Animal Control

A Message from the City of Goldendale Animal Control to all dog owners within the City limits: 

For Animal Control. 
Call 509-773-4545

All dogs must have a license and be restrained. Dog licenses are due to be renewed annually on Jan. 1 and can be obtained by first having current proof of rabies vaccination by a veterinarian and bring it with you to City Hall to purchase your current dog tag. 

Current prices are as listed:

  • Unaltered dog - $50.00
  • Altered dog - $10.00
  • Citation for 6.04.020 failure to obtain dog license: $103.00
  • Citation for 6.04.140 failure to restrain your dog: $103.00

Rabies vaccinations are available from the Goldendale Veterinary Clinic and Mid-Columbia Veterinary Clinic in Goldendale or one of the several veterinary clinics in The Dalles, Oregon, or Yakima, Washington. We strongly suggest you keep the rabies tag on your pet\'s collar. If lost and then found, many times the pet\'s owner can be found by the number located on the rabies tag.

Your pet can be neutered or spayed at the Goldendale Veterinary Clinic and Mid-Columbia Veterinary Clinic in Goldendale or one of the several veterinary clinics in The Dalles, Oregon, or Yakima, Washington.

Important Goldendale Municipal Codes:

6.04.020 - License Required - Exceptions: No person shall without first obtaining a permit therefore in writing from the bureau of licenses, City of Goldendale, own, keep, harbor or have custody of any animal over 6 months of age, except that this section shall not apply to the keeping of small cage pets. Permits are due on January 1st of each year and become delinquent on April 1st; thereafter a $10 penalty shall be added to the cost of the permit.

6.04.140 - Dogs - Restraint

All dogs shall be kept under restraint.  violation GMC 6.04.140 fine $103.00

6.04.080 - Nuisance

No owner shall fail to exercise proper care and control of his animals to prevent them from becoming a public nuisance.

  • A. The owner of every animal shall be responsible for the removal of any excreta deposited by his animal(s) on public areas or private property, and shall carry a bag to facilitate the removal of excreta. The owner shall further not permit such excreta or food supplies, on the property of the owner or elsewhere, to be or become a breeding place for insects or flies, to be or become unsanitary, or to give offensive odor. Failure to remove excreta shall be cited in accordance with GMC 1.20.
  • B. Any person causing or allowing any pen, yard, or dog run or other structure wherein any dog may be kept to become unclean or unsanitary because of the failure to remove and dispose of filth, trash, or excrement which emits noxious odors or is hazardous to humans or any animal and such allowance shall be cited in accordance with GMC 1.20.
  • C. Any animal which trespasses upon the property of another and which interferes with the quiet enjoyment of a residential property, or which flies, buzzes, digs, or otherwise harasses any person while off the owner\'s or custodian\'s property, shall be considered a nuisance animal and such trespass and/or harassment shall be cited in accordance with GMC 1.20 .
  • GMC 6.08.040 Fail to maintain standard for animal is a fine of $103.00

6.04.180 - Dangerous Dogs

Definitions:

  • A: \"Dangerous dog\" is defined as (1) any dog with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack without provocation, to cause injury to, or to endanger the safety of humans or domestic animals; or (2) any dog which attacks human beings or domestic animals without provocation.
  • B: \"Owner\" means any person or legal entity having a possessory property right in a dog or who harbors, cares for, exercises control over, or knowingly permits to dog to remain on premises occupied by the legal entity.
  • C: \"Provocation\" is defined as: taunting, striking, or screaming at a dog, or unauthorized entry into the premises where a dog is kept.
  • D: \"Unconfined\" means not securely confined indoors and not confined in a securely enclosed, locked pen or structure. Such pen or structure shall have attached sides and a secure top. If the open or structure has no flooring secured to the sides, the sides shall be embedded into the ground no less than eighteen inches.
  • E: A dog in possession of a law enforcement official for law enforcement purposes shall not be deemed a dangerous dog.

6.04.100 - Female in Heat

Every female dog in heat shall be confined in a building/secure enclosure in such a manner that the female dog cannot come in contact with another animal except for planned breeding. Any owner or person responsible for the care and keeping of the dog in accordance with this section who violates the provisions of this section shall be fined $103.00 according to GMC 6.04.100

To view and/or print a complete and up to date copy of the dog control and animal ordinances, please go to the homepage and click on City Municipal Codes.