Assistance Dogs In Public
ORS 659A.143 — two questions may be asked, no papers demanded, and no pet fee charged
In Oregon, an assistance animal is a dog, or another animal designated by rule, individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual. A place of public accommodation, or a place giving access to state government services, may not deny a person with a disability, or a trainer with a trainee animal, the right to be accompanied by the animal in any area open to the public.
What may be asked. The place may ask whether the animal is required because of a disability, and what work or task it is trained to perform, unless that is readily apparent. It may not ask about the nature or extent of the disability, require documentation that the animal is an assistance animal, or charge a fee for the animal even where it charges one for pets.
Control and removal. The handler keeps the animal under control by harness, leash or tether, or by voice and signals where a tether would interfere with its work. The place may require the animal's removal if it is not housebroken, or if it is out of control and effective action is not taken; the person then gets a reasonable opportunity to obtain the goods or services without the animal. Where the place customarily charges for damage, it may charge for damage the animal causes.
Intentionally or knowingly injuring an animal one knows or reasonably should know is an assistance animal, or interfering with one while it is assisting a person with a disability, is a Class A misdemeanor. Housing and employment run under other rules not on this page. Whether a particular exclusion was lawful is a question for a licensed Oregon attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- ORS 659A.143 — Assistance animals
- ORS 167.352 — Interfering with an assistance, a search and rescue or a therapy animal
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Oregon attorney.