Recent Updates to SMC's Title 9

The City of Seattle has amended the Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) to more fully address perpetrators of animal cruelty and neglect. This is in part likely a response to the October 2020 seizure in West Seattle of more than 200 animals, one of the worst cases of animal cruelty and neglect in decades. In the spring of 2022, the defendant pled guilty to only two charges of first-degree animal cruelty, served no jail time, received only two years of probation, and only had to pay $29,000 of almost $450,000 incurred for the care of the seized victims. The court dismissed a total of 15 felony and misdemeanor charges and the City of Seattle and its taxpayers were responsible for funding over $400,000 in animal care incurred throughout the case.

On October 5th, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell signed Seattle City Ordinance 126691. The following is a summary of those changes specific to animal services:

1. The Seattle Animal Shelter Director now has authority to order the humane disposition of any animal that is the subject of an animal cruelty proceeding in which the owner is guilty of cruelty or negligence, or possesses a dangerous or nuisance animal. (SMC 9.25.030)

2. Mandatory probation increases to two years for violating the cruelty sections of the code. (SMC 9.25.100 (A))

3. Six new penalties are added:

   1. Following the arrest of a person accused of animal cruelty, animals owned by the accused are seized, evaluated, treated, and housed. The Court can order all animals held by law enforcement (including the Seattle Animal Shelter) to be forfeit if an animal dies as a result of cruelty or is owned by a repeat offender. If the animal’s treatment is severe and likely to continue, the court may order forfeiture. (SMC 9.25.100(F))

   2. A person convicted of cruelty is prohibited from “owning, caring for, possessing or residing with” any animals for two years (first conviction) or permanently (following second and subsequent convictions under municipal or state cruelty laws). (SMC 9.25.100(G))

   3. The right to own animals may be restored by court order if the owner has only two convictions and it is five or more years after the last conviction. The court may consider prior convictions for cruelty, the type of harm inflicted on the animals, whether the person has completed post-conviction conditions, and other reasonable matters. (SMC 9.25.100(H))

   4. There is finally explicit criteria to help the City collect restitution. This new section creates liability for the reasonable cost of care for seized animals if the accused is convicted or agrees to a plea deal. Reasonable costs include animal care, adoption or euthanization, and expenses incurred by the investigation. (SMC 9.25.100(I))

   5. A convicted defendant will be assessed a mandatory $1,000 fine payable to the City for prosecution expenses and care for forfeited animals. (SMC 9.25.100(J))

   6. The court now the ability to order psychological counseling or to send the offender to an animal cruelty prevention program. This condition is optional. (SMC 9.25.100(K))

​ Seattle Animal Watch welcomes these new revisions and will be monitoring their implementation and enforcement.