthanized by a local veterinarian. King County spokeswoman Christine Lange said officers did not take the animal to a shelter due to the highly contagious nature of canine distemper.
Officials also received reports of sick raccoons in Bellevue, Redmond and Renton. Officers also picked up three raccoon carcasses on the Eastside in recent days.
The county then submitted samples from a raccoon collected in Bellevue to Washington State University for disease testing. Results from the university lab confirmed the animal had canine distemper, Lange said.
Humans cannot contract canine distemper, but the disease spreads among dogs and ferrets, as well as wild animals, such as raccoons, coyotes, skunks and weasels.
Raccoon behavior, including complaint from Issaquah, raises concerns about canine distemper
April 16, 2010
UPDATED — 12:18 p.m. April 16, 2010
King County and state wildlife officials encouraged residents to avoid feeding wildlife, keep domestic pets away from wild animals and ensure pets have updated vaccinations, in response to a suspected outbreak of canine distemper.
King County Animal Care and Control responded to a report of a raccoon believed to have distemper in Gilman Village just after noon April 9. Officers took the animal into custody.
Officials also received reports of sick raccoons in Bellevue, Redmond and Renton. Officers also picked up three raccoon carcasses on the Eastside in recent days.
The county submitted samples from a raccoon collected in Bellevue to Washington State University for disease testing. Results from the university lab confirmed the animal had canine distemper, King County spokeswoman Christine Lange said Friday afternoon.
County 911 system receives national recognition
April 13, 2010
For the first time, the King County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement.
Commissioners conferred the award to the center March 27. The sheriff’s office announced the honor last week.
Accreditation culminated a rigorous, 28-month process to meet more than 200 standards of professional communications excellence.
Evaluators examined how the communications center conducts business in January, as part of the accreditation process. The team reviewed policy and procedures, management, operations and support services.
The center handles 911 calls from unincorporated King County, 12 cities, Metro Transit Police, King County Airport Police and King County Animal Care and Control. Emergency 911 calls made within Issaquah route to the Issaquah Police Department.
“I am very pleased our comm center met the very exacting standards of CALEA,” Sheriff Sue Rahr said in a news release. “It demonstrates the high level of law enforcement services and commitment our employees offer to the citizens of King County.”
The accreditation lasts for three years before the center will be verified again.
Cities name regional fire district, animal control top concerns
March 16, 2010
Issaquah and Sammamish city council members met last week for a wide-ranging discussion about the challenges faced by the neighboring cities.
Talk about Klahanie Park, how the cities will provide animal-control services after June 30 and the future of emergency services dominated the March 9 meeting at Sammamish City Hall.
With county-run animal shelters set to end June 30, members of both city councils said no proposal exists yet to provide the services now handled by King County Animal Care and Control. Although, representatives from both cities said staffers continue to work on a solution.
A solution could result in a regional partnership among several cities, or individual cities could commission animal-control officers. Federal Way officials, for instance, announced a plan to form a city animal-services agency.
Kathy Lambert will oversee animal control, elections in new committee post
February 9, 2010
King County Councilwoman Kathy Lambert has new authority to set the agenda for how the county operates. The councilwoman — whose district includes Issaquah — will serve as chairwoman of the Council Government Accountability and Oversight Committee. Read more
Questions linger as animal control switch looms
January 5, 2010
Despite a Jan. 31 deadline to close county-run animal shelters, questions remain about how King County Animal Care and Control will provide service to Issaquah and 33 other cities after the deadline passes. Read more
Comments wanted about county 911 system’s performance
January 2, 2010
NEW — 6 a.m. Jan. 2, 2010
Evaluators will examine how the King County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center conducts business, and the oversight commission wants input from county residents.
The center handles 911 calls from unincorporated King County, 12 cities, Metro Transit Police, King County Airport Police and King County Animal Care and Control. (Emergency 911 calls made within Issaquah route to the Issaquah Police Department.)
Animal Care and Control hosts pet-microchipping clinic Sunday
December 12, 2009
NEW — 1:40 p.m. Dec. 12, 2009
Pet owners can receive a deep discount on identification microchips during a Sunday clinic at the county-run Kent Animal Shelter.
Have cats and dogs microchipped for $20. Payment will be accepted only in cash and local checks. The clinic runs from 1-3 p.m.
Bring dogs on a leash and cats in a carrier to the shelter, 21615 64th Ave. S. Animals not on a leash or in a carrier will not be eligible to receive a microchip.
Veterinarians from Seattle King County Veterinary Medical Association partnered with King County Animal Care and Control for the event.
County budget preserves public safety, Metro funds
November 24, 2009
Among the winners in the 2010 budget approved by the King County Council: Metro bus riders and domestic violence prevention programs. The losers include county-run animal shelters and the council and county executive, whose staffs will be trimmed to save money. Read more
