Washington Administrative Code › Title 220 - Fish and Wildlife, Department of › WILDLIFE › Chapter 220-412 - Wildlife-Hunting-Permits › Section 220-412-130 - Nonlethal pursuit training pass program

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) In order to effectively manage and train
				hound handlers and their dogs to be agents of the state used for cougar
				conflict response, the department establishes the nonlethal pursuit training
				pass program.
(2) The nonlethal
				pursuit training pass program emphasizes safe, ethical, responsible, and lawful
				hound handling practices as well as detection of specific wildlife species by
				dogs. The goal of the nonlethal pursuit training pass program includes
				improving dog handler/department relations, effective detection of target
				species when requested by the department, and the ethical treatment of working
				dogs and wildlife. The yearly application cost to be considered for placement
				on the list of screened nonlethal pursuit handlers shall be twenty-five dollars
				and will cover the cost of an application review and a background check. This
				cost will occur annually when renewing an application to be on the list of
				screened nonlethal pursuit handlers. The WDFW enforcement program shall
				determine the nonlethal pursuit program's requirements and curriculum in
				consultation with stakeholders including, but not limited to, working dog
				handlers and wildlife conservation organizations in Washington state.
(3) Working dog handlers are held to the
				highest ethical standards as these individuals may be asked to perform as
				agents of the state under
				RCW
				77.12.077. As such, they may be ambassadors
				for the department and the working dog community. Criteria to be considered
				include the following:
(a) Currently own and
				train working dogs on scent detection and tracking;
(b) Maintain health records of working
				dogs;
(c) An active working
				knowledge of predator detection and pursuit training techniques;
(d) Hold a current driver's
				license;
(e) Up-to-date vehicle
				registration and vehicle insurance for any vehicle used to transport working
				dogs;
(f) Understanding of best
				practices in dog handling equipment and proper usage; and
(g) Working knowledge of terrain navigation
				and digital mapping equipment.
Initial approved applicants on the list of screened nonlethal
				  pursuit handlers and individuals reapplying to be approved on the list of
				  screened nonlethal pursuit handlers must annually submit to a criminal
				  background check, and the department shall deny entry into the nonlethal
				  pursuit training pass program to those applicants who have:
* Been convicted within the last ten years of any criminal
				  offense under chapter 77.15 RCW (WDFW enforcement), 76.48 (specialized forest
				  products), or 16.52 (animal cruelty) RCW;
* Been found to have committed, or to have paid, any
				  infraction for a violation of chapter 77.15 RCW except recreational fishing
				  under
				  RCW
				  77.15.160, in the last ten years;
* Been convicted within the last ten years of any crime of
				  dishonesty;
* Been convicted of any felony, or released from custody
				  pursuant to any felony conviction, within the last ten years;
* Been convicted of, or been found to have committed, any
				  criminal or civil violation where the department obtains a report from the
				  citing authority that alleges the applicant was deceptive, untruthful, or
				  obstructed a law enforcement officer in the course of the officer's duties,
				  other than violations of
				  RCW
				  46.61.050 and
				  46.61.400,
				  within the last ten years;
* Been convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm under
				  RCW
				  9.41.040, or has been convicted of any felony
				  offense and the applicant has not successfully petitioned to have the
				  applicant's firearm rights restored, or is otherwise ineligible to possess a
				  firearm for any reason provided in
				  RCW
				  9.41.040;
* A current hunting or fishing license revocation or a
				  current suspension of hunting or fishing license privileges in Washington or in
				  another state.
An applicant must disclose to WDFW at the time of application
				  whether the applicant is aware of any pending criminal charges in any
				  municipal, state, or federal court. The department may defer approval or denial
				  on an application until such criminal charges have been adjudicated.
The department may, based on the results of a criminal
				  background check or based on information it has received involving active
				  investigations or pending charges, deny an application, at its discretion, if
				  it believes the applicant does not meet the high ethical standards of the
				  program, or would not be a suitable state agent or ambassador for the
				  department and the working dog community.