King County is updating pet business regulations for the first time since 2010. After high-profile tragedies and animal cruelty charges, the 2026 code revision aims to improve safety, sanitation, and oversight. Seattle Animal Watch summarizes the January 21 webinar, outlines gaps in enforcement, and explains how the public can engage.

Seattle Animal Watch examines Seattle Animal Shelter staffing through the lens of a 2022 City Council memo on park patrol enforcement. Our analysis shows how limited field officer capacity, reduced SPD support, and competing animal welfare demands constrain enforcement, underscoring the need for data-driven staffing decisions and sustained public pressure to meet Seattle’s animal welfare needs.

Seattle’s Pet Sheltering Plan provides a strong framework for caring for animals during disasters, but several areas, like updated pet population estimates, digital tools, and partner coordination, could be strengthened. Our analysis highlights what’s working well and where improvements can help Seattle stay prepared.

Seattle Animal Watch just launched our new Data Dashboard, using city open data and public disclosure records to bring transparency to animal services. This is the first step in understanding Seattle’s true animal welfare needs and building a citywide, data-driven plan for meaningful change. Explore the dashboard at seattleanimalwatch.org/data.