Klamath County finds dog guilty after attack killed 12 chickens; owner fined $1,300 and ordered to sign confinement affidavit

Klamath CountyLegal & Human Resources meeting on May 14, 2025

The county found a dog named Druitt guilty of killing livestock after deputy testimony and video evidence showed the animal entering a chicken coop and killing birds, the board decided May 14. The owner, Joshua Montague of Elm Falls, Oregon, was ordered to pay $1,300 in combined animal-control fees, a civil penalty and restitution and must sign an affidavit committing to confine the animal.

Deputy Debbie Gomez told the board she responded to a report on April 25, 2025, at 3302 Derby after the property owner reported the dog at large and chickens killed. Gomez said she located and captured the black-and-white juvenile dog on a neighboring property where it was attacking additional chickens and later documented 12 confirmed deceased chickens at the Derby site. The deputy presented photographs and a short video of the dog and the damaged coop.

The owner, Joshua Montague (3113 Crest Street, Elm Falls, Oregon), testified that he did not dispute the incident, described steps he had taken to prevent recurrence (a heavy-duty winch cable, a climbing-style carabiner and a harness), and said he briefly stepped inside his house before the dog escaped. Montague told the board the front-yard fence is about 4 feet high and acknowledged the dog had previously broken a lead and jumped the fence.

After taking testimony, the board moved to deliberations and voted to find Druitt guilty of killing livestock. The board then considered fines, impound and boarding fees, and restitution. The board initially described impound fees of $50 and boarding at $15 per day; after discussion about administrative delays in scheduling hearings (and a board concern that long impound periods penalize owners when delays are not their fault), the board amended the boarding calculation from 20 days to 10 days.

The board's final penalties and fees are: $200 in animal-control fees (including reduced boarding), a $500 civil penalty pursuant to ORS 609, and $600 restitution to the poultry owner for the 12 chickens, for a total of $1,300. The board also ordered the owner to sign an affidavit promising to confine the dog so it cannot run at large or harm people or livestock.

The chair (name not specified) explained that if a dog is later found guilty of killing again, the county's statutory remedies limit options and could include euthanasia. County staff said the order and paperwork would be prepared and provided to the owner within hours; once the owner pays the $1,300 to animal-control, the owner may retrieve the dog. Staff said animal-control handles payments and communication with the victim and that payment plans may be available through the sheriff's office.

The hearing record shows the complainant, identified as "Stacy," did not attend. The board closed the hearing after the motions passed.

Ending

The board's orders at the hearing address immediate restitution and confinement requirements; the record shows the county intends to reduce boarding charges in similar cases when administrative delays occur, but no formal policy change was adopted beyond the amended calculation applied in this case.