Moses Lake may allow fourth dog

Exception to ordinance for blind, disabled

MOSES LAKE - Citizens with special circumstances may be allowed an exception to a Moses Lake ordinance limiting the number of dogs allowed per residence.

According to the Moses Lake city code, residents are allowed no more than three dogs per residence.

The council approved the first reading of the amendment to the ordinance Tuesday night.

A second reading of the proposed amendment change is required before final approval by the council.

Citizen Martin Larioz asked the city for an exception because he owns four dogs. Larioz said his four dogs provide him comfort and he couldn't imagine getting rid of one of them to be in compliance.

He didn't know he was in violation of the ordinance until someone complained to the city about his pets.

Larioz requested the council make an exception for people in his circumstances.

Larioz is blind and suffers severe nerve damage in his legs due to surviving a freeze from the waist down while serving the U.S. military in Korea. He survived a firing squad and the Sunchon, Korea train tunnel massacre of 183 prisoners of war.

He uses a wheelchair and suffered several heart attacks. Larioz said he deals with serious bouts of depression and his dogs help him overcome his depression.

Larioz said some of the dogs are not adoptable due to their own health problems. Larioz's wife, Maria Larioz, takes care of the animals' health care needs and cleans up after them regularly.

According to the ordinance, up to three dogs are permitted per residence. A qualified citizen can request permission from the city council for a fourth dog, if the additional dog serves as a comfort dog. Each situation is treated individually. A comfort dog is defined as a pet who provides comfort or companionship to the blind or a disabled person.

Upon request, the council will consider how the citizen came into possession of the additional dog, if the dogs are properly cared for and if the request meets city codes.

If permission is granted, it applies to the specific dog permitted. Once the fourth comfort dog dies, it can't be replaced.

People in possession of more than three dogs who do not meet qualifications to own a fourth dog are in violation of the ordinance. A city code officer will respond to complaints related to having too many dogs and not maintaining them.

Councilmember Dick Deane moved to approve the ordinance to allow a fourth comfort dog under limited circumstances.

Councilmember Jim Liebrecht seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.