Title 48, Animals

(1) A keeper of an exotic animal is strictly liable for: (a) Costs incurred by any person or city, county or state agency in attempting to remedy the animal’s escape from custody; (b) Personal injury, property damage or similar loss directly or indirectly caused by the animal’s e…

(1) The State Department of Agriculture shall adopt reasonable rules for issuing permits to keep exotic animals and establishing conditions for keeping the exotic animals. The conditions shall be directed toward ensuring the health, welfare and safety of the exotic animals and, w…

(1) A person may not keep an exotic animal in this state unless the person possesses a valid State Department of Agriculture permit for that animal issued prior to January 1, 2010, or issued as provided in ORS 609.351. (2) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, a p…

(1) The requirements for a permit in ORS 609.335 and 609.341 do not apply to the following: (a) A wildlife rehabilitation center operated under a valid permit issued by the State Fish and Wildlife Commission pursuant to ORS 497.308. (b) A facility operated under a valid license o…

(1) The State Department of Agriculture may issue a permit to a person to keep an exotic animal if the person applies for the permit within 90 days after January 1, 2010. (2) The department may, within one year of January 1, 2010, issue a permit to a person to possess an exotic a…

The State Department of Agriculture may issue a permit to a person to keep an exotic animal if: (1) The person operated a facility under a valid license or research facility registration issued by the United States Department of Agriculture pursuant to the federal Animal Welfare …

(1) No city or county or any facility with which the city or county has contracted to perform animal control functions and no humane society shall cause a dog or cat to be destroyed except by lethal injection of sodium pentobarbital or other substance approved by the Oregon State…

(1)(a) A research facility that uses dogs or cats for laboratory research, before euthanizing a dog or cat that is no longer needed for research purposes, shall offer the dog or cat for adoption, provided that euthanizing the dog or cat is not required for health or safety reason…

Federal requirements supersede any inconsistent provisions of ORS 609.410 to the extent of the inconsistency. [2019 c.374 §2] ANIMAL RESCUE ENTITIES

(1) As used in this section and ORS 609.420: (a) “Animal” means any nonhuman mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian or fish. (b) “Animal rescue entity” means an individual or organization, including but not limited to an animal control agency, humane society, animal shelter, animal san…

(1) Whenever an authorized representative of an enforcing agency is advised or has reason to believe that an animal rescue entity is operating without a license, the authorized representative may visit and conduct an on-site investigation of the premises of the animal rescue enti…

(1) As used in this section: (a) “Animal holding agency” means a licensed animal rescue entity, as defined in ORS 609.415, that: (A) Is a nonprofit organization that operates out of a physical building, with a published address, that is open to the public at least five days per w…

As used in ORS 609.500 to 609.520 and 609.994, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) “Animal control officer” means any person operating under the authority of this state, any unit of local government or the United States Government or pursuant to an agreement with any state…

(1) A person commits the crime of unlawfully obtaining a dog or cat if the person: (a) Is an animal dealer; and (b) Obtains a companion animal or the offspring of a companion animal from a person who has not raised the companion animal or the offspring of the companion animal on …

(1) Every animal dealer shall establish and maintain records on each dog or cat and the dog’s or cat’s offspring in the dealer’s possession or control, including: (a) The species, gender, approximate age, color and distinctive markings and breed of the dog or cat; (b) A photograp…

Every animal dealer shall maintain possession of each dog or cat received for a period of at least 10 days after initial receipt of the dog or cat, unless the dealer: (1) Returns the dog or cat to its rightful owner; or (2) Delivers the dog or cat to an animal shelter. [1991 c.83…

(1)(a) An animal dealer shall permit inspection during normal business hours of companion animal records and the location at which companion animals are kept. The dealer may require documentation that a person seeking to inspect the location is the owner of a companion animal. Wh…

The Legislative Assembly finds that: (1) There is a clear link between animal cruelty and crimes of domestic violence, including child abuse; and (2) It is in the public interest to enact legislation to encourage the permissive reporting of animal cruelty. [2007 c.731 §1]

As used in ORS 609.654: (1)(a) “Aggravated animal abuse” means any animal abuse as described in ORS 167.322. (b) “Aggravated animal abuse” does not include: (A) Good animal husbandry, as defined in ORS 167.310; or (B) Any exemption listed in ORS 167.335. (2) “Law enforcement agen…

(1) Notwithstanding ORS 40.225 to 40.295, a public or private official who has reasonable cause to believe that an animal with which the official has come in contact has suffered aggravated animal abuse, or that any person with whom the official has come in contact has committed …

(1) As used in this section: (a) “Abuse or neglect” means: (A) Animal abuse in the second degree as described in ORS 167.315; (B) Animal abuse in the first degree as described in ORS 167.320; (C) Aggravated animal abuse in the first degree as described in ORS 167.322; (D) Animal …

(1) No person shall: (a) By any false representation and with intent to defraud, obtain from any corporation, club, association, society or company organized in whole or in part for the purpose of improving breeds of cattle, horses, sheep, swine or other domestic animals, a false…

(1) As used in this section, “dog” means a member of the subspecies Canis lupus familiaris or a hybrid of that subspecies. (2) A person that possesses, controls or otherwise has charge of at the same time 75 or more dogs shall have one or more individuals on site for at least eig…

(1) Violation of ORS 609.060 (2), 609.100 or 609.169 is a Class B violation. (2) Maintaining a public nuisance in violation of ORS 609.095 (2) or (3) is a Class B violation. (3)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, violation of ORS 609.098 is a Class A misde…

(1) Violation of ORS 609.341 is a Class B misdemeanor. (2) In addition to and not in lieu of any jail sentence or fine it may impose, a court may require a defendant convicted under ORS 609.341 to forfeit any rights of the defendant in any exotic animal kept in violation thereof …

(1) Violation of ORS 609.510, 609.515 or 609.520 is a specific fine violation punishable by a fine of not more than $50,000. (2) A person has a cause of action for the recovery of compensatory damages from any person violating ORS 164.055 (1)(e), 164.085, 609.510, 609.515 or 609.…

As used in this chapter: (1) “Predatory animal” means: (a) Feral swine as defined by State Department of Agriculture rule; or (b) Coyotes, rabbits, rodents or birds that are or may be destructive to agricultural crops, products or activities. (2) “Predatory animal” does not mean:…

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the State Department of Agriculture, after consultation with the State Department of Fish and Wildlife, may implement bobcat and red fox control procedures as authorized under this chapter, for a specified period of time and within a sp…

The laws for the destruction, eradication or control of predatory animals by the state shall be administered by the State Department of Agriculture. Any sums appropriated by the legislature for such purposes shall be expended in cooperation with the United States Department of Ag…

The State Department of Agriculture shall enter into definite cooperative agreements with the United States Department of Agriculture, prescribing the manner, terms and conditions of such cooperation and the amounts which the state and federal governments will contribute thereto.…

The various county courts and boards of county commissioners may appropriate out of county general funds any amount of money that, in their judgment, is necessary to be expended in cooperating with the State Department of Agriculture and with the United States Department of Agric…

(1) From all money received by the State Fish and Wildlife Commission from the General Fund, or from any funds eligible for the purpose set forth in subsection (2) of this section, the State Fish and Wildlife Commission shall set aside an amount of at least $60,000 in any one cal…

(1) On presentation of a petition signed by 100 taxpayers of any county and a statement from the State Department of Agriculture to the effect that certain state funds are available for expenditure in the county where the petitioners reside, the county court may appropriate from …

(1) The State Department of Agriculture shall apportion any money appropriated by the Legislative Assembly for the purpose set forth in ORS 610.025, among the counties according to the necessity for control and eradication of predatory animals and the financial cooperation receiv…

Any unexpended and unobligated funds appropriated by a county court or board of county commissioners for the destruction, eradication or control of predatory animals under ORS 610.015 or 610.025 may be refunded if the State Department of Agriculture finds that such funds are not …

(1) The State Department of Agriculture may employ hunters and expert trappers throughout the state for the purpose of controlling and eradicating coyotes and other harmful predatory animals. The department may also provide funds for administrative purposes in connection with pre…

Money received by the State Department of Agriculture from the sale of skins shall be paid into the State Treasury and expended in the county from which the skins were taken, in the control and eradication of predatory animals.

Coyotes shall not be kept in captivity except in public parks or zoos or in compliance with the terms and conditions of a permit issued pursuant to ORS 497.308 and 497.312. The justice court and circuit court have concurrent jurisdiction of any violation of this section. [Amended…

(1) No person shall steal, take or molest a trap, poison bait station, coyote getter or other device which is operated, possessed or controlled by an employee of a county, state or federal government for the purpose of the eradication of noxious or predatory animals. (2) No perso…

The Legislative Assembly finds and declares that it is the policy of this state that: (1) Appropriate measures must be taken to assist farmers, ranchers and others in resolving wildlife damage problems; and (2) Federal, state, county and other local governments involved in wildli…

Except as provided in ORS 498.062, nothing in the wildlife laws is intended to deny the right of any person to control predatory animals as provided in ORS 610.105. [1971 c.658 §28; 1973 c.723 §126; 1975 c.214 §2; 1975 c.791 §3; 2022 c.33 §26] Note: The amendments to 610.060 by s…

Except as provided in ORS 498.062, any person owning, leasing, occupying, possessing or having charge of or dominion over any land, place, building, structure, wharf, pier or dock which is infested with ground squirrels and other noxious rodents or predatory animals, as soon as t…

(1) As used in this section: (a) “Area of known wolf activity” means an area designated by the State Department of Fish and Wildlife as having known wolf activity. (b) “Livestock” means ratites, psittacines, horses, mules, jackasses, cattle, llamas, alpacas, sheep, goats, swine, …

(1) The Wolf Management Compensation and Proactive Trust Fund is established separate and distinct from the General Fund. Interest earned on the moneys in the Wolf Management Compensation and Proactive Trust Fund shall be credited to the fund. All moneys in the fund are continuou…

(1) Violation of ORS 610.045 is a Class A violation. (2) Violation of ORS 610.050 is a Class A misdemeanor. [Amended by 1959 c.299 §3; subsection (2) enacted as 1959 c.299 §2(3); 1971 c.743 §401; 1981 c.95 §4; 1999 c.1051 §209; 2011 c.597 §251] CHAPTERS 611 TO 615 [Reserved for e…