This week, Island County commissioners adopted a revised code designed to better protect animals from abuse and neglect.

The new animal welfare code sets more stringent kennel licensing requirements, tougher penalties for violations and makes it easier for animal control officers to seize animals that are being mistreated.

The impetus for updating the code came from community members who were horrified by an animal cruelty case on North Whidbey and found the county rules governing the treatment of pets and other domestic animals to be lacking.

Prosecutors filed charges against Kristi L. Finch, who had two dead horses on her Hastie Lake Road property on Christmas Eve of last year. The deputies seized horses, dogs, cats, pigs, rabbits and chinchillas from the property. The dogs, cats and horses were eventually forfeited through a court order, which Finch fought. Her trial is set for Dec. 5.

The Animal Advocates of Island County was formed in response to the incident and concerns with animal control in the county. A couple of members were involved in helping to draft the revision. Kristi Lovelady, a retired Island County planner, offered her expertise to county officials. Kathy Lester compiled all the animal welfare codes from all the counties in the state.

“This code will be one of the best codes in the state,” she said.

Jerry Lloyd, a horseman with years of experience with large animal rescue, said the code is a needed tool.

“I think this is going to help bring the Island County inside the 20th century in a good way,” he said.

Commissioner Melanie Bacon noted the name of the code was changed from “animals” to “animal welfare,” which more accurately describes the focus.

Commissioner Jill Johnson had previously lamented that animal abuse seemed to get so much more attention from the public than child abuse. Tuesday, she said she understands the link between child endangerment and animal abuse.

Island County Sheriff Rick Felici has struggled to hire animal control officers since the former longtime officer retired.

“The new codes are a good foundational step in the right direction as we rebuild our animal welfare program,” he said. “The code revisions are a good of example of citizen involvement in government.”

Under the code, a commercial kennel is defined as a place “where, for compensation, five or more adult dogs and/or cats over six months of age, irrespective of duration, are boarded, bred, bought, sold, exhibited or trained.”

A private kennel, on the other hand, includes homes and other places not normally considered to be a kennel. It is defined as “any location where more than 10 adult dogs, 10 adult cats, or a combination thereof, are kept for personal, non-commercial purposes where the owner(s) does not receive compensation.”

The code requires kennel licenses, sets standards designed to protect pets and adds enforcement requirements which allow animal control officers to inspect a commercial kennel at any time.

The code goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.