Kitsap 1 takes animal noise complaints

(Port Orchard, WA) – Kitsap County begins taking animal noise complaints from citizens in unincorporated areas of the County August 10, 2009. This change follows a 5% reduction of the Humane Society’s funding from the County.

The County reduced funds for the Humane Society to enforce portions of the Animal Control Ordinance as a measure to help trim $5 million from its operating budget due to declining revenues. The 2009 contract is $535,434, or $28,000 less than 2008. 

Kitsap County has increased the Humane Society’s funding by over 21% since 2003, a year of countywide across-the-board cuts. Since 2008, County departmental budgets have been reduced by 10% to over 25%. “Our message to county departments, offices and agencies with which we contract is consistent:  We have to reduce expenses and live within our existing revenues,” stated Board of County Commissioner Chair Charlotte Garrido.

“We have had to cut funding from our Sheriff’s Office to the Health District.  No one has been immune,” stated Commissioner Steve Bauer.

According to Commissioner Josh Brown, the County “has to look at all options for reducing costs. We need to review our county code, how it is currently being enforced and make changes to improve the effectiveness of enforcement programs – both in terms of costs and outcomes.  Transitioning intake of noise complaints to our consolidated call center is just one step in that direction.”

Starting August 10, 2009, citizens living in unincorporated Kitsap County should call Kitsap 1 at 360-337-5777 if they believe an animal’s noise violates the code provisions.

Under current code, residents are required to complete a log that documents three instances of a fifteen minute period of  animal’s noise during a one-week period. The log form is available here, or at the Kitsap County web site  www.kitsapgov.com. Click on the Animal Noise Complaints link in the blue sidebar on the right side of the page. It's also available from  the Humane Society’s web site at www.kitsaphumane.org.

Residents can send the completed logs to Kitsap 1 by email (openline@co.kitsap.wa.us) or regular mail at the address shown below. Once the completed log is received a dispatch is sent to the Humane Society. Animal control officers from the Humane Society respond to complaints only when the log is received.

Mailing address for completed noise logs:
     Kitsap 1
     614 Division Street (MS-26)
     Port Orchard, WA  98366

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To contact the Public Communications Manager, 
call Doug Bear at 360-337-4598 or email: dbear@co.kitsap.wa.us