Dog Services

All dogs in Clackamas County must be licensed

County residents must purchase dog licenses from Clackamas County Dog Services, except residents of Happy Valley and Lake Oswego (who must purchase a license from their city) and Tualatin (who must purchase a dog license from Washington County). 

A dog owner must license a dog:

• When the dog is 6 months of age or grows its permanent canine teeth, whichever comes first;
• Within 30 days of becoming owner or keeper, or 
• Within 30 days of moving to the county.

Contact us at 503-655-8628 or doglicensing@clackamas.us if you have any questions.

How to buy a Clackamas County dog license

Step 1: Gather the following documents and information

• dog information (name, age, color, breed)
• the name of your dog's veterinarian
• current rabies certificate with vaccination and expiration date
• proof of spay or neuter (if applicable)
• method of payment

Step 2: Use one of the following methods to buy the license

There are three ways to buy a Clackamas County dog license.

Order online
You must have a current rabies vaccine. It may take 4-6 weeks to receive your tag. 

• Renew an existing license 
• Buy a new license 
• Purchase a replacement tag

In person

• Purchase a license at the office of a participating local veterinarian 
• Purchase a license from us during business hours at Clackamas County Dog Services,13141 SE Hwy 212, Clackamas

By mail

• Print the application and mail it and your current rabies certificate and proof of spay or neuter (if applicable) and check or money order to:
  
  Clackamas County 
  DTD Administration (MS-1)
  150 Beavercreek Road
  Oregon City, OR 9704

Benefits of licensing

In addition to meeting the requirements of the law, dog licenses benefit neighborhoods, pet owners and animals. These benefits include:

Finding your dog faster

• Lost dogs are quickly reunited with their owners. A license tells everyone that your dog is not a homeless stray.  
• Maintaining an active license allows a Dog Services officer to return your dog to your home and provides for a longer hold time for your dog at the shelter before we start looking for a new home for the dog.
• If your dog ends up at our shelter, the first impound fee of $65 will be waived (daily boarding fee would still apply). Subsequent impound fees would apply if your dog is brought to our shelter again within 12 months.

Licensing fees provide support for all county dogs, including:

• Helping to pay for the care of homeless animals while we find them adoptable homes.
• Providing emergency medical care for dogs found injured.
• Providing resources so the county can protect neighborhoods from dangerous dogs and investigate dog bite incidents, animal cruelty, abuse, abandonment and neglect.

Special circumstances

• If you no longer own your dog, you can update the license online. 
• Dog licenses are non-refundable and non-transferable. 
• Did you get a new puppy?  We offer a free puppy tag when the dog is less than six months old.  Reach out to us to learn more.
• Do you have four or more dogs? Then you may want to save money by purchasing a multiple dog license.

Whether it is your dog or your neighbors', it is unlawful for a dog owner to allow a dog to cause a continuous annoyance by making prolonged sounds that can be heard by neighbors.

Continuous annoyance is defined in the county code as:

• unreasonable annoyance, alarm or noise disturbance to any person by barking, whining, screeching, howling or making other sounds, which may be heard beyond the boundary of the owner's or keeper's property either as:
  • an episode of continuous noise lasting for a minimum of 30 minutes or
  • repeated episodes of intermittent noise lasting for a minimum of 45 minutes within a 24-hour period.

Our Barking Resolution Program helps solve barking conflicts through mediation and agreement. Our goal is to resolve the issue as quickly and amicably as possible with both the complainant and the dog owner.

*This code and program is applied in unincorporated Clackamas County, please contact your local jurisdiction for information if you reside within city limits.

Submitting a complaint

You can submit a complaint about a barking dog, or call 503-655-8628 for more information. Anonymous complaints are not accepted.

When submitting a complaint, you must submit the following information:

• a date, time and duration of the barking or other noise,
• the dog owner's address and
• your contact information.

We will then send the dog owner a letter informing them that we have received a barking complaint. We'll explain the barking ordinance and include a packet of information on how to help reduce barking. We will also send you a copy of the letter and a barking log.

The dog owner will have 10 days to try to fix the problem.

If the problem isn't resolved in the time allowed by the ordinance, we will ask you to keep a log after those 10 days, tracking when and how long the dog(s) bark and submit a second barking complaint. From there we move to mediation with the Dispute Resolution Center.

If violations continue, the report may be referred to a Dog Services officer for further investigation and possible citation.

In Clackamas County, it is unlawful for the owner or keeper of a dog to allow a dog to cause continuous annoyance. Continuous annoyance is defined as causing:

"annoyance, alarm or noise disturbance to any person by barking, whining, screeching, howling or making other sounds which may be heard beyond the boundary of the owner's or keeper's property, either as an episode of continuous noise lasting for a minimum period of thirty (30) minutes or repeated episodes of intermittent noise lasting for a minimum period of 45 minutes within a 24 hour period."

A citation for this violation ranges from $250 to $1000. We will attempt resolution through education and mediation before citing the owner or keeper.

Why dogs bark

To help your dog to stop excessively barking, you must first determine what is causing the barking. Dogs bark during times of indecision, anxiety, frustration, boredom and separation from their owners. Dogs also bark to warn their owners of a perceived threat and to warn strangers and other dogs about their willingness to defend their territory. Medical problems can also contribute to excessive vocalization, especially in older dogs.

For dogs, barking is a form of communication. They bark or whine at various pitches and volumes to vocalize their emotions. It may be a high-pitched whine to attract other dogs or a warning, alarm or a challenge to other dogs.

Boredom

Irregular or inadequate mental and physical stimulation may contribute to a dog barking.

Dogs are social animals and seek the company of other dogs and people. When left alone for lengthy periods of time, they may bark for attention. They may also need activities or objects to keep them occupied. Providing more physical and mental stimulation for your dog may help resolve the barking problem.

Daily walks and obedience training sessions will help keep the dog from becoming bored.

You can also hide treats in an area accessible to your dog to find throughout the day. A fine game of hide and seek with a treat as the reward will keep many dogs busy all day.

Pet stores have chew toys and training aids that might also help keep your dog busy instead of barking.

Separation anxiety

Separation anxiety is a frequent cause of inappropriate barking. When dogs form a particularly strong bond to one or more members of the household the dog can become distressed when separated from them. Owners are often not aware of the problem because this type of barking and whining tends to occur most when they are not home.

Establish a regular routine of giving your dog attention when you are home. Leave the dog alone for short periods at first, then gradually increase the time your dog spends on its own. The dog soon learns you will return. If there have been changes in your dog's life, don't ignore them.

Dogs are den creatures instinctively. Owners can create a den or small, enclosed area in the house or outside with something that smells strongly of the owner. This den area should never be used for punishment; it should be a place of safety and comfort.

You might consider installing a doggie door to allow your dog the ability to move freely between outdoor and indoor environments.

Lifestyle changes or distractions

A move to a new neighborhood or getting new neighbors can cause a dog anxiety. The dog may feel the need to reestablish their status on and in their territory. They may bark at unfamiliar sounds and smells, such as neighbors walking other dogs or school buses.

You may consider keeping your dog away from areas that allow the dog to see foot traffic or creating a barrier that blocks the dog's view of passersby.

If your dog is bothered by nighttime distractions such as cars, sirens, security lights, shadows, wind or other animals, consider keeping the dog indoors at night or adding a late evening feeding (full stomachs can lead to drowsiness and better sleep).

If your dog barks during the day, you may consider an early morning feeding to encourage your dog to nap or smaller feedings both morning and night.

Health issues

Healthy dogs are happy dogs. There are times when excessive barking may be the result of a health issue. Make sure your dog receives a health checkup every year and discuss changes in the dog's behavior with your veterinarian.

Ways to reduce barking

Obedience training

Obedience classes are a good way to provide training, exercise and an outing for you and your dog. Obedience training also promotes good social behavior with other dogs and people. Well-socialized dogs tend to bark less.

Exercise

Exercise by itself may not stop barking, but it provides an active energy release. Exercise should be varied, with 15 to 20 minutes daily of walking, training and playing.

Other

You may want to consider behavior modification collars or professional assistance—including veterinary, training and behavioral therapy.