Jessie Stensland reports for the Whidbey News-Times from the Island County Commissioners work session of Wed., May 17, 2023.
Island County commissioners had their first look at a rewritten animal welfare ordinance that is meant to provide better protection for critters.
The biggest changes, according to County Administrator Michael Jones, are new rules regarding both commercial and private kennels, the latter of which adds oversight to anyone who has 10 or more dogs and/or cats.
Community members demanded improvements to the county’s animal control operations after two starved horses were found dead at a North Whidbey house at Christmas time. Investigators found a large number of horses, cats, dogs and other animals in various stages of neglect. The county seized the animals and the owner, Kristi Finch, was charged with animal cruelty, according to court documents.
To listen to the audio recording of this work session, use this link. Discussion of the animal welfare ordinance starts at the beginning of the recording and lasts approximately an hour and twenty minutes.
They Said It
Jones said he worked with Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks and Sheriff Rick Felici to refine a new ordinance and ended up rewriting it entirely, even renaming it the “animal welfare” ordinance. He said it represents a “pretty fundamental shift” in how the county code approaches animal matters.
Commissioner Jill Johnson questioned whether the number of dogs or cats triggering the private kennel rule should be lower. Commissioner Melanie Bacon, however, said she thought of a family member who owns many, well-cared-for cats when she proposed a higher number, which is a the higher end of thresholds referenced in animal codes in other counties.
“We have lots of retired cat ladies here on this island,” she said.
