Is it time to rename the Seattle Animal Shelter to Seattle Animal Services? Let’s explore that idea.
Title 9.25 of the Seattle Municipal Code is the heart of Seattle’s animal code. It sets out definitions, lists offenses related to licensing, safety and sanitation, gives authority to the Animal Shelter Director, and more. SMC 9.25 is captioned “Animal Control”, a title that reflects a mindset from 1985. City and county codes that have been updated since the 1980s reflect a more compassionate and holistic approach to managing the animals we share our lives with, and the labels reflect that care.
In fact, the City of Seattle no longer uses the term “animal control” unless it is referring to specific animal control activities. The City made the transition to the current name gradually, evolving from Seattle Animal Control to Seattle Animal Shelter and Control to simply the Seattle Animal Shelter.
Jurisdictions use various names for their animal services. Title 11.04 of the King County Code is entitled “Animal Care and Control”while San Francisco’s municipal code Chapter 41.4 covers the “Animal Care and Control Department” as part of its Public Health Code. But Seattle Animal Watch believes that Seattle Animal Services may be the next most logical iteration. Names matter and they should reflect the actual work being conducted.
Seattle provides more than just shelter and control services. It also provides a pet food bank, a spay/neuter clinic, temporary placement for animals of domestic violence survivors, education on animal care, and investigative work surrounding animal cruelty and neglect cases. There could be even more services with better funding, oversight, and interest from government officials. Regardless, Seattle Animal Services provides a better reflection of what SAS really is as well as a vision for how it can grow into the future.
This is not a unique suggestion. In 2002, Los Angeles renamed its “Department of Animal Regulation” the “Department of Animal Services”*. Multnomah County (Oregon) simply calls its laws under this topic “Animal Services” (Chapter 13).
Names are important and whether it is the current name of the Seattle Animal Shelter or a suggestion such as Seattle Animal Services, our law code should not be stuck with a name from 1985.
* See Article 3 introduction to “Animals and Fowls” of the Public Health and Safety Code.