Mattawa Council considering stray animal concerns

MATTAWA — Mattawa city officials will continue to pick up stray dogs and house them temporarily at the municipal maintenance facility. Mattawa City Council members reaffirmed support for city policy after a social media post claimed dogs were being mistreated. 

“I don’t want to think there's an easy solution for the dog issue, there really isn't. But I think if we don't do anything, we're just going to get that much more behind,” said council member Tony Acosta. 

Criticism of city staff is unwarranted, he said, since the decision on stray dog ordinances is up to the council.  

“I understand staff is kind of the face of the city, and they’re going to get the short end of the stick from the public, but they're only following our orders,” Acosta said. “As (the) council we create codes. We kind of dictate how it happens, and the mayor's job is to make sure that they're being done. And so I think right now, I think we’ve just got to stick to our codes.” 

In a social media response to the original post, city officials confirmed a deceased dog shown in the post had died while impounded by the city. The dog had died earlier that day, according to city officials. Mayor Maria Celaya said dogs are fed and watered twice a day and regularly exercised.  

Mattawa Public Works Director Juan Ledezma said the city’s facility has four covered kennels and is cleaned daily. Acosta said city council members appreciated the city staff’s work.  

“It is a double-edged sword sometimes, picking them up. But it has to be done to keep students walking to school safe, and residents just walking the street,” Ledezma said. “It puts the city in a tough position. But we do our best to keep the dogs safe – we don't know what the conditions were prior to picking them up.” 

City ordinances prohibit dogs running at large. If a dog is picked up a notice is posted at city hall for at least 48 hours, with Sundays and holidays not included in the deadline. If the dog is not claimed, city officials can dispose of it. 

“We have a code that dictates what we do with the dogs, and it's not a secret. It's not something that we came up with overnight. It's been in books for a long time. We keep doing what we're supposed to be doing,” Acosta said. 

Council member Sun Hwang said he agreed. 

“I (researched) stray dogs (in) Washington State law. Generally, the city is responsible for catching the stray dogs, so we are responsible. Somehow. We’ve just got keep doing it.” Hwang said.  

Council member Fabiola Hernandez said residents also have a role to play.  

“At the same time, we need to teach the community (that) if you want to have a dog you have to be responsible,” Hernandez said.  

As a business owner, she has to contend with stray dogs, she said. She cited a stray female dog, apparently pregnant, that recently appeared at her business. 

“What are we going to do with that dog?” Hernandez said. 

Acosta said he would support an agreement with an outside animal welfare agency to take custody of stray animals after the notification period. 

“We can always be willing to listen and talk to (the city attorney), see if there’s a way we can have an interlocal agreement with them and they can take the dogs (once the notification period expires),” Acosta said. “I mean, other than that, what do we do?”