Lewis and Clark County is one of the largest counties in the state of Montana. The Sheriff's Office has one animal control officer to provide for this area. If you are in the Dog Control District area, ordinances for Vaccinations, License, Restraint, Nuisance and Vicious are enforced. If you are outside of the Dog Control District area, Vaccinations, Nuisance and Vicious are enforced. Here is a summary of the ordinances for the county. You may view the Dog Control District area here.

Vaccinations (4-2006-14): All dogs 6 months or older must be vaccinated against rabies. Rabies vaccinations are not an over the counter vaccine. Only a licensed Veterinarian can administer this to your animal. The vaccinations must be kept current and the rabies tag must be worn on the dogs collar or harness.

License (4-2006-12): All dogs in the dog control district, 6 months or older, must be licensed. The licenses expire on January 31st and is considered delinquent after March 1st of each year. You can purchase the dog licenses at the County Treasurer's Office, Property Tax Office (room 147). You will need your animals current rabies certificate showing when the rabies vaccination was given and when the booster is due. The Dog License is $15 for spayed or neutered dogs and $25 for unaltered dogs. If you are purchasing after March 1st, a $5 delinquent fee will be added on. Dog Licenses for the current year are now available at the City-County building, 316 N Park, room 147 or at the Lewis and Clark Humane Society, 2112 Custer Avenue. You may also download the application here.

Restraint (4-2006-13): All dogs in the dog control district must be on their owners property, in a vehicle, on a leash or under voice control at all times.

Public Nuisance (4-2006-9): is defined as any dog that threatens, injures, or damages people or property, livestock or other pets; an abandoned dog; or a barking dog.
Any dog in violation of the above listed ordinances may be impounded at the Lewis and Clark Humane Society. After 3 days (72 hours), the dog may be placed up for adoption or humanly euthanized. The impound fee is $25 plus $20/day boarding fee. The fines for violations of the above are $50 for the first offense, $75 for the second offense, and $150 for the third and subsequent offenses.

Vicious Dogs (4-2006-10): any dog that without provocation bites or attempts to bite any person; or that has killed or injured another animal. The penalty for the 1st offense is a fine of $200 or destruction of the dog or both. For a second offense, the fine is $500 and the dog is destroyed.
Animal Bites: If an animal bites a person and it is determined that the animal is not current on rabies vaccination, the animal must be quarantined at the owners expense at a licensed approved kennel, a veterinarians office, or the Humane Society for a minimum of ten days.

This is a summary of the Animal Control Ordinance. If you have any questions please call Sheriff's Dispatch 447-8235 (option 1) to speak with Animal Control Officer Jennifer Robinson.

Animal Control Ordinance

Click here to see the Dog Control District Map