Kennewick, WA Animal Ordinances: Animal Hoarding (2026)

RCW 16.52.205 defines first-degree animal cruelty as intentionally inflicting substantial pain, causing physical injury, or killing an animal by undue suffering. It is a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in state prison. RCW 16.52.207 second-degree cruelty reaches knowing, reckless, or criminally negligent infliction of unnecessary suffering, including an owner's failure to provide necessary shelter, rest, sanitation, space, or medical attention; it is a misdemeanor and is the most common charge in hoarding investigations. RCW 16.52.200 authorizes the court to order forfeiture of all animals, prohibition on future animal ownership, and payment of impound and veterinary costs. Repeat violations of an ownership ban escalate to gross misdemeanor on the second offense and Class C felony on the third. Unlike many cities, Kennewick has a hard numeric cap built into KMC 18.12.040: three of any one kind of small animal and a combined total of six per residential parcel in R, HMU, and UMU districts. Exceedances may be enforced as a zoning violation independent of any cruelty determination. Tri-City Animal Services, Kennewick Police, and the Benton County Prosecuting Attorney handle hoarding cases.