Hood River County v. Stevenson

Defendant appeals a judgment of the Hood River County Circuit Court concluding that she had violated a county ordinance that prohibits the keeping of a vicious or dangerous dog and ordering that the dog be destroyed. Defendant argues that the order is void because the person who initiated the complaint and prosecuted the violation, Farber, was not authorized to bring such an action. We agree and accordingly vacate the judgment.

The pertinent facts are not in dispute. On May 27, 2000, Farber was walking an elderly golden retriever, Wags, near defendant’s property when defendant’s dog,…