Council begins overhaul of dog-control rules; staff to draft leash law, licensing and impound changes

The Dalles City Council opened a policy review of the city’s dog-control ordinance and gave staff direction to draft a proposed ordinance with several elements: a leash requirement (with defined exceptions), limits on the number of adult dogs at residential premises, expanded impound authority for the animal control officer, and a licensing program coordinated with local veterinary clinics and the Columbia Gorge Humane Society (CGHS).

City Attorney Jonathan introduced the discussion as a staff-requested review that follows the city’s recent livestock ordinance work and Wasco County’s own dog ordinance update. Animal Control Officer Jake Baker and Sunny (Sonny) Simon of Columbia Gorge Humane Society participated and briefed council on operational effects. Simon said the shelter is “overburdened” with stray dogs and that a clearer leash law would reduce intake and allow CGHS to resume more owner-surrenders and regular services. Baker described frequent encounters with loose and tethered dogs and told council that clearer leash language and expanded impound authority would help him resolve repeat problems efficiently.

Council discussion: Most councilors expressed support for a leash or “control” law that requires animals to be leashed or otherwise under a defined form of control when in public rights-of-way, while preserving exceptions for: vehicles, lawfully designated off-leash dog parks or areas, lawful hunting activities, and potentially for dogs under strict electronic collar (e-collar) control (the council asked staff to draft possible language including e-collars as an alternative, and to consider evidentiary standards). Several councilors emphasized the need to coordinate with Wasco County, the parks district and local schools because many public facilities are not city-owned.

Numerosity and impoundment: Staff proposed limiting adult dogs to four per single-family residence with a nonconforming clause for existing situations; duplexes/multi-family could have lower limits. The animal control officer recommended the four-dog limit. For impoundment, staff proposed adding authority to seize animals found abandoned off-premises, unattended while tethered in the public right-of-way, or that pose demonstrated public-safety risks; staff also proposed ability to return known animals directly to their known keeper (to avoid transporting animals to CGHS) when appropriate. Council asked for clear definitions: staff suggested one hour for a tethered barking dog and up to four hours for a tied-but-not-barking animal before deeming it abandoned, but said final thresholds would be part of the draft ordinance.

Licensing and enforcement: Staff proposed a licensing program aligned with rabies-vaccination cycles; multiple councilors favored a three-year license (to align with three-year rabies certificates), though one councilor preferred annual licenses. Council requested staff to draft fee provisions with reduced fees for spayed/neutered animals, elderly residents and veterans and a waiver for service/guide animals; staff also discussed a chip-exemption option (microchip in lieu of collar tag) and collaborating with veterinary clinics and CGHS for collection and remittance of fees and outreach.

Next steps: Councilors signaled support for staff to prepare a draft ordinance for return to council (staff suggested June as the earliest realistic meeting to present redline language). Staff will include sanitary-conditions, carcass-removal and feces-removal provisions and will coordinate public outreach. No formal vote was taken; the item was a discussion with direction to draft and return with a proposed ordinance.