MOSES LAKE — Last Thursday, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office and Grant County Animal Outreach worked in a joint effort to assist a citizen who had accumulated over 20 dogs on their property. 

“The owner acknowledged that he was overwhelmed and surrendered the dogs,” said Kyle Foreman, Public Information Officer for GCSO. 

Foreman said deputies first responded to a call about the health and welfare of the population of dogs on the property. Once they arrived on the scene, GCSO contacted GCAO for assistance. 

The two organizations gathered around 20 puppies from the property and brought them to the shelter, where they will be cared for until they are ready to be transferred and adopted. As of the time of publication, there are still a number of dogs still on the property and the owner has been provided food to care for them until GCAO can return to take the rest. 

While there is no ordinance in Grant County regarding the number of dogs a person can own, within city limits, the laws and ordinances may vary from place to place, said Foreman. 

“Since there is no local ordinance, the sheriff’s office enforces the state law,” he said. 

According to the Washington State Legislature, RCW 16.52.310, a person may not own, possess, control or otherwise have charge or custody of more than 50 dogs with intact sexual organs over the age of six months at any time.  

The law also states that any person who owns, possesses, controls or otherwise has charge or custody of more than 10 dogs with intact sexual organs over the age of six months must provide space to allow each dog to move freely, have an exercise period of one hour each day, maintain adequate housing facilities, provide adequate amounts of clean food and water and provide veterinary care without delay when necessary.  

While many of the dogs are now under the care of GCAO, Foreman said this case is still open and under investigation. 

Sara Thompson-Tweedy, board president of GCAO, said that the individual in this case did the right thing in willingly surrendering the dogs and that the shelter will continue providing support to both animals and people who find themselves in situations such as this.  

“Everybody’s doing what we can to take care of the puppies and when they’re ready, we’ll get them transferred out and find them good homes,” said Thompson-Tweedy. 

Those looking to help support GCAO or hoping to adopt can go to grantcountyanimaloutreach.org.