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Animal Control Unit
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The Animal Control Unit is part of the Lynnwood Police Department. For immediate response, please call 911. For general information, call (425)
670-5660 and an animal control officer will contact you as soon as possible.
Additional
Information can be found below about Pet
Licensing and other animal control
related information.
 | Animal Control Officers Bernie
Federmeyer and Paul Coleman |
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The mission of the Animal Control Unit is to provide service to the residents of the City of Lynnwood by
actively patrolling the City to regulate, educate and enforce situations involving animal behavior, care and
licensing.
Authorized staffing for the Animal Control Unit consists of two full-time officers. The unit is supervised by
the Administrative Sergeant.
The Animal Control Unit’s primary function relates to animal regulations and welfare, but it also serves a
variety of police service functions including directing traffic at collision scenes, vehicle unlocks (public assist),
parking enforcement on both city streets and public access areas, and certain code compliance problems such
as abandoned vehicles, hulk inspections and VIN verifications on impounded vehicles.
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Animal Control officers made diligent efforts to mark or
“tag” abandoned vehicles on public streets and right-of-ways;
increasing the number marked by 15%.
Fortunately, most vehicles did not require impound and
were removed from the public streets by their owners.
Thus, the number of impounded vehicles decreased.
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Animal Control officers continued to investigate animal
bite and aggressive dog reports and conducted follow-up
inspections of home kennels. Follow-up on these cases
has been improved and stricter enforcement standards are
being applied. The Animal Control officers issued
several criminal citations to non-compliant dangerous
animal owners and executed a residential search warrant
to confiscate a declared dangerous animal.
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Animal Control officers
revived the A.C.E. (Animal
Control Education) class and
taught this program to a
second grade class. The
program is scheduled to run in
the spring for other schools in
the City.
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The Animal Control Unit was
issued a new cargo van. The
new vehicle is more reliable
than the former one, and
includes larger animal cages
as well as a larger cargo area
to assist patrol officers in
transporting large property
i t ems the y somet imes
encounter in the field.
Animal Control officers had
the primary responsibility to
deploy and retrieve the traffic
“speed awareness” trailers on
a daily basis. Daily placement
and removal of the trailers is
necessary to safeguard them
from overnight damage and to
recharge the battery-operated
display. The officers
dedicated 230 hours to this
project.
| Animal Control Statistics |
2008 |
2009 |
%Change |
| Reports Taken |
| Animal related |
89 |
149 |
67% |
| Illegal dumping |
13 |
7 |
-46% |
| Lost/Found property |
51 |
79 |
55% |
| Impounded vehicles |
44 |
24 |
-45% |
| Other miscellaneous |
27 |
34 |
26% |
| Citations Issued 141 |
| Handicap parking |
178 |
141 |
-21% |
| Unauthorized handicapped parking |
62 |
65 |
5% |
| Animal control violations |
52 |
112 |
115% |
| Miscellaneous parking |
503 |
608 |
21% |
| Criminal traffic |
0 |
0 |
- |
| Criminal non-traffic |
12 |
0 |
-100% |
| Correctional/Warnings Issued |
| Parking |
58 |
41 |
52% |
| Handicap |
31 |
43 |
39% |
| Animal related |
42 |
70 |
67% |
| Abandoned vehicles |
322 |
371 |
15% |
| Additional Statistics |
| Hours in training |
84 |
72 |
-14% |
| Total number of calls for service |
2,726 |
2545 |
-7% |
| Hours in radar/traffic safety setup |
102 |
230 |
-12% |
| Court security |
260 |
85 |
-67% |
| Lock outs |
263 |
20 |
-23% |
Listed below is a synopsis of the Lynnwood Animal Laws that apply to most pet owners. For more information on these and other animal control laws, please contact Animal Control or the Lynnwood Police Department to read the ordinance as written.
Every dog and cat six months old or older must be licensed and must wear the license tag on its collar or harness. Licenses are valid for one year from issuance date. The City of Lynnwood encourages responsible pet ownership and tiers the license fees to encourage spaying or neutering and microchip implants to assist in returning lost pets. Listed below are the license fees:
Dogs or Cats
Male or Female = $40.00; annual from date of purchase
Neutered or spayed = $20.00; annual from date of purchase
Neutered/Spayed and Microchipped = $10.00; annual from date of purchase
For more information about obtaining a
pet license, please call the Police
Department Front Desk: 425-670-5600 or
Animal Control at 425-670-5660
If your dog bites someone, approaches and chases people or inflicts severe damage, it can be declared a dangerous dog and subject to confiscation, or you will be required to meet confinement regulations. A dangerous dog must be registered with the City Clerk each year. If you have any questions, please contact Animal Control
at 425-670-5660.
You may have a maximum of three dogs and/or cats over six months of age on premises in the city.
- Animal running at large and/or no license
- Animal bite
- Cruelty
- Dangerous dogs
If your animal is off your property and not under your immediate control by means of a leash, cord or chain no longer than eight feet, it is considered "at large."
If your animal bites someone, breaking the skin of that person, you MUST report this to Animal Control at 911 and the animal must be quarantined for 10 days, either at the owner's residence or at a shelter at the owner's expense.
It is unlawful to own or keep an animal which unreasonably annoys or disturbs others with frequent or habitual howling, yelping, or crying.
It is unlawful for any person to knowingly subject any animal to inhumane treatment.
It is unlawful for the owner or person in charge of any dog in heat to keep such a dog in a fashion where it is accessible to male dogs.
The Nuisance ordinance applies to pets and their owners as follows:
- Excessive or untimely barking
- Molesting passersby
- Chasing vehicles
- Attacking other domestic animals
- Depositing excretory matter on property
- Running at large
 | Miniature Pinschers with behavioral problems
are restrained in a cage |
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When a licensed animal is impounded, the officer shall make every attempt to notify the owner of the impound and the reason for the impoundment. However, if you find your pet missing,
it is your obligation to ascertain the location of your pet. While every effort is made to notify owners of impounded animals, it remains the responsibility of the owner to locate missing pets.
Mink, goats, foxes, and hogs may not be kept within the city limits.
Dogs and cats are welcome in all city parks with the exception of the Meadowdale Playfields and Lynnwood Athletic Complex.
All animals must be on a leash and you are required to promptly clean up any waste left by your pet.
You are responsible for your pet at all times and you are required by ordinance to promptly remove any waste products left by your pet on public or private property. Always remember, children could be playing in the same area.
City ordinance requires a minimum of 20,000 square feet per animal and fencing of a type and size as to prevent encroachment on adjacent property. A building for housing animals shall be provided
with a minimum of 200 and a maximum of 250 square feet. The building must be 25 feet from the property line.
- Abide by the law - license your pet, attach license to collar, keep it off streets and provide proper food, water, care and, most of all, love.
- Don't allow your animals to have unwanted litters. Spay or neuter your pet(s).
- Don't let your pet bother your neighbors by barking or being a nuisance.
- Remove waste products quickly and prevent health hazards.
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