A recent fire in a Seattle animal daycare business prompted us to ask the question “what should customers know before handing over their furry family members to a business for safekeeping?” (Boarding services are available for dogs, cats and, to a lesser extent, other companion animals too.)
Questions to Ask
We think owners should know the following about a potential daycare:
Do they have their business license? Unless they are exempt, companies must have a current Seattle business license to engage in business activities in the city. The Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) 5.30.030 definition of “Engaging in Business” includes having a physical location in the City of Seattle. If they do not have a business license, they may not be operating legally.
Do they have their required permits? Public health permits for each location and activity are required per SMC 10.72.020 ”Permit Required.”
Are employees trained on aggressive behavior solutions, isolating sick animals, and other animal needs, depending on the species?
Is the facility structurally sound, in good repair, and clean?
Is there a plan for retrieving escaped animals?
Is there an evacuation plan in place in case of an emergency?
Do the smoke alarms work? Have the fire suppression systems been tested?
If you are prepaying for services, remember to read the contract before signing it. Note the conditions under which your money may or may not be returned, who bears responsibility for injuries to your pet or if your pet injures someone else, and protection of your contact and payment information.
Pet Daycare and Seattle Laws
Pet daycare businesses are subject to Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) 23.47A.039 “Provisions for pet daycare centers and boarding of animals by pet grooming centers” (see below for full language). The statutory requirements are concerned with barking and traffic impacts, not safety standards.
Notice that the daycare business is required to submit operating procedures recommended by the American Boarding and Kennel Association (which is no longer in business) or the American Kennel Club. Clearly, this statute needs updating.
A rewrite of the statute should include the following:
Capacity limits based on the size of the facility and available staff
Quarantine requirements for sick animals
Periodic inspections of pet food storage for evidence of vermin, and
Cleanliness standards.
While we understand that the business might fall under the purview of the Department of Public Health, we think they might be better served if a future and expanded Seattle Animal Services agency were involved. This would cover any grooming services offered by the daycare.
Sources:
23.47A.039 - Provisions for pet daycare centers and boarding of animals by pet grooming centers
In addition to the development standards of the zone, pet daycare centers are subject to the following:
Operating business establishments that have been providing pet daycare services as of July 31, 2006, may continue notwithstanding nonconformities to applicable development standards, provided the provisions of this Section 23.47A.039 are met.
The pet daycare center shall be permitted by Public Health-Seattle & King County, as required by Section 10.72.020.
Facilities for the boarding of animals may occupy no more than 30 percent of the gross floor area of the pet daycare center. A pet grooming service may provide facilities for the boarding of animals subject to the regulations for pet daycare centers in this Section 23.47A.039.
Required loading pursuant to 23.54.015 may be provided in a public right of way if the applicant can demonstrate to the Director, in consultation with the Seattle transportation Department, that pedestrian circulation or vehicle traffic will not be significantly impacted.
Applicants must submit at the time of permit application, written operating procedures, such as those recommended by the American Boarding and Kennel Association (ABKA) or the American Kennel Club (AKC). Such procedures, which are to be followed for the life of the business, must address the identification and correction of animal behavior that impacts surrounding uses, including excessive barking.
Violations of this Section:
Any violation in a pet daycare center of SMC 25.08.500, Public disturbance noises, shall be a violation of this title.
When a notice of violation is issued for animal noise, the Director may require a report from an acoustical consultant to describe measures to be taken by the applicant to mitigate adverse noise impacts. The Director may require measures, including but not limited to: development or modification of operating procedures; cessation of the use of outdoor area(s); closure of windows and doors; reduction in hours of operation; use of sound attenuating construction or building materials such as insulation and noise baffles.