Animal Control/Rules and Responsibilities

An image of farm animals

Animal Control

Responsibilities: To help promote responsible pet/livestock ownership through the use of state animal laws via outreach, education, providing resources and progressive enforcement.

*Also Reference ORS 609.500 for legal definition of Animal Control Officer.

 

ORS 609.100 - Dog license required:

All dogs within Polk County are required to be licensed at the age of 6 months, or 30 days after having resided within Polk County. 

 Dog License Application

ORS 609.095 - What is Dog as a Public Nuisance?

(1)          A dog is a public nuisance if it:

(a)          Chases persons or vehicles on premises other than premises from which the keeper of the dog may lawfully exclude others;

(b)          Damages or destroys property of persons other than the keeper of the dog;

(c)           Scatters garbage on premises other than premises from which the keeper of the dog may lawfully exclude others;

(d)          Trespasses on private property of persons other than the keeper of the dog;

(e)          Disturbs any person by frequent or prolonged noises; (see: barking info)

(f)           Is a female in heat and running at large; or

(g)          Is a potentially dangerous dog, but is not a dangerous dog as defined in ORS 609.098 (Maintaining dangerous dog).

 

ORS 167.330 / 167.325 - What is Animal Neglect?

(1)          A person commits the crime of animal neglect in the first degree if, except as otherwise authorized by law, the person intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or with criminal negligence:

(a)          Fails to provide minimum care for an animal in the person’s custody or control and the failure to provide care results in serious physical injury or death to the animal; or

(b)          Tethers a domestic animal in the person’s custody or control and the tethering results in serious physical injury or death to the domestic animal.

 

(1)          A person commits the crime of animal neglect in the second degree if, except as otherwise authorized by law, the person intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or with criminal negligence:

(a)          Fails to provide minimum care for an animal in such person’s custody or control; or

(b)          Tethers a domestic animal in the person’s custody or control and the tethering results in physical injury to the domestic animal.

 

ORS 167.310 – What is Minimum Care?

(9) “Minimum care” means care sufficient to preserve the health and well-being of an animal and, except for emergencies or circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the owner, includes, but is not limited to, the following requirements:

(a) Food of sufficient quantity and quality to allow for normal growth or maintenance of body weight.

      (b) Open or adequate access to potable water in sufficient quantity to satisfy the animal’s needs. Access to snow or ice is not adequate access to potable water.

      (c) For a domestic animal other than a dog engaged in herding or protecting livestock, access to adequate shelter.

      (d) Veterinary care deemed necessary by a reasonably prudent person to relieve distress from injury, neglect or disease.

      (e) For a domestic animal, continuous access to an area:

      (A) With adequate space for exercise necessary for the health of the animal;

      (B) With air temperature suitable for the animal; and

      (C) Kept reasonably clean and free from excess waste or other contaminants that could affect the animal’s health.

      (f) For a livestock animal that cannot walk or stand without assistance:

      (A) Humane euthanasia; or

      (B) The provision of immediate and ongoing care to restore the animal to an ambulatory state.

      (10) “Physical injury” means physical trauma, impairment of physical condition or substantial pain.

      (11) “Physical trauma” means fractures, cuts, punctures, bruises, burns or other wounds.

      (12) “Possess” has the meaning provided in ORS 161.015.

      (13) “Serious physical injury” means physical injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes protracted disfigurement, protracted impairment of health or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a limb or bodily organ.

      (14)(a) “Tethering” means to restrain a domestic animal by tying the domestic animal to any object or structure by any means.

 

ORS 609.150 Harming or chasing livestock

  1. Any dog which, while off the premises owned or under control of its owner, kills wounds or injures livestock is a public nuisance and may be killed immediately by any person.

ORS 498.102 - Dogs chasing wildlife
No persons shall permit any dog the persons owns to unlawfully hunt, run or track any game mammal or game bird. The animal may be killed by any person authorized to enforce wildlife laws.

ORS 164.065 - Theft of mislaid property
A person who comes into control of property (including a dog) of another commits theft if the person fails to take reasonable measures to restore the property to the owner.

 

**** Polk County has no ordinance relating to stray or lost cats. ****

 

If you have a concern or complaint regarding a violation of any of the above, please complete the form below and email it to: whiting.jodi@co.polk.or.us or mail it to PCSO - Attn: Animal Control 850 Main St. Dallas, OR 97338