Medford, OR Animal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/Neuter (2026)

Medford Code Chapter 5's dangerous-dog law is narrow but has teeth. 603(1), a person commits failure to control a dangerous dog by intentionally, recklessly, or with criminal negligence permitting the dog to injure a person or animal, or by intentionally or recklessly letting it place someone in fear of imminent injury. 990(4) depending on which subsection applies. 603(3) gives the court a menu of protective conditions it can layer on top of, or instead of, the fine or jail time: requiring an adequate enclosure, requiring a posted warning sign on the property, suspending the person's right to own a dog in the City for a set period, requiring attendance at a responsible pet ownership class at the owner's expense, and, under subsection (3)(c), requiring the owner to have the dangerous dog spayed or neutered and to provide documentation proving it was done.

The court can also impose any additional condition it finds necessary to protect public health, safety and welfare under subsection (3)(f). 604 notes the dangerous-dog sections are meant to work alongside, not conflict with, state law, and the sections are severable from each other. There is no separate general mandatory spay/neuter ordinance for Medford pet owners outside this dangerous-dog remedy; a dog that has never been the subject of a dangerous-dog case is not subject to a City sterilization order.