City Considers Background Checks for Dog Owners

Sumner dog owners could face police background checks before they could get a pet license under one proposal heard Monday night by the City Council as it considered the city's first dangerous dog ordinance.

Sumner City Councilman Matt Richardson said some procedure is needed to try and spot dangerous dogs coming into the community, saying the ordinance must have "no loopholes." At the very least, he said anyone seeking a pet license must state under pain of perjury whether they have been convicted of a dangerous dog violation in the past.

If one dog owner must get a background check then all dog owners would need one.

Councilman Curt Brown wondered if that meant the person with the little wiener dog would need a background check.

Sumner Police Chief John Galle said his concern is that background checks by the State Patrol would simply mean people won't license their animals. It would also cost $10 and add to the cost of a license.