It is hereby declared that the public policy of the city of Stanwood is to encourage, secure and enforce those animal control measures deemed desirable and necessary, for the protection of human health and safety, and to the greatest degree practicable to prevent injury to property and cruelty to animal life. To this end, it is the purpose of this chapter to provide a means of licensing dogs, impounding animals, and controlling animal behavior to prevent injury to property or curtail cruelty to animals. (Ord. 1389 § 2, 2015; Ord. 1033, 1998).