County strengthens animal control laws

Kootenai County added more bite to its animal control laws Tuesday, giving authorities the right to enter private property and impound animals kept illegally and providing leeway in the treatment of vicious dogs.

County Commissioner Rick Currie said despite recent concerns about pit bulls, the revised ordinance doesn’t outlaw any breed.

County commissioners voted to accept the tougher animal control laws at a meeting in Coeur d’Alene.

Until now, animal control officers have been stymied by the county’s animal control law, which had too many loopholes to be effectively enforced, said Karen Williams, an investigator for the county’s animal control department.

She said perhaps the most egregious situation is that of Frank Wall, an Athol man whose kennel license was revoked more than a year ago.

Nevertheless, Wall has refused to get rid of any of his 19 dogs, despite scores of complaints from neighbors in recent months about excessive barking.

He claims the animals are service dogs in training.

County law allows individuals to keep five dogs without a kennel license.

Meanwhile, the county will take a wait-and-see stance in the Wall case, now in litigation, officials said.

“It’s before the courts at this time,” Currie said. “We don’t want to jeopardize the legal proceedings.”

Commissioner Rich Piazza said, “We don’t want to overstep our boundaries there. When that’s done, we can address it in the future.”

Wall is charged in Kootenai County District Court with two misdemeanors: running an illegal kennel and disturbing the peace. No date has been set for his trial.

The tougher dog law will take effect as soon as it’s posted publicly, which could be as early as next week, said Patrick Braden, a county attorney.