BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Doorbell cameras can catch wonderful scenes of nature and life – but sometimes, they can also record a very frustrating, even dangerous encounter.
That’s what was captured and shared with KTVZ News this week by a southwest Bend resident, who asked us not to identify him.
“We just caught our neighbor’s two large loose dogs running onto our property and chasing a herd of six deer off (babies included), ran the deer into the street and blocks away,” he told us.
The resident called it “a perfect example of why dogs should not be unleashed where not allowed (especially when they chase wildlife, which is not only against Oregon law, but is a grave threat to the poor wildlife who have enough to contend with as they struggle to survive in the ever-encroaching urban environment).”
The homeowner said he thought it was an especially timely message to share, considering the current joint effort by the Bend Park and Recreation District and Bend Police to remind pet owners about leash requirements and the safety benefits of keeping dogs on leash.
BPRD’s park stewards have been partnering with Bend PD community service officers this week, visiting several parks and trails to talk with dog handlers about expectations and park rules.
KTVZ News contacted Bend Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller, who pointed out that the consequences can indeed be costly – and not just for the wildlife, other dogs or people off-leash dogs can encounter, harass … or sometimes far worse.
The yearly Bend Parks/Police engagement campaign aims to inform community members about the possible enforcement actions for letting dogs run off-leash. It can include a 30-day exclusion from park district property and/or a $250 fine and being held responsible for a dog’s actions in civil or criminal cases.
“Dogs are required to be controlled on a tethered leash inside the City of Bend, unless they’re in a designated off-leash dog area or on private property (for example, your yard, or the yard of a friend who has given you permission to have your dog off-leash there),” Miller told us.
“If you are the owner of a nuisance animal (one which, according to Bend city code, injures or kills an animal belonging to a person other than the owner or keeper of the animal, bites a person, chases people or vehicles, that sort of thing), you could be cited for a Class A violation.”
“Our community service officers typically will try to educate community members first – and then, if your dog continues to be a problem, you could be cited.”
“As you can imagine, our officers and CSOs must prioritize emergencies and threats to life and property before nuisance dogs, but if a dog injures someone or an animal, that would be a more emergent call for us to respond to.”
“The leash law applies to everyone – even you!” Miller said. “You may think your dog is nice, and that you have control of your dog. But it’s not always about your dog – it’s about other people and other dogs around you. So putting your dog on a leash and having control of your dogs is important, for everyone’s safety.”
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