It is unlawful for any person to bring into the City of Vancouver or to keep or harbor within the City of Vancouver any wild animal unless a license to do so has first been obtained from the designated city animal control agent.

Only a person who was in legal possession of a potentially dangerous wild animal prior to July 22, 2007, and who is the legal possessor of the animal may keep possession of the animal for the remainder of the animal’s life. The person must maintain veterinary records, acquisition papers for the animal, if available, or other documents or records that establish that the person possessed the animal prior to July 22, 2007, and present the paperwork to an animal control or law enforcement authority upon request. The person shall have the burden of proving that he or she possessed the animal prior to July 22, 2007.

The wild animal license application shall contain a description of the animal or animals and of the place where the animal or animals are to be temporarily or permanently quartered. The designated city animal control agent shall inspect the place where the animals are to be quartered. The quarters in which such animals are kept shall be subject to inspection upon reasonable notice. If it appears from the inspection that the quarters are of a size large enough to comfortably contain the animals and are sufficiently secure that in the opinion of the designated animal control agent the wild animals to be kept therein will not be able to escape, the designated city animal control agent shall issue a "wild animal license" upon payment of a fee of one hundred dollars. Such license shall be in addition to any licenses required by this code. The quarters wherein such wild animals are kept shall be subject to inspection upon reasonable notice by the designated animal control agent or city police. If a wild animal does escape or if it appears from such inspection or otherwise that a wild animal might escape, an order may be given by the designated animal control agent that such quarters be immediately repaired or improved and, if this is not done, the animal may be impounded as provided herein and destroyed by the designated custodian of impounded animals subject to an appeal filed by the end of the next business day following the service on the owner of the impoundment pursuant to the appeal procedures of this chapter. The cost of impoundment and destruction of the wild animal shall be responsible its owner.

Licenses issued under this section shall be valid for one year.

This section shall not apply to the uninterrupted transport of wild animals through Vancouver by train or truck.

It is the duty of any person licensed under this section to at all times keep convenient to the quarters where wild animals are being kept the appropriate equipment as determined by the designated animal control agent to aid in the capture of the animal were it to escape.

Nothing in this section shall permit the owning, possessing, keeping, harboring, bringing into the city, or having custody or control of a potentially dangerous wild animal in violation of this ordinance or of Chapter 16.30 RCW. (Ord. M-2727 § 5, 1987: Ord. M-2397 § 17, 1983; Ord. M-4043, Amended, 02/25/2013, Sec 6 - Effective 03/29/2013)