6.02.135 Police dogs.
A. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context or subject matter clearly requires otherwise, the following words or phrases shall have the following meanings:
1. “Police dog” means a dog used by a law enforcement agency specially trained for law enforcement work and under the control of a dog handler.
2. “Dog handler” means a law enforcement officer who has successfully completed training as prescribed by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission in police dog handling.
B. Interference with and Abuse of Police Dogs Prohibited. It is unlawful for any person to:
1. Willfully or maliciously interfere with, obstruct, torture, beat, kick, strike, mutilate, disable, shoot, poison, kill or in any other way abuse or harass any police dog;
2. Harass a police dog while such police dog is confined in its quarters, an automobile, kennel, fenced area, training area, or while it is under the control of a dog handler;
3. Willfully or maliciously interfere with a police dog or dog handler while such police dog or dog handler is engaged in lawful police activities.
C. Reimbursement of Costs to City. Any person who kills or permanently disables a police dog as a result of any unlawful act set forth in subsection B of this section shall be liable for and shall pay to the general fund of the city the value of the police dog at such time the incident occurred, which shall include costs incurred in the training, care, feeding, and purchase cost of such police dog.
D. Exemptions from Animal Control Code.
1. All police dogs and all dogs being trained as police dogs shall be exempt from all provisions of the Auburn City Code relating to animal control, with the exception of the portion thereof pertaining to rabies control.
2. All police dogs and all dogs being trained as police dogs shall be exempt from all licensing fees set forth by the Auburn City Code relating to animal control and the ordinances of the city, but such dogs shall be registered with those agencies.
E. Penalty. In addition to the penalties set forth in subsection C of this section, any violation of this section is a misdemeanor. (Ord. 6424 § 2, 2012.)