The Washoe County Board of County Commissioners reorganized the consolidated regional function of Washoe County Animal Services (WCAS) during 2014. The reorganization included moving WCAS from the management and control under the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office to becoming a stand-alone operational department.

The reorganization included the hiring of a new department director, Shyanne Schull, and the need to review, edit, modify, and update the various sections of Washoe County Code Chapter 55 (WCC Chapter 55) establishing WCAS and providing for the operational rules and regulations for providing quality animal services as the regional provider of these services.

WCC Chapter 55 has not been updated since its inception in 2005 after the regional consolidation of the animal services functions for Washoe County, the City of Sparks, and the City of Reno based on voter action in 2004.

Several factors are driving the need to update WCC Chapter 55:

• Legislative changes
• Department changes
• Language clarification and clean-up
• The evolution of the code directly related to changes in programs, services, and community need.

The WC BCC, through the WCAS Director, is working with its regional partners to develop the WCAS Department by establishing authorities, rules, regulations, and code changes to improve the overall service level being provided regionally for the protection of all the citizens and animals within Washoe County.

To establish an active, effective, and efficient new WCAS the WC BCC has a desire to codify the following:

• Creation of the Department of Animal Services (see WCC Chapter 55.022-55.023 attached)
  • Creation of the Department
  • Creation of the position of Director of Animal Services
• Establish the Animal Control Officer (ACO) Powers and Duties (see WCC Chapter 55.040 attached)

The next step after the creation of the WCAS is to begin the review and modification of the remaining sections of WCC Chapter 55 to assure the Code is current and effective in assisting the Department and its ACO’s in performing their daily tasks on behalf of the citizens of Washoe County, including the residents of the Cities of Sparks and Reno.

The first two code sections being reviewed for modification are:

• Dangerous Dog Determination (see WCC Chapter 55.750 attached)
  • Proposed changes will tighten up public safety measures and align better with changes to Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS)
    • Declaring a dog dangerous solely on being of a particular breed is prohibited by NRS 202.500. The determination needs to be related to a specific dog
    • Increasing the insurance requirements related to dog ownership
    • Increasing the requirement to provide proper caging of an animal(s)
    • Having the ability to monitor dogs previously declared as dangerous before they enter Washoe County
    • Clarifying the criteria used to assist in declaring a dog as dangerous.
  • Establishing a new code section related to Feral Cats (see proposed new code section attached)
    • Facilitation of a feral cat management program throughout Washoe County
    • Sponsor a group to partner with WCAS to accept, spay/neuter, vaccinate, and return cats to a monitored colony(s)
    • Being able to monitor colonies with the assistance of caretakers through the partnering sponsor group.

1. The Council chooses to accept the actions including changes to the Washoe County Code Chapter 55 being presented by the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners, through the Washoe County Animal Services Director, as presented by staff.

2. The Council chooses to not accept the actions including changes to the Washoe County Code Chapter 55 being presented by the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners, through the Washoe County Animal Services Director, as presented by staff.

3. The Council chooses to not accept the actions including changes to the Washoe County Code Chapter 55 being presented by the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners, through the Washoe County Animal Services Director, as presented by staff and to provide other direction to the City Manager and/or Washoe County Animal Services Director.

The appropriate motion will be determined by the Council’s thoughts, discussion and/or direction related to the four topics shown above.