Lawyer for Dog Bites in Clackamas County Oregon
Below are relevant portions of the Clackamas County dog bite statute located at:
Clackamas Animal Control Title 5
5.01.040 Control of Dogs
Duties of Owners.
For the purposes of this Chapter a dog owner is ultimately responsible for the behavior
of the dog regardless of whether the owner or another person allowed the dog to engage
in the behavior that is the subject of the violation.
C. Violations.
1. It is unlawful to permit a dog to be a public nuisance. A dog is a public nuisance if it:
a. Menaces, bites, injures or kills a person or domestic animal. It is a
defense to this section if the dog engages in such behavior as a result of a
person wrongfully assaulting the dog or owner, or other similar
provocation, or when the dog’s behavior was directed towards a
trespasser or other extenuating circumstances that establishes that the
dog does not constitute an unreasonable risk to life or property;
b. Is a dog at large. It is a defense to this section that the dog was a
working dog wearing a locating device and temporarily separated from
the person in control of the dog;
c. Chases a vehicle while off the dog owner’s property;
d. Causes continuous annoyance;
e. Damages or destroys property of another person while off the dog
owner’s property;
f. Scatters garbage while off the dog owner’s property;
g. Is a female in heat (estrus) and is a dog at large.
TITLE 5 – 8
2. It is unlawful to fail to comply with the requirements of this Chapter that apply
to keeping a dangerous dog.
3. It is unlawful to permit any dog to leave the confines of any prescribed
quarantine area, and/or fail to comply with any other condition of quarantine.
4. It is unlawful to interfere with an identified Dog Services Officer or peace
officer who is enforcing any provision of this Chapter by intentionally acting in
any manner that prevents, or attempts to prevent a Dog Services Officer or peace
officer from performing their lawful duties.
5. It is unlawful to knowingly provide false information to a Dog Services Officer
or peace officer enforcing any provision of this Chapter.
6. It is unlawful to permit a dog to be confined within a motor vehicle at any
location under such conditions as may endanger the health or well-being of the
dog, including but not limited to dangerous temperature, lack of food, water or
attention.
7. It is unlawful to permit a dog to be unrestrained in an open portion of a vehicle.
8. It is unlawful to fail to redeem an impounded dog.
9. It is unlawful to fail to comply with any fine, fee, cost, expense, condition or
restriction imposed by a Hearing Officer under this Chapter.
10. It is unlawful to fail to surrender a dog to Dog Services when required by this
Chapter.
11. It is unlawful to fail to license a dog or renew a license as required by this
Chapter.
12. It is unlawful for an owner to fail to immediately notify Dog Services when the
owner’s dog has bitten a person or domestic animal.
13. It is unlawful to exceed the number of dogs permitted on premises or in a unit of
a multiple dwelling as set forth in this Chapter.