City weighs lifting ban on dogs near UO campus

By KVAL News Published: Sep 19, 2011 at 4:24 PM PDT
City weighs lifting ban on dogs near UO campus
A Eugene city ordinance bans dogs from 13th Avenue west of the University of Oregon campus, part of a 1996 effort to reduce dangers and discourage vagrants from loitering and panhandling.

EUGENE, Ore. - Did you know it's against Eugene City Code to have a dog in the 13th and Alder area west of the University of Oregon campus?

The ordinance dates back to 1996.

KVAL News quizzed people on 13th Street on Monday and found most were unaware of the ban. Signs in the area note the dog ban.

The City Council will discuss Monday whether the 15-year-old law should be lifted or remain in place. Councilor Betty Taylor has introduced an ordinance to repeal the ban on dogs.

In August 1996, the City Council adopted the ban on dogs in the business
district around the intersection of Alder Street and East 13th Avenue.

The area where dogs are banned was later expanded and currently includes Alder between East 12th and East 14th avenues and East 13th Avenue between Pearl and Kincaid streets.

"The original intent of the ban was to address health and safety concerns, as well as congestion, caused by the number of dogs in the business area," according to a staff report on the issue. "At the time the ban was sought and later enacted, large groups of people flocked to the East 13th Avenue corridor because of the favorable conditions for panhandling, drug sales and drug use. Many of these transients had dogs. Area residents and students reported frightening encounters with aggressive dogs. A ban on dogs was one tool sought to mitigate the problem of lawless behavior among transients."

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