Skagit County is trying to pass an ordinance that will make it so POTH is no longer grandfathered in and will have to get rid of all cougars and wolf hybrids. This will leave 30 animals homeless. Please sign if you are AGAINST the passing of this ordinance!

Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Will Honea, and Deputy Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney

Ryan Walters presented a draft ordinance that would prohibit the possession of potentially dangerous

and wild animals. Mr. Honea indicated that the proposed ordinance was based on the Revised Code of

Washington (RCW) Chapter 16.30 which prohibits ownership of potentially dangerous wild animals

acquired on or after July 22, 2007. He indicated that local governments were permitted to regulate

potentially dangerous wild animals in a manner that was more restrictive than RCW Chapter 16.30,

which could include but was not limited to, prohibiting potentially dangerous wild animals that were

obtained prior to July 22, 2007.

Mr. Walters stated that the proposed ordinance would be more restrictive than State statute because it

would prohibit the possession of all potentially dangerous wild animals, including wolf hybrids and all

cougars including animals that were obtained possession prior to 2007.

Animal Control Officer Emily Diaz spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance and indicated that it

would be helpful to the Animal Control division to have ordinance in place.

Commissioner Dahlstedt spoke in support of considering the proposed ordinance.

The public hearing is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, February 4, 2014, at 9:30 a.m., or as soon

thereafter as possible, in the Commissioners' Hearing Room.

Chair Wesen recessed the proceedings at 10:14 a.m.