Spokane County, WA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

020(13) defines a dangerous dog three ways: it inflicted a severe injury or multiple bites on a person without provocation; it inflicted severe injury, multiple bites, or killed another animal while off its owner's property; or it was already declared potentially dangerous and, after that notice, did it again. If two or more dogs act together and no one can tell which dog caused the injury, the code deems all of them dangerous. 032(1), and the director mails written notice of the declaration. The owner has fifteen days to request an administrative appeal hearing before the county hearing examiner; without that request the declaration becomes final.

The hearing examiner can affirm, reverse or modify the finding, and a modified finding can downgrade the dog to potentially dangerous instead. 035 requires the owner, within fifteen days, or twenty days after a losing appeal, to obtain a SCRAPS-approved proper enclosure posted with a warning sign, a microchip implant, an approved muzzle and leash, a $250,000 surety bond or liability insurance policy, and spay/neuter of the dog, plus an annual registration and inspection fee; failing any of that, the dog is confiscated and euthanized.

Registration must be renewed every twelve months with a re-inspection of the enclosure. 033 covers unprovoked bites or menacing behavior, snapping, growling, or charging, and carries similar conditions the director can impose after a fifteen-day administrative review request, without the automatic impoundment a dangerous-dog finding triggers.