Seattle City Council Passes New Dog Bite Ordinance | Seattle Dog Bite Attorney

Seattle has approved a new dog bite ordinance that was supposed to clarify what a dangerous dog is and which dogs could be euthanized after an attack; however, many critics of the new dog bite law believe that the wording of the ordinance is too vague and could lead to putting dogs that aren’t dangerous to sleep after minor bite incidents.

The new Seattle dog bite ordinance states that any dog that causes severe injury to a human could legally be put to sleep or banished. A severe injury is defined as:

(1) One or more broken bones.
(2) One or more disfiguring lacerations, avulsions, cuts or puncture wounds, requiring medical attention including but not limited to one or more sutures, steri strips or staples.
(3) Permanent nerve damage.

Some are concerned about the wording of the second point, which seems to suggest that any wound requiring any kind of medical attention could lead to a dog being euthanized. Others, though, say that the new ordinance will successfully keep more dangerous dogs out of the streets and out of Seattle’s neighborhoods. The general consensus: most agree that the law should be in place, but many believe that the ambiguous wording may lead to problems down the road.

Have you been bitten or attacked by a dog in Seattle? Speak with a Seattle Dog Bite Attorney today about your case.  Call 425-289-1990 or 1-800-636-3676.