Oregon Law
Law as of Jan 1, 2026
Chapter contents
609.010[Amended by 1959 c.618 §1; 1967 c.495 §1; 1975 c.749 §2; 1987 c.415 §1; 1993 c.252 §6; 1999 c.658 §4; 1999 c.756 §15; 2001 c.636 §6; repealed by 2005 c.840 §9] 609.015Application of ORS 609.030 and 609.035 to 609.110 609.020Dogs as personal property 609.030Establishing dog control district; appointment of supervisors; enforcement; county governing body as supervisors; dog control officer 609.035Definitions for ORS 609.035 to 609.110 and 609.990 609.040[Amended by 1977 c.802 §4; repealed by 2011 c.607 §18] 609.050[Amended by 1967 c.496 §1; repealed by 1977 c.802 §15] 609.060Notice of county prohibition on dogs running at large 609.070[Repealed by 1969 c.677 §5] 609.080[Amended by 1959 c.618 §2; repealed by 1967 c.495 §4] 609.090Impounding certain dogs; procedure for county disposition of impounded dogs; impoundment fees and costs; release of dog 609.092[1977 c.802 §14; repealed by 1999 c.1051 §299] 609.093Considerations prior to disposing of chasing, menacing or biting dog 609.095Dog as public nuisance; public nuisance prohibited; complaint 609.097[1975 c.499 §4; 1999 c.658 §9; 2001 c.636 §10; repealed by 2005 c.840 §9] 609.098Maintaining dangerous dog 609.100Dog licenses, tags and fees; exemptions 609.105Exemption for assistance animals 609.110Dog License Fund 609.115Liability for injury or property damage caused by potentially dangerous dog 609.120[Amended by 1969 c.677 §3; repealed by 1977 c.802 §15] 609.125Definition of “livestock.” 609.130[Repealed by 1977 c.802 §15] 609.135Applicability of ORS 609.156, 609.162 and 609.168 609.140Right of action by owner of damaged livestock 609.150Right to kill dog that harms or chases livestock 609.153Dog owner education program 609.155Impoundment for harming or chasing livestock; determination of fact; costs 609.156Opportunity to request hearing 609.157[1975 c.749 §5; 1999 c.756 §21; renumbered 609.161 in 1999] 609.158Hearing process; notice of determination; reexamination of determination 609.160[Amended by 1975 c.499 §2; 1999 c.756 §22; renumbered 609.169 in 1999] 609.161Disputable presumption that dog harms or chases livestock 609.162Guidelines for imposing remedial measures, civil penalties or other sanctions 609.163Enhanced civil penalties for habitual violators 609.165Judicial review of county determination 609.166Record of penalized owners 609.167Conversion of civil penalty into lien; disposition of proceeds 609.168Microchip identification of dog; rules 609.169Keeping dog with knowledge that it has harmed livestock 609.170Claim by owner of livestock 609.180Hearing and payment of claims 609.190Subrogation of county paying claim; collection by district attorney 609.205Prohibitions against keeping of wild or exotic animals 609.305“Exotic animal” defined 609.309Policy on exotic animals 609.310[1963 c.217 §1; repealed by 1977 c.802 §15] 609.312Seller to provide buyer with informational material 609.315[1985 c.437 §8; 1999 c.699 §5; 2009 c.492 §4; renumbered 609.345 in 2009] 609.319[1985 c.437 §3; 1999 c.699 §6; 2009 c.492 §5; renumbered 609.341 in 2009] 609.320[1963 c.217 §2; repealed by 1977 c.802 §15] 609.325Conditions for keeping exotic animal 609.329Liability for escape or injury 609.330[1963 c.217 §3; repealed by 1977 c.802 §15] 609.335Department rules regulating keeping of exotic animals; sanctions for rule violations 609.340[1963 c.217 §4; repealed by 1977 c.802 §15] 609.341Permit requirement for keeping of exotic animal; breeding of animal 609.345Exceptions to permit requirement 609.350[1963 c.217 §5; repealed by 1977 c.802 §15] 609.351Issuance and renewal of exotic animal permit; fee 609.355Issuance of permit upon lapse of federal license or registration 609.405Requirement for destroying dogs and cats 609.410Disposition of dogs and cats by research facility 609.411Preemption of ORS 609.410 609.415Animal rescue entities; licensing; records; fees; rules; civil penalty 609.420Investigation and inspection of animal rescue entity 609.425Unowned, abandoned or stray cats; holding periods; care requirements; records 609.500Definitions for ORS 609.500 to 609.520 and 609.994 609.505Unlawfully obtaining dog or cat 609.510Animal dealers required to keep records; report to State Department of Agriculture; fee; public inspection of records 609.515Required period of possession of animal by dealer 609.520Inspection of dealer records; procedure for obtaining animal held by dealer; penalty for failure to turn over animal; inspection of dealer facilities 609.650Legislative findings 609.652Definitions for ORS 609.654 609.654Public or private official reporting of aggravated animal abuse; immunity 609.656Regulated social worker reporting of abuse or neglect; immunity 609.805Misrepresentation of pedigree; mutilation of certificate or proof of pedigree; violation 609.815On-site individuals for locations where numerous dogs are kept 609.990Penalties for ORS 609.060, 609.095, 609.098, 609.100, 609.169 and 609.405; disposition of dog by court 609.992Penalties for ORS 609.341; transfer of rights in exotic animal 609.994Penalties for ORS 609.510 to 609.520; cause of action for damages; injunctions

Chapter 609 — Dogs; Exotic Animals; Dealers

ORS 609.098 Maintaining dangerous dog

(1)

As used in this section, “dangerous dog” means a dog that:

(a)

Without provocation and in an aggressive manner inflicts serious physical injury, as defined in ORS 161.015, on a person or kills a person;

(b)

Acts as a potentially dangerous dog, as defined in ORS 609.035, after having previously committed an act as a potentially dangerous dog that resulted in the keeper being found to have violated ORS 609.095; or

(c)

Is used as a weapon in the commission of a crime.

(2)

A person commits the crime of maintaining a dangerous dog if the person is the keeper of a dog and the person, with criminal negligence, fails to prevent the dog from engaging in an act described in subsection (1) of this section.

(3)

Maintaining a dangerous dog is punishable as described in ORS 609.990.

Note: 609.098 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 609 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.

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Version history

2026-01-01

2025 Oregon Revised Statutes — official online source