ARLINGTON — Blaze the dog remains a hot topic in Arlington and beyond.

Deputy police chief John Ventura addressed the City Council workshop Sept. 14 to present recommended revisions to city codes on animal care.

The proposal would regulate the length, weight and types of tethers allowed, as well as the areas in which an animal could be tethered, what the tether could prevent the animal from doing, and the times and conditions under which an animal could be tethered.

Ventura asserted that, by dropping initial offenses to civil infractions, enforcement could yield more immediate results. He noted that the human society also appreciated setting a time limit on how long an animal can be tethered (10 hours in a 24-hour period).

Arlington resident Shannon O’Quist led the public comment period by pointing out her petition to “Save Blaze” has received 15,000 signatures. At the same time, she responded to reports that Blaze’s owner has been harassed by stipulating that neither she nor her group condoned such acts.

When O’Quist asked when they could expect the proposed code revisions to be enacted, Mayor Barbara Tolbert explained that the proposal would be presented to the council again Sept. 21, this time for action, and could be published as early as Sept. 24. Since such laws go into effect five days after publication, Tolbert predicted that, if approved by the council, Oct. 1 is the latest date it would become effective.

Tami McMinn of Gold Bar spoke on behalf of Pasado’s Safe Haven, thanking Arlington for its attention to this issue, while Linda Perri of Issaquah worried about what she sees as Blaze’s deteriorating health. Perri has seen Blaze limping, and warned that excessive tethering can lead not only to skin conditions, but can also cause dogs to chew at their own limbs.

“Arlington has failed Blaze,” Perri said.

Jennifer Hagstrom of Kenmore questioned Ventura about Blaze’s veterinary care. Although Blaze’s owner presented police with documents indicating that he’d received vet care, her suspicions were aroused by Blaze’s owner’s statements that Blaze would receive vet care “soon.”

“The skin allergy that Blaze has should be gone within a maximum of two weeks if it’s being treated properly,” Hagstrom said. “The cone should also be a temporary measure.”

Arlington’s Debra Darling asserted that Blaze has been tethered and coned for at least five years, not just the three years that Ventura has reported.

“The county road crews would come into my shop and talk about the lampshade dog,” Darling said. “Blaze is in bad shape, and I’m not sure he has much time left.”

Perri added: “I’m not above begging on this one.”

Mukilteo’s Marilyn Limberopoulos weighed in with some of the evening’s final comments.

“Shame on everyone in this room, who would allow anyone to treat an animal this way,” she said.