Olympia, Washington. – Olympia lawmakers are calling for safety reforms in the pet hotel industry after two fires broke out at dog day care centers in Seattle, one of which killed at least one dog.
Part of the proposed bill (HB 2403) would require all facilities housing pets to have fire alarms or sprinklers.
The bill, originally proposed by state Rep. Dahlia Faribal, aims to protect pets left at local businesses.
Faribal, a Democrat who represents Washington's 46th Congressional District, is reviewing rules and regulations for dog day care and boarding facilities in the wake of a fire at a dog resort in Seattle over the past nine months. It started.
On February 1, 2023, a fire broke out at The Dog Resort in Lake City, forcing more than 100 dogs to escape. Fortunately, there were no injuries to people or dogs.
The Seattle Fire Department (SFD) determined the fire was accidental, starting in a dryer. Employees at The Dog Resort said they have had several fires in the past, but were able to get the blaze under control before it spread, according to an SFD fire inspector.
The most recent fire occurred in November 2023. This time it was a SODO facility that went up in flames. In this incident, a dog named Georgie escaped a fire at the facility and died on Interstate 5. Another dog named North also escaped from the facility and is believed to have been killed on the same road.
The cause of the November fire is still under investigation.
House Bill 2403 hopes to stop such fires from occurring. Dog and cat kennels will be required to have fire alarm systems and fire sprinklers.
The bill would require emergency responders to be automatically notified when a fire suppression system is activated. Fire inspectors are also required to ensure that kennels have these systems in place so they can obtain or maintain a license with the state Department of Revenue.
“I feel like they understand that, too,” said Alison Scarborough, the dog's mother. “I couldn’t be more excited about the possibilities of this bill.”
Scarborough was Georgie's owner. Another dog, Remi, also escaped from the facility, but survived with serious injuries.
Since the fire, she has called for improved safety standards for kennels and boarding facilities. Scarborough believes the proposed legislation is a step in the right direction.
“There's also a transparency aspect to this bill,” she said.
The proposed bill would require businesses to notify customers if a kennel's license is revoked or suspended. Additionally, information must be posted where customers can easily see it.
“If you don't have any violations that you have to disclose and you don't have a license suspension that you have to disclose, that's a bragging right,” she says. “It's an asset to the business.”
And that's exactly what the pet owners involved in the Dog Resort fire are hoping for. It's a better pet boarding industry that raises standards and better protects pets.
The proposed bill will have a hearing in a House committee on Tuesday. A public hearing is also scheduled to be held on the same day by the House Local Government Committee.