Photo Credit: Julius Cruickshank (Creative Commons on Flickr)

It is illegal to harbor and/or own an exotic or dangerous animal. An exotic animal is defined as:

• Any large felid from the genus Panthera including: lion, P. leo; tiger, P. tigris; jaguar, P. onca; leopard, P. pardus; and snow leopard, Uncia uncia; as well as the puma (cougar or mountain lion), Puma concolor; clouded leopard, Neofelis nebulosa; and cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus
• Any monkey, ape, gorilla, hybrid thereof, or other non-human primate
• Any wolf or canine except the species Canis familaris (domestic dog)
• Any bear
• Any venomous or poisonous reptile
• Any reptile of the order Crocodilia (crocodiles, alligators and caimans), or any snake of the family Pythonidae or Boinae capable of obtaining eight feet or more in length

Please see the Multnomah County ordinances for additional information.

Steps for Solving:

1. Call MCAS during regular call center hours and file a report.


2. An animal services officer will investigate your complaint. If the exotic animal or reptile is banned in the county, the animal will be removed and a Notice of Infraction may be issued.