Can I report dog owners not cleaning up after their dogs?
Yes, if the dog is defecating in an area that is not its own property, the owner could be cited for “Public Nuisance.”
What does animal abuse look like?
In Oregon, an animal abuse charge means the Animal would need to show physical signs of being abused. The law states Animal Abuse is “the person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes physical injury to an animal.” ORS 167.315. If there are no physical signs or evidence showing physical injury has occurred then the person will not be charged. Often it is hard to pursue a charge of Animal Abuse.
What do I do if I see a loose dog running around?
There are several options, depending on circumstances:
Catching the dog yourself. After gaining control of the dog, call dispatch and report a found dog. You can choose to hang on to the dog while the owner is being sought, or have animal enforcement pick it up.
If you do not wish to keep the dog and animal enforcement isn’t able to pick it up, then letting the dog go back where you found it is a good option. Most dogs are familiar with their home surroundings and can find their way back.
The other option is to report where you saw the loose dog. This helps Animal Enforcement find it, or if the owner calls dispatch, they can get a last-seen location.
Do I need to have my dog on a leash?
No, however, Union County ordinance only allows dogs to be off leash if they are under “verbal control” or are a “working dog” doing a job such as livestock herding or a K9 unit. If a dog is loosely following their owner and running into yards and up to other dogs, that is not considered under verbal control.
What do I do if my dog runs away?
Call and report your dog as “lost” to dispatch! We completely understand some dogs are escape artists and gates and doors don’t get shut all the way. If Animal Enforcement, or a nice citizen, finds your dog, we can make sure you’re reunited if you let us know they’re missing.
If your dog is aggressive or has no recall, that could be a problem for finding it. If your dog decides its job is to find creative ways to escape, we recommend you socialize your dog and train it to have a good recall command, which helps keep Fido safe.
What if I find a kitten?
Most of the time kittens are moved or left by a momma cat that is either moving her litter or finding food. DO NOT remove the kitten from the area, most of the time momma kitty will return for her kitten. If you take it, she will not be able to find it.
If you decide to take the kitten, you are now responsible for it. There are currently no Ordinances or laws pertaining to feral “found” cats and Animal Enforcement does not accept feral found cats. There are other agencies you can research that can help.
What do I do if my cat is up a tree?
Just remember, cats will ALWAYS find a way down. Cats are super agile and are capable of getting down on their own. It could take a couple of days for the cat to come down, but it will. If cats were not able to get out of trees, we would have an entire town of cats meowing in trees right now! If you feel you need to take action, remember to be safe and do not put yourself at more risk to get to your cat.
What do I do if I see a dog in a car on a summer day? What are the signs of a dog being in distress?
Oregon House Bill 2732, does allow for interference when a dog is in DISTRESS in a locked car. You would have to prove the dog was in imminent danger, though.
The first thing to do is check if the car is running, which generally means the air conditioner is on. The air conditioning is running and the dog is happy for the majority of the calls we receive about a dog in “distress.” We appreciate the concern for Fido, but do your due diligence before contacting dispatch.
If the car is not running some questions you should ask yourself is:
Are windows down? How hot is the temperature outside? Is the car parked in the shade or direct sunlight? Does the dog have access to water? Is the dog panting uncontrollably or not naturally panting (some dogs always pant regardless of temperature).
One thing to remember is, that most dogs will not sit idly by while dying. Most dogs will, rightfully, throw a huge fit! Barking repeatedly, hitting the windows, or running around the interior of the car. Dogs will start looking for an escape — which means they will most likely tear up seats and rip apart blankets or anything they can. In the cases of a dog dying in a hot car, the car looked like a tornado went through it afterward.
What towns does AEO cover?
Union County Animal Enforcement covers anything outside city limits within our county boundaries, inside unincorporated cities such as Cove, Imbler and Summerville. We also contract with the cities of La Grande and Union for dog-related issues. We do not enforce any ordinance violations inside Elgin city limits due to them having their own Animal Enforcement Officer.
What types of animals does AEO deal with?
Union County Animal Enforcement handles any domestic animal…depending on which city you are in. We are only contractually obligated in Union and La Grande for dog issues, however, we help if we can with any other animals such as Horses, Cows, Sheep and Goats. We will respond to ANY animal if it is suspected a crime has been committed, as opposed to an ordinance violation.
Is there a spray or neuter program in Union County?
At this time, there is no Spay or Neuter program in Union County. Several agencies that operate within Union County provide the service, however there could be costs associated.
What do I do if I see an injured, or dead, deer?
If the deer is dead and located within a city, contact the city’s Public Works for removal. If it is in the roadway, you can either remove it from the roadway or contact Dispatch and they will advise who to contact.
If the deer is injured, it depends on the level of injury. If the deer is still mobile, ODFW suggests leaving the deer alone. If they are mobile then they can survive.
If not mobile, contact Dispatch and an Officer or Deputy can respond to assess the situation and determine the next steps.
If you hit a deer, causing it to be injured or die, contact Dispatch. First, to get a case number for insurance purposes. Secondly, you could potentially claim salvage rights. An Officer or Deputy can inform you about the process if you wish to salvage the deer/elk.