Moses Lake couple asks to keep extra dog

No decision from Moses Lake Council

MOSES LAKE - A Moses Lake couple appealed to the Moses Lake City Council to keep their four dogs which violates a city ordinance limiting citizens to three pets.

The council did not make a decision and Mayor Ron Covey said the council would take the issue under advisement due to the emotional distress exhibited by pet owner Rebecca Temple.

Temple and her husband Donald live on West Virginia Street where they own four dogs. They own two large breed dogs and two small breed dogs.

The issue surfaced when someone complained about an inoperable vehicle parked on their lot, Community Development Director Gilbert Alvarado said Tuesday. A Moses Lake code enforcement officer responded to the complaint and upon his arrival he noticed the four dogs and filed a report.

Donald Temple said once they were informed about the violation concerning the inoperable vehicle, he parked it in his garage, out of view of the public. He said he came into possession of the vehicle after his son abandoned it.

Covey told the council they need to recall the exception to the ordinance created to accommodate people who have a fourth dog called a "comfort dog." He said to have a comfort dog the owner must be blind or physically disabled, among other requirements.

Council member Richard Pearce asked Rebecca Temple if she was physically disabled.

She said she is, but she is still able to work, but only has a few years left in her working career due to her disabilities.

Rebecca Temple said she has rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and two titanium hips. She said their rottweiler helps her lift herself to a standing position sometimes and the animals alert her to intruders.

"Each one of them to me isn't just a dog, it's my family," she said. "To give up one now would be like giving up a child."

She said three of the dogs live at the Moses Lake address full time. Monday through Friday she goes to the Tri-Cities area to work. She stays there for five days at a time with a friend. When she travels she takes one of the small-breed dogs with her. She and the dog are only in Moses Lake on the weekends, Rebecca Temple said.

Until a few months ago, they had three dogs but became owners of a fourth dog to prevent it from being taken to Grant County Animal Outreach where it could be euthanized if not adopted, Donald Temple said.

"These dogs do comfort her, they do help her," he said.

Rebecca Temple said they've taken precautions to accommodate neighbors by keeping the dogs in the back yard when they are let out and by installing additional fencing.

Council member Bill Ecret said it appears one of the dogs is in the Tri-Cities most of the time. He said he was not sure the ordinance prohibiting the additional dog applied to visiting dogs. He suggested she leave the dog with her friend in the Tri-Cities to be in compliance since it is there most of the time anyway and she can see it most of the time.

A decision wasn't made at the meeting.