Dog Services

As A Dog Owner What Laws Should I Know About?

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• County Laws: Dog Owners must obey the laws in Clackamas County. Please click on the County Laws for more information.

• Preventive Fences: It is unlawful for dogs to run at large in Clackamas County. Any Peace Officer or Dog Services Officer may impound a dog that is found running at large.

• Disease Control

• Animal Control: A dog is a public nuisance per ORS 609.095 if it..

  • Bites a person.

  • Chases vehicles or people.

  • Damages or destroys property of others.

  • Scatters garbage.

  • Trespasses on private property.

  • Disturbs any person by frequent or prolonged noise.

  • Is a female in heat and running at large.

• No dog owner or keeper of a dog shall permit a dog to chase, kill, wound or injure livestock not belonging to the owner or keeper of such dog.

  The owner or keeper of a dog that has injured or killed livestock is responsible for any amount up to double the amount of damages.

  Any dog (whether licensed or not) which; while off premises owned or under the control of its owner; kills, wounds, or injures any livestock not belonging to the master of such dog is a public nuisance and may be killed immediately by any person. (ORS 609.150)