King County Pet licensing people knocked on my door... (crime, attorney)

[Tac-Sea]

Looking for the previous homeowner. I recently bought the house and told her he doesn't live here anymore. She said she was here to renew their pet license. My guests dog was barking in the background. She asked if the dog was mine and I told her it was not, I have a guest staying with me. She told me I would need to get a license for my guests dog. I simply told her I don't see how I could be required to license the dog of a short term guest, and for that matter, how the government is going door to door inspecting peoples property, then closed the door on her.

She left a notice on my door stating that I have 72 hours to comply or get a $125 ticket per pet. WTF? I am NOT going to pay to license my short term guests dog considering they don't live in King County, and I don't see how it is legal for them to come to my house looking for someone else and then fine me for this or threaten to fine me for this. Should I call and speak to a supervisor, get a lawyer, or wait until I get a ticket then fight it in court? This is bs.

[Hemlock140]

Since they cracked down, they have no doubt heard your story 50 times a day, it sounds like an obvious dodge. I would make sure you have proof of the dog belonging to someone in another county, then save it in case they follow up.
This is not a crime where you are innocent until proven guilty. They saw a dog in your home you will have to prove it was just visiting. How long has it been there? They normally won't stop at a house unless they have seen the dog from the street or heard a complaint from a neighbor.

[Tac-Sea]

Ummm...As I noted in the very first sentence of my post, they stopped by looking for the previous homeowner. Also, I never said they saw my dog in my home. I said she heard it backing in the background.

Second of all, no I am not required to prove that the dog doesn't live here. The burden of proof is on the prosecution.

I'm going to call Monday and get the name of the person who stopped by as well as the name of the person I'm speaking with and a mailing address to which I will send certified mail with a letter citing the statues for pet licensing. The statue states: [SIZE=2][SIZE=2] "Harbored, kept or maintained" which "means performing any of the acts of providing care, shelter, protection, refuge, food or nourishment in such a manner as to control the animal's actions, or that the animal or animals are treated as living at one's house by the homeowner."

The statute does not state I have to reveal the identiy of my friend or that my friend has to furnish proof of the fact that their pet is licensed here or elsewhere.

Furthermore, the Fourth Ammendment specifically prohibits government officials, yes, even those who are not police from peering through peoples windows or looking over peoples fences or knocking on their doors with the hopes of finding unregistered pets. The county has no right to unlawfully search my property or cite me for an animal that is not mine, and the law states that I am not required to provide any proof that it is not my dog.
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The fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine states that evidence gained as a result of unlawful search is inadmissible. They came to my house looking for someone else. Hearing my guests dog would envoke the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine. IAs would peering over my fence without cause, such as a barking sound, a neighbor complaining, etc. 've beat tickets under this doctrine before because I was able to show I was pulled over without probable cause.

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by Tac-Sea

Ummm...As I noted in the very first sentence of my post, they stopped by looking for the previous homeowner. Also, I never said they saw my dog in my home. I said she heard it backing in the background.

Second of all, no I am not required to prove that the dog doesn't live here. The burden of proof is on the prosecution.

I'm going to call Monday and get the name of the person who stopped by as well as the name of the person I'm speaking with and a mailing address to which I will send certified mail with a letter citing the statues for pet licensing. The statue states: [SIZE=2][SIZE=2] "Harbored, kept or maintained" which "means performing any of the acts of providing care, shelter, protection, refuge, food or nourishment in such a manner as to control the animal's actions, or that the animal or animals are treated as living at one's house by the homeowner."

The statute does not state I have to reveal the identiy of my friend or that my friend has to furnish proof of the fact that their pet is licensed here or elsewhere.

Furthermore, the Fourth Ammendment specifically prohibits government officials, yes, even those who are not police from peering through peoples windows or looking over peoples fences or knocking on their doors with the hopes of finding unregistered pets. The county has no right to unlawfully search my property or cite me for an animal that is not mine, and the law states that I am not required to provide any proof that it is not my dog.
[
The fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine states that evidence gained as a result of unlawful search is inadmissible. They came to my house looking for someone else. Hearing my guests dog would envoke the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine. IAs would peering over my fence without cause, such as a barking sound, a neighbor complaining, etc. 've beat tickets under this doctrine before because I was able to show I was pulled over without probable cause.

Having been a county employee, my only suggestion when you do call is to be as pleasant as humanly possible. You really don't want this escalate, you just want it to go away, right?
Explain that someone was visiting with their dog, and there was a mistake made in giving you this ultimatum for licensing. Or call all angry and stuff, and at some point you might need an attorney. You'll likely win in court, but it's up to you if it's worth it. if it were me, I'd act all patient and kind, even if I weren't feeling those things.

[mkarch]

Originally Posted by Tac-Sea

Ummm...As I noted in the very first sentence of my post, they stopped by looking for the previous homeowner. Also, I never said they saw my dog in my home. I said she heard it backing in the background.

Since you recently moved, they probably had the previous owner on the record. My guess is someone called in a complaint and whomever processed it saw there was an expired license on premises.

The other side of this is WHY in the world does the person staying with you not care enough about the dog to get it licensed? Dogs are expensive and with 4 legs they're quite capable of getting away and getting lost on their own. It seems negligent or lazy at best, and grossly negligent if the reason the dog isn't licensed is because it already has a er... "criminal" record - I think the limit is 3 aggressive incidents against humans. At the very least if the dog is lost theres a better much change of getting it back, assuming they want it back.

FWIW, I had a roommate that had moved from out in the country and didn't really 'get' why it made sense to have a dog neutered - until she jumped the fence and got knocked up - nor why someone would pay to for a chip - until she got lost while chasing a squirrel - or why it made sense to get a license - until animal control picked up the lost dog, couldn't locate the owner, then charged an even bigger fine to get the dog back.

This stuff seems obvious, but apparently not to everyone.

[Inkpoe]

Originally Posted by mkarch

Since you recently moved, they probably had the previous owner on the record. My guess is someone called in a complaint and whomever processed it saw there was an expired license on premises.

The other side of this is WHY in the world does the person staying with you not care enough about the dog to get it licensed? Dogs are expensive and with 4 legs they're quite capable of getting away and getting lost on their own. It seems negligent or lazy at best, and grossly negligent if the reason the dog isn't licensed is because it already has a er... "criminal" record - I think the limit is 3 aggressive incidents against humans. At the very least if the dog is lost theres a better much change of getting it back, assuming they want it back.

FWIW, I had a roommate that had moved from out in the country and didn't really 'get' why it made sense to have a dog neutered - until she jumped the fence and got knocked up - nor why someone would pay to for a chip - until she got lost while chasing a squirrel - or why it made sense to get a license - until animal control picked up the lost dog, couldn't locate the owner, then charged an even bigger fine to get the dog back.

This stuff seems obvious, but apparently not to everyone.

But why would they have the OP pay for the friend's pet license? The OP stated that the friend doesn't even live in King County and he never said friend doesn't have one set up. Is it King County's stance that even visitors must get licenses for their dogs?

[shaylahc]

This happened to my aunt in MI a few months back....someone knocked on her door and demanded that she pay to license her animals. Since she has 4 dogs, this is very expensive!

I never licensed my dog when I owned one. Apparently you're supposed to license cats, too?

[mkarch]

Originally Posted by Inkpoe

But why would they have the OP pay for the friend's pet license? The OP stated that the friend doesn't even live in King County and he never said friend doesn't have one set up. Is it King County's stance that even visitors must get licenses for their dogs?

Because the house belongs to the OP, the dog is in the house, and aside from the observed "possession of an unlicensed dog" the county worker doesn't have much else to go on. I still think the reason the worker came by is because they had a dog complaint at a house that doesn't have a dog license. It seems kind of labor intensive to send workers around to check on every house with a lapsed license unless someone reports it.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by Inkpoe

But why would they have the OP pay for the friend's pet license? The OP stated that the friend doesn't even live in King County and he never said friend doesn't have one set up. Is it King County's stance that even visitors must get licenses for their dogs?

If the dog has a license in another county, it would be very easy to have just showed to to the person at the door.

[mkarch]

Originally Posted by shaylahc

This happened to my aunt in MI a few months back....someone knocked on her door and demanded that she pay to license her animals. Since she has 4 dogs, this is very expensive!

I never licensed my dog when I owned one. Apparently you're supposed to license cats, too?

Do you brand them with the initials of your ranch to establish ownership?