Animal advocates applaud new law

Giving away free kittens in front of a grocery store is no longer allowed.

Selling puppies from the back of a pickup in a vacant lot – out.

Offering rabbits in exchange for a few chickens while standing on a street corner – that’s out, too.

An ordinance making it unlawful to sell, barter, auction or give away animals in public areas – or private areas open to the public – became effective Jan. 1 in unincorporated areas of Spokane County and in the city of Spokane Valley on Jan. 1.

A similar law was enacted within the Spokane city limits last summer.

The city and county regulations are almost identical, with one exception. For those outside of Spokane, the law also applies to selling or giving away animals at garage and yard sales.

People can advertise if they want to sell or give away their animals, said Nancy Hill, director of Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Services, or SCRAPS.

“Before Christmas there were seven or eight people in front of the Spokane Valley Wal-Mart all at once with different dogs,” Hill said. “We just end up getting returns when people see roadside attractions like that.”

Often people are attracted to the cute animals and take them, but can’t afford to take care of the animals, she said. Animal control officials hope the ordinance helps to reduce the thousands of unwanted animals that are euthanized at shelters each year.

“The operating shelters are committed to adopting out animals that are spayed or neutered,” Hill said. “There is no such thing as a free kitten or puppy. It’s actually cheaper to come here and pay our adoption fee, because the price includes spaying or neutering, shots, licensing, a free vet check and a microchip.”

SpokAnimal, the agency contracted to provide animal control in the city of Spokane, has begun enforcing the city ordinance, said Ken Trambitas, animal control supervisor.

“We’re enforcing it seven days a week,” Trambitas said. “And we get as many calls during the week as we do during the weekend.”

Tony Fry, of Rockford, who stood along North Division Street on Saturday and eventually sold his 6-week- old female pit bull to a family from Kennewick for $50, said he was unaware of the new ordinance and thinks it’s “nuts.”

“I’m totally opposed to it,” Fry said. “A good breed should be sold, not given away. What will they think of next?”

Fry said he and his wife moved back to Washington recently from Nevada, and he’s been struggling to launch a pallet business. The $50 from the sale of the puppy “put gas in my car today,” he said.

So far, SpokAnimal has received 50 complaints of people selling animals in public areas or private areas accessible to the public, such as grocery stores. One hot spot is a vacant lot at the corner of Division and Everett, officials said.

But officials say catching sellers is a hit-and-miss proposition – they’re often gone by the time officials arrive.

When sellers are caught, SpokAnimal officers have been issuing warnings for first offenses, “but that might change,” Trambitas said.

The fine within the city limits is $267.

In Spokane Valley, people often are seen offering animals at Sullivan and Sprague, University and Sprague and at Wal-Mart on Broadway, Hill said.

“When we first go out it will be educational, so people know the law exists,” Hill said last week. “But if the people continue, probably on the second contact, we will probably fine them.”

For the county, the first violation – a civil infraction – will be $74. The second fine is $114. A third violation within 12 months becomes a misdemeanor and could carry a $1,000 fine and as much as 90 days in jail.

“The ordinance will be easy to patrol because people pick highly visible locations to sell their animals,” Hill said. “And our officers will go to the places where they know it happens.”