# PORT GAMBLE S’KLALLAM HOUSING AUTHORITY > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Aport_gamble_sklallam%3A7e6f60fa4d353738 ## Record - **Collection:** Tribal code - **Document type:** Tribal code ## Text PORT GAMBLE S’KLALLAM HOUSING AUTHORITY PET POLICY Approved by motion: 11/20/2025 The Board of Commissioners (BOC) desires to establish and apply a consistent Pet Policy. This policy applies to all Low-Rent Program and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program tenants, their animals, and animals of their guests. The BOC recognizes individuals value pets as family members and pets may bring physical and emotional support to individuals. 1. Eligibility Requirements: a. All pet ownership is at the discretion of PGSHA. Pet ownership a privilege, not a right, which can be revoked at any time. b. Permitted Pets i. Tenants are not permitted to keep any animals other than common household pets on their premises. ii. Each household is allowed a maximum of two (2) dogs or cats but may keep other common household pets in addition to the two dogs/cats. 1. In the case of small, caged animals, a maximum of two (2) animals is permitted. No birds of prey are permitted. 2. In the case of fish tanks or aquariums, there is no limit to the number of fish, but the tank/aquarium must not exceed 100 gallons in capacity. No poisonous or dangerous fish are permitted. c. Pet Damage Deposit i. A refundable pet damage deposit of $400 per approved dog/cat is required, unless the household meets the following criteria for a deposit reduction or exemption: 1. Elderly or Disabled Family households, as defined in the PGSHA Eligibility, Admissions, and Occupancy Policy, are entitled to a reduced refundable pet damage deposit of $300 per approved dog/cat; OR 2. Assistance animals are exempt from the refundable deposit. ii. The deposit will remain with the premises until the tenant moves out. At which time, the pet damage deposit will be returned to the tenant, provided there are no pet-related damage charges owed to PGSHA. iii. Tenants can pay the deposit in full or establish an acceptable payment plan to pay the balance of the deposit in full within 6 months. 1 iv. A Tenant who is acting as a temporary pet caretaker, the time period when the care is permitted on the Premises is 10 days in a calendar year. After this time period, the Tenant will be required to submit a pet damage deposit of $400. d. Pet Permit i. One pet permit per approved pet will be issued. ii. Tenants are required to submit proper documentation for each pet to PGSHA to be issued a pet permit. iii. Required documentation to receive a pet permit must be submitted to PGSHA within 30 days of acquiring the pet or move-in. The required documentation is as follows: 1. Photo of the pet, along with the pet’s name, type of animal/breed. 2. Proof of vaccinations. Such as a statement of health from a veterinarian, most recent vet records, receipt of proof of purchase of vaccines. 3. A certification of spay/neuter from a veterinarian. a. If the tenant is unable to obtain an appointment for spay/neuter within the 30-day timeframe, proof of appointment must be provided to PGSHA. If providing proof of appointment, tenant will need to bring in a certificate of spay or neuter within 10 days after the appointment date. b. If pet is unable to be spayed/neutered due to age, tenants must provide a letter from a veterinarian with a recommendation for an appropriate time to spay/neuter. Tenants will have 30 days after the recommended date to provide proof of appointment and spay or neuter. iv. Tenants must have a pet damage deposit on file, unless the tenant meets the requirement for a deposit exemption. v. No pet permit will be issued until all permit requirements have been met. vi. If the permitted pet no longer resides on the premises, PGSHA must be notified. vii. PGSHA may request updated vaccination records, photos, etc. at any time from the tenant. 2. Tenant Responsibilities a. Tenant must submit a written request to PGSHA either prior to acquiring the pet/assistance animal or within 14 days of acquiring the pet/assistance animal. b. Tenant must submit all required documentation to obtain an animal permit within the allotted timeframe. c. Tenant must pay any applicable pet damage deposit. 2 d. Tenant is financially responsible for all pet-related damage to PGSHA premises. This includes, but is not limited to, landscape, the interior and exterior of the premises. The tenant agrees to pay the full cost of any pet-related damage. e. Tenant must abide by PGSHA policies and PGST Law and Order Code regarding pets, assistance animals, and animal control. f. Tenants are prohibited from feeding stray animals. The feeding of stray animals shall constitute having a pet without permission of PGSHA. g. Tenants must immediately and properly dispose of animal waste and animal-related debris. i. Animal waste and debris must be placed in a plastic bag, tied securely, and disposed of in the PGSHA provided trash can or dumpster. ii. Litter boxes must be provided at the tenant’s own expense, kept inside of the rental unit, and cleaned often enough to keep the premises free of odor. iii. No animal waste, debris, or litter is ever to be flushed down the toilet. h. Breeding is prohibited in and on all PGSHA premises. i. Tenants are responsible for and must be physically able to provide adequate care, nutrition, exercise, and medical attention for his/her pet. j. Tenants must name a secondary caretaker. i. Tenants must provide the name, phone number, and address of a person who will act as a secondary caretaker if the tenant is unable to take care of the pet. ii. If at any time the secondary caretaker contact information changes, the tenant must update this information with PGSHA. iii. If PGSHA is unable to contact the secondary caretaker on file and the tenant has not made other arrangements, PGSHA may remove the animal from the premises at the tenant’s expense. 3. Pet Conduct a. Pets must remain properly confined to the tenant’s premises in a humane manner at all times. i. When outside, pets must remain in the tenant’s yard and be contained either by fence, leash, runner, portable kennel, or other such approved humane means of containment of pets. ii. Pets are not permitted to run at large. iii. Pets must be properly and effectively under control of and restrained by a responsible person at all times. 3 iv. When PGSHA staff and contractors must enter the unit, pets must be properly restrained and other pets must be properly caged. b. Pets must not be a nuisance to other Tenants in neighborhood. i. Tenant may not own, keep, harbor, or otherwise control an animal who is considered a public nuisance. ii. Tenant may not own, keep, harbor, or otherwise control any animal which by the animal causes damage to any PGSHA premises. iii. Tenant may not own, keep, harbor, or otherwise control a vicious animal on any PGSHA premises or within the jurisdiction of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe. 4. Assistance Animal a. Assistance animals are exempt from the pet damage deposit, but tenants are liable for the cost of any damage caused by the assistance animal. b. To qualify for an assistance animal exemption, PGSHA may require information confirming disability-related need for an assistance animal: i. Reasonably supporting information from a licensed health care professional general to the condition but specific as to the individual with a disability and the assistance or therapeutic emotional support provided by the animal. ii. A connection between Tenant’s disability and the need for the assistance animal must be provided. This is particularly the case where the disability is nonobservable, and/or the animal provides therapeutic emotional support. iii. Certificates, registrations, and/or licensing documents from the internet are not, by themselves, sufficient to reliably establish an individual’s need for an assistance animal. c. Approval for an assistance animal may be denied if: i. ii. iii. iv. The tenant is not disabled; A connection between Tenant’s disability and need for the assistance animal cannot be established; The request would cause an undue financial and administrative burden; The request would fundamentally alter the nature of program operations; v. The specific assistance animal would pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others, that cannot be reduced or eliminated by another reasonable accommodation; or vi. The request would result in significant physical damage to the property of others that cannot be reduced or eliminated by another reasonable accommodation. 5. PGSHA Responsibilities 4 a. Provide tenants with a copy of this policy and a copy of Chapter 13.03 Animal Control portion of the Tribal Code prior to approval of pet or assistance animal. b. Keep record of animal permits, both pending and approved, and store the animal permit in the proper tenant file. 6. Policy Violations a. Failure to comply with this policy may result in the tenant having to remove the animal from PGSHA properties. Failure to remove the animal will be considered a breach of Tenant Rental Lease and may result in a Noncompliance and subject to termination. b. Authorization for an animal may be revoked, at any time, if the pet is vicious, intimidating, destructive, or a nuisance to others, or if the tenant fails to comply with this policy. c. Pet ownership privileges may be revoked at any time if the tenant has multiple violations, as documented by PGSHA, or is unable to provide adequate care and/or physical control of the animal, or the animal has caused extensive damage to PGSHA property. d. Any two similar violations within a six (6) month period concerning a particular pet, as documented by PGSHA, may result in a Noncompliance. e. Tenants that do not comply with the terms of this policy may be assessed a fine of $250.00 if the tenant fails to register their pet/assistance animal and/or any applicable pet damage deposits are not paid in the allotted timeframe. 7. Tenant Appeals a. Tenant has the right to appeal any decision of the PGSHA in accordance with the PGSHA Participant Grievance Policy. 8. Appendixes a. Appendix 1 - Definitions 5 Appendix 1 Definitions 1. Premises: Any building, property, or rental unit owned and operated by PGSHA. 2. Tenant: Any person who is the head of household or approved to reside in a rental unit owned and operated by PGSHA. 3. Assistance Animals: An assistance animal is an animal that works, provides assistance, or performs tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, or that provides emotional support that alleviates one or more identified effects of a person’s disability. 4. Common Household Pet: Commonly domesticated animals such as a dog, cat, fish, turtle, or small caged animals. For the purpose of this policy, small, caged animals are defined as a bird, hamster, guinea pig, ferrets, chinchillas, or gerbils. 5. At Large: An animal is not physically restrained by a leash or runner, within the Tenant’s premises, enclosed in a humane manner temporarily within a vehicle, within a cage or similar enclosure, or by a fence that guarantees the animal cannot escape. 6. Public Nuisance: An animal is considered a public nuisance if it: a. Harasses or chases any passerby or passing vehicle; b. Barks, howls, or creates other animal noises so as to disturb the peace and quiet of any person; c. Is repeatedly at large; d. Overturns or spreads garbage about; or e. Attacks other animals. 7. Vicious Animal: Includes any animal that bites, attempts to bite, endangers, or otherwise injures or causes injury to a human being without sufficient provocation; or while at large, kills or causes injury to any domesticated animal. 6 Chapter 13.03 Animal Control 13.03.01 Purpose The purpose of this Chapter is to provide for the control of domestic animals and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe. [HIST: Source - Resolution No. 24-A-137, passed 09/09/2024, repealing and replacing the animal control code.] 13.03.02 Definitions As used in this Chapter, the following definitions apply: (A) "Owner" means anyone who owns, keeps, harbors, or otherwise controls an animal and includes homeowners, lot holders, and tenants with respect to any animal owned by any member of the household. (B) "At large" means an animal is not physically restrained by a leash, within the owner’s residence, enclosed in a humane manner temporarily within a vehicle, within a cage or similar enclosure, or by a fence that guarantees the animal cannot escape. (C) "Vicious animal" means as follows: (1) (2) The term includes any animal that: (a) Bites, attempts to bite, endangers, or otherwise injures or causes injury to a human being without sufficient provocation; or (b) While at large, kills or causes injury to any domesticated animal; and The term does not include a guard or watch dog acting in defense of its owner. [HIST: Source - Resolution No. 24-A-137, passed 09/09/2024, repealing and replacing the animal control code.] 13.03.03 Duty of Care (A) Title 13- Page 12 An owner of an animal is responsible for providing the appropriate supervision and care of the animal, including all necessary food, water, housing, vaccinations, and medical care. Amended 9/9/24 (B) A person who is cruel to an animal or fails to control an animal may be subject to prosecution as provided under PGST Code 5.04.08 or 5.04.10. [HIST: Source - Resolution No. 24-A-137, passed 09/09/2024, repealing and replacing the animal control code.] 13.03.04 Liability (A) An owner of an animal is responsible for damages to persons or property caused by the animal. (B) The liability under this section includes any damages covered by the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, as approved by the Tribal Council, including medical treatment, lost wages, repairs, and other costs incurred due to the animal’s conduct. (1) The Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe may pursue reimbursement for any damages covered by the Tribe under this section by issuing an invoice to the individual whose animal caused the damages. (2) If the individual contests the invoice or fails to pay by the required date, then the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe may file a complaint for reimbursement against the individual as provided under Title 3 of the PGST Code. [HIST: Source - Resolution No. 24-A-137, passed 09/09/2024, repealing and replacing the animal control code.] 13.03.05 Vicious Animals A person may not own, keep, harbor, or otherwise control a vicious animal within the jurisdiction of the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe. [HIST: Source - Resolution No. 24-A-137, passed 09/09/2024, repealing and replacing the animal control code.] 13.03.06 Running at Large (A) An owner of an animal may not allow the animal to run at large. (B) The prohibition of this section does not include an off-leash animal if: Title 13- Page 13 (1) The animal is under the voice control of the owner; (2) The animal has been properly trained to not approach people or other animals without permission; and (3) The presence of the off-leash animal is permitted by the lot Amended 9/9/24 holder, Tribe, or other relevant authority where the animal is off-leash. [HIST: Source - Resolution No. 24-A-137, passed 09/09/2024, repealing and replacing the animal control code.] 13.03.07 Public Nuisance (A) (B) An animal is considered a public nuisance if it: (1) Harasses or chasses any passerby or passing vehicle; (2) Barks, howls, or creates other animal noises so as to disturb the peace and quiet of any person; (3) Is repeatedly at large; (4) Overturns or spreads garbage about; or (5) Attacks other animals. An owner of an animal that is a public nuisance may be prosecuted for maintaining a public nuisance under PGST Code 5.02.07. [HIST: Source - Resolution No. 24-A-137, passed 09/09/2024, repealing and replacing the animal control code.] 13.03.08 Abandonment & Removal (A) A person may not abandon an animal within the jurisdiction of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe. (B) A person may not remove or otherwise take a dog or cat from the jurisdiction of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe unless the person: (C) Title 13- Page 14 (1) Is the owner; (2) Is acting with the permission of the owner; (3) Is a Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe law enforcement officer; (4) Is an animal control officer of any agency who has been requested to provide assistance by a Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe law enforcement officer; or (5) Is otherwise employed or authorized by the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe to provide animal control services. A person who violates this section may be removed and excluded from the territory of the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe as provided under PGST Code 22.02.01. Amended 9/9/24 [HIST: Source - Resolution No. 24-A-137, passed 09/09/2024, repealing and replacing the animal control code.] 13.03.09 Impoundment (A) (B) An animal found in violation of this Chapter may be seized or impounded by: (1) A Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe law enforcement officer; (2) An animal control officer of any agency whose assistance has been requested by a Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe law enforcement officer; or (3) Any person otherwise employed or authorized by the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe to provide animal control services. If an animal has been seized or impounded: (1) The Port Gamble S'Klallam Police Department shall make reasonable efforts to identify and notify the owner; (2) The animal may be seized or impounded as long as is deemed appropriate by the Port Gamble S'Klallam Police Department; (3) The owner shall be responsible for the fees related to the seizure, impoundment, reclamation, or destruction of the animal; and (4) Consistent with the policies and procedures of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Police Department or the impounding facility, as relevant, the animal may be put up for adoption destroyed if the owner fails to reclaim the animal or pay the required fees in a timely manner. [HIST: Source - Resolution No. 24-A-137, passed 09/09/2024, repealing and replacing the animal control code.] 13.03.010 Responding to Bites, Attacks, & Rabies (A) Title 13- Page 15 The owner of an animal that bites or otherwise injures or causes injury to a human being without sufficient provocation: (1) Is deemed to own a vicious animal in violation of this Chapter; and (2) May be prosecuted for failure to control an animal as provided under PGST Code 5.04.10. Amended 9/9/24 (B) (C) (D) If an animal bites or otherwise injures a human, the incident shall be reported to the Port Gamble S'Klallam Police Department. (1) A health care provider who treats a person for an animal bite or other related injury shall report all known details of the incident to the Port Gamble S’Klallam Police Department. The health care provider is not required to receive the patient’s consent to make this report. (2) A health care provider who reports under this section is not liable for making the report. When responding to an animal bite, reported injury, or any other incident involving a vicious animal, a Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe law enforcement officer: (1) Shall make reasonable efforts to seize and impound the animal for the examination and diagnosis of rabies; and (2) May destroy the animal at any time if: (a) The animal is wild, meaning there is no known owner or obvious signs of ownership; (b) The animal displays signs that would cause a reasonable person to suspect rabies; (c) The animal is unable to be seized, subjugated, or otherwise controlled without serious threat to the responding officer or others; or (d) The owner of the animal consents to the destruction. If an animal has been diagnosed with rabies, the animal must be destroyed humanely. The owner of the animal is responsible for any costs and fees related to the seizure, impoundment, or destruction. [HIST: Source - Resolution No. 24-A-137, passed 09/09/2024, repealing and replacing the animal control code] Title 13- Page 16 Amended 9/9/24 --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Aport_gamble_sklallam%3A7e6f60fa4d353738. Public record. Not legal advice.