If you happen to be a maximalist in all areas of your life—clothes, collectibles, figurines… and pets— beware of the local ordinances where you live. A certain city in Oregon has decided to cut down on the animal hoarding and made a law where they have capped the maximum amount of domestic pets allowed per household. Starting last Wednesday, January 7 2026, the city can actually do something if they find evidence of negligence towards domestic pets.
Everybody knows who’s a good boy, but not all dogs have responsible owners. Which is why The Dalles, Oregon, has decided to put in writing what is expected of the humans who take on pets, and how they should behave—both in public and in private.
The City Council just passed a new version of the dog laws to update Chapter 5.20 of the city code. These changes bring the rules up to date to encourage better pet ownership while keeping everyone in town safe and healthy.
All dogs must be leashed during their walk
When dogs are away from home, the person walking with them needs to be fully in charge. Basically, you have to keep your dog on a leash so it doesn’t roam around, unless you are in a specific spot where the law says running free is okay.
Dog Ownership Limits
The law creates a cap on how many adult dogs are allowed in one home:
- You can keep up to four grown dogs if you live in a single-family house.
- If you are in a duplex, apartment, or similar housing, you are limited to two grown dogs.
No matter where you live, you can only have one female dog used for breeding. Puppies that are less than six months old don’t count against these numbers.
What if I already have far more dogs than what’s allowed right now?
If you already had more dogs than the new rules allow before this law kicked in, don’t worry, they police is not warming up to torn down your door and kidnap them. You can keep your dogs as exceptions, but you have to meet a few requirements. You need to submit a declaration form to Animal Control within 60 days of the law starting—meaning, make sure to file all your paperwork by March 8, 2026. Also, make sure every one of those extra dogs is licensed by July 1, 2026.
How to Register Your Extra Dogs
You can find all the forms and steps for submitting your declaration on the city’s website at thedalles.org/DogControlTD.
You are not allowed to replace these grandfathered dogs. As those dogs pass away or leave the home, your total household count needs to drop until you are back within the legal limits.
Getting Your Dog Licensed
Every grown dog living in the city needs to have a license. You need to get this done by July 1, 2026, and keep the license active from then on. To get one, you’ll have to pay a fee and show proof that your dog’s rabies shot is up to date.
The city will put out details soon on exactly where to go and what to do to get your tag. The City Council plans to set the official prices during their meeting on January 26, 2026, when they finalize the new list of city fees.
FAQs
I have more dogs than allowed. Will the city take them?
Relax, you can keep your doggos, noone is going to take them away. However, you do need to file some paperwork with Animal Control at The Dalles before March 8, 2026. Once they start crossing the rainbow, you cannot adopt a new domestic pet until you are under the limit the local council allows.
We live in an apartment. How many dogs can our family have?
If you live in an apartment or duplex, the current limit is two adult dogs. If you lives in a separate single-family house, you could have up to four adult dogs. Puppies under six months old do not count… but they cannot stay when they grow old.
Do I have to pay for a license?
Yes. Every adult dog needs a license by July 1, 2026. This will require a fee and proof of a current rabies shot. The exact cost isn’t set yet; the City Council will decide the price on January 26.
Can I walk my dog without a leash?
No, you must keep your dog leashed while walking, unless you are on your private property, or in an area where dogs are expressively allowed to roam free—i.e. dog park.