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Report an Animal Nuisance
Our service area is limited. Information on this page applies to incidents that occur in unincorporated outside of city or town limitsSnohomish County.
Click the map below to find your service area.
If you are experiencing or witnessing an emergency situation, call 911.
All dogs bark. However, when barking becomes a neighborhood nuisance, there are steps you can take to address the problem. Following the steps below will give you the best chances of achieving a quiet, happy neighborhood.
1. Understand the law
A dog that barks for at least 10 minutes during any half hour period is in violation of Snohomish County Code 9.12.060.
2. Start by talking to the pet owner
- Explain what’s happening and ask them to work with you to find a solution. Consider giving them an owner notification letter (PDF) and How to Prevent Nuisance Barking (PDF) tip sheet.
- Many barking dog problems are solved at this step without needed to involve Animal Services at all!
3. Document the ongoing issue
- If speaking with the owner directly does not resolve the issue or the owner is not approachable, document the ongoing issue for at least 7 days using the Barking Dog Complaint Form (PDF).
Note: Using the Edge browser to fill this form causes errors. Please use a different internet browser or Adobe Acrobat. - Documentation is essential for Animal Control Officers to find the owner in violation of Snohomish County Code.
4. Share your documentation with Animal Services
- Email the completed Barking Dog Complaint Form (PDF) (keeping a copy for your records) to Snohomish County Animal Services at animalservices@snoco.org.
- You will be contacted by the Animal Services Coordinator who will provide you with a case number. Please hold on to this case number as you will need it to escalate enforcement should the barking continue.
- Animal Services will issue a warning to the dog owner.
Leash laws protect dogs and people. Dogs on a leash are less likely to:
- Be hit by cars
- Bite or injure people or other animals
- Be bitten or injured by other animals
- Eat or drink things that can make them sick
- Harm local wildlife
1. Understand the law
In unincorporated Snohomish County, all dogs must be leashed when off the owner’s premises under Snohomish County Code 9.14.030. A first time offense can result in a $100 fine.
2. Report violations
Complete the online Animal Complaints form (select “Nuisance Dogs” as the complaint type). Animal Services will investigate the complaint.
Please refer to our lost and found page.