Puyallup, WA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Animal regulations in Puyallup are codified in Puyallup Municipal Code Title 6 (Animals) and enforced by Metro Animal Services, the regional animal control authority based at 1200 39th Ave. SE in Puyallup that serves Algona, Bonney Lake, Edgewood, Milton, Pacific, Puyallup, and Sumner. Dog owners are required to keep their animals under control when off their own property; a dog running at large (off the owner's premises and not under physical restraint or direct voice control as defined locally) may be impounded by Metro Animal Services officers. Dog licensing is administered through Metro Animal Services for all seven member cities and requires proof of current rabies vaccination. Off-leash areas are limited to designated dog parks; dogs are otherwise expected to be leashed in city parks, on trails, and on public rights-of-way. State law adds an additional layer: under RCW 16.08.040, a dog owner is strictly liable for bites that occur while the victim is in a public place or lawfully on private property, and RCW 16.08.070-.100 establish the framework for declaring a dog 'dangerous' or 'potentially dangerous,' with registration, confinement, insurance, and signage obligations once a dog is so classified. Reports of loose dogs, bites, or aggressive animals should be directed to Metro Animal Services at 253-299-PETS (7387) during business hours.