Deschutes County SO sees more issues with dogs chasing, killing livestock after code widened to include chickens, turkeys

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Amid a rise in animal complaint calls this year and tickets for chasing, hurting or killing a wider range of livestock, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office reminded dog owners Wednesday that it's their responsibility to keep their canines under control. 

This year, DCSO deputies have issued an increased number of citations to dog owners whose dogs have been caught chasing, injuring or killing livestock on property belonging to someone else, Sergeant Jason Wall said.

The increase in citations may be attributed to a change in Deschutes County Code that modified the definition of livestock to include free-range chickens and turkeys. The updated ordinance went into effect February 1.

Individuals who observe a dog(s) chasing, injuring or killing their livestock can file a complaint with the sheriff’s office. In most cases, the dog owner will be issued a public nuisance citation, and their dog(s) will be impounded. The dog owner has the right to request a hearing with the County’s Dog Control Board.

If a complaint filed by a livestock owner is found to be valid during a Dog Control Board hearing, the board can fine the dog owner between $250 and $1,000 per violation and require them to pay impound fees. In some instances, the offending dog is not returned to the dog owner.

So far this year, there have been 13 Dog Control Board hearings held to adjudicate claims filed by livestock owners. Six of the hearings included the injuring or killing of free-range chickens. In 2023, there were five Dog Control Board hearings, with only one involving free-range chickens.

The sheriff’s office hired an additional Animal Control Technician this year to help cover the increased volume of animal complaint calls, "allowing patrol deputies to focus their efforts on other quality of life issues in the community," Wall said.