Washington criminal charge
Interfering with dog guide or service animal in Washington
Interfering with dog guide or service animal is a criminal offense under Washington law, defined by RCW 9.91.170. Its classification is not fixed: Washington assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by RCW 9.91.170.
What is the penalty for interfering with dog guide or service animal in Washington?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 90 days (Interfering with dog guide/service animal by personal conduct — first violation — A person who, after receiving notice, continues with reckless disregard to interfere with a dog guide or service animal's use by obstructing, intimidating, or jeopardizing safety, on a first offense.; statutory maximum, county jail (RCW 9A.20.021(3)); offenses outside Title 9A carry the same default under RCW 9.92.030 unless the offense fixes its own penalty) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Interfering with dog guide/service animal by personal conduct — first violation — A person who, after receiving notice, continues with reckless disregard to interfere with a dog guide or service animal's use by obstructing, intimidating, or jeopardizing safety, on a first offense.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5))) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (Interfering with dog guide/service animal by personal conduct — repeat violation — A second or subsequent violation of subsection (1) interference by personal conduct.; statutory maximum, county jail (RCW 9A.20.021(2)); offenses outside Title 9A carry the same default under RCW 9.92.020 unless the offense fixes its own penalty) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Interfering with dog guide/service animal by personal conduct — repeat violation — A second or subsequent violation of subsection (1) interference by personal conduct.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5))) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Jail / prison | up to 90 days (Allowing dog to interfere with dog guide/service animal — first violation — A person who, with reckless disregard, allows his or her dog to interfere with a dog guide or service animal's use by obstructing, intimidating, or jeopardizing safety, on a first offense.; statutory maximum, county jail (RCW 9A.20.021(3)); offenses outside Title 9A carry the same default under RCW 9.92.030 unless the offense fixes its own penalty) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Allowing dog to interfere with dog guide/service animal — first violation — A person who, with reckless disregard, allows his or her dog to interfere with a dog guide or service animal's use by obstructing, intimidating, or jeopardizing safety, on a first offense.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5))) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (Allowing dog to interfere with dog guide/service animal — repeat violation — A second or subsequent violation of subsection (2) interference by one's dog.; statutory maximum, county jail (RCW 9A.20.021(2)); offenses outside Title 9A carry the same default under RCW 9.92.020 unless the offense fixes its own penalty) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Allowing dog to interfere with dog guide/service animal — repeat violation — A second or subsequent violation of subsection (2) interference by one's dog.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5))) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (Reckless injury or death of dog guide/service animal by defendant — A person who, with reckless disregard, injures, disables, or causes the death of a dog guide or service animal.; statutory maximum, county jail (RCW 9A.20.021(2)); offenses outside Title 9A carry the same default under RCW 9.92.020 unless the offense fixes its own penalty) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Reckless injury or death of dog guide/service animal by defendant — A person who, with reckless disregard, injures, disables, or causes the death of a dog guide or service animal.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5))) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (Reckless injury or death of dog guide/service animal by defendant's dog — A person who, with reckless disregard, allows his or her dog to injure, disable, or cause the death of a dog guide or service animal.; statutory maximum, county jail (RCW 9A.20.021(2)); offenses outside Title 9A carry the same default under RCW 9.92.020 unless the offense fixes its own penalty) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Reckless injury or death of dog guide/service animal by defendant's dog — A person who, with reckless disregard, allows his or her dog to injure, disable, or cause the death of a dog guide or service animal.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5))) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Intentional injury or death of dog guide/service animal — A person who intentionally injures, disables, or causes the death of a dog guide or service animal.; statutory maximum (RCW 9A.20.021(1)(c)); the sentence actually imposed is set by the Sentencing Reform Act standard range (RCW 9.94A.510) from the offense's seriousness level and the defendant's offender score) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Intentional injury or death of dog guide/service animal — A person who intentionally injures, disables, or causes the death of a dog guide or service animal.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5)); unless a different maximum is specifically established by statute) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
Applies to current.
How is interfering with dog guide or service animal classified in Washington?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interfering with dog guide/service animal by personal conduct — first violation | Misdemeanor | A person who, after receiving notice, continues with reckless disregard to interfere with a dog guide or service animal's use by obstructing, intimidating, or jeopardizing safety, on a first offense. | RCW 9.91.170(1)(a) |
| Interfering with dog guide/service animal by personal conduct — repeat violation | Gross Misdemeanor | A second or subsequent violation of subsection (1) interference by personal conduct. | RCW 9.91.170(1)(b) |
| Allowing dog to interfere with dog guide/service animal — first violation | Misdemeanor | A person who, with reckless disregard, allows his or her dog to interfere with a dog guide or service animal's use by obstructing, intimidating, or jeopardizing safety, on a first offense. | RCW 9.91.170(2)(a) |
| Allowing dog to interfere with dog guide/service animal — repeat violation | Gross Misdemeanor | A second or subsequent violation of subsection (2) interference by one's dog. | RCW 9.91.170(2)(b) |
| Reckless injury or death of dog guide/service animal by defendant | Gross Misdemeanor | A person who, with reckless disregard, injures, disables, or causes the death of a dog guide or service animal. | RCW 9.91.170(3) |
| Reckless injury or death of dog guide/service animal by defendant's dog | Gross Misdemeanor | A person who, with reckless disregard, allows his or her dog to injure, disable, or cause the death of a dog guide or service animal. | RCW 9.91.170(4) |
| Intentional injury or death of dog guide/service animal | Class C Felony | A person who intentionally injures, disables, or causes the death of a dog guide or service animal. | RCW 9.91.170(5) |
Common questions about interfering with dog guide or service animal in Washington
Is interfering with dog guide or service animal a felony or a misdemeanor in Washington?
It depends on the circumstances: interfering with dog guide or service animal ranges from a Misdemeanor to a Class C Felony in Washington under RCW 9.91.170.
Interfering with dog guide/service animal by personal conduct — first violation: Misdemeanor (RCW 9.91.170(1)(a)) · Interfering with dog guide/service animal by personal conduct — repeat violation: Gross Misdemeanor (RCW 9.91.170(1)(b)) · Allowing dog to interfere with dog guide/service animal — first violation: Misdemeanor (RCW 9.91.170(2)(a)) · Allowing dog to interfere with dog guide/service animal — repeat violation: Gross Misdemeanor (RCW 9.91.170(2)(b)) · Reckless injury or death of dog guide/service animal by defendant: Gross Misdemeanor (RCW 9.91.170(3)) · Reckless injury or death of dog guide/service animal by defendant's dog: Gross Misdemeanor (RCW 9.91.170(4)) · Intentional injury or death of dog guide/service animal: Class C Felony (RCW 9.91.170(5))
What are the penalties for interfering with dog guide or service animal in Washington?
Penalties for interfering with dog guide or service animal in Washington depend on how it is classified — from a Misdemeanor up to a Class C Felony — with the ranges set by RCW 9A.20.021; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Washington statute covers interfering with dog guide or service animal?
Interfering with dog guide or service animal is governed by RCW 9.91.170 (Interfering with dog guide or service animal).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.