Update: Rec List! Thanks! The animals are loving the attention. If you’re enjoying my photography, my web site is at CLSmithPhotography.com or follow me on FB at www.facebook.com/… or on Instagram: CLSmithPhotography. Thanks!
I am a volunteer photograph at the Oregon Humane Society in Portland. OHS is one of the largest and busiest animal shelters in the United States today. We spayed, neutered and adopted to loving homes nearly 12,000 pets last year alone. We are also one of the few animal shelters with an on site medical center with a training program for veterinary students to do a rotation in shelter medicine.
OHS is expanding most actively in investigations cases. We take in animals that have been abused and neglected and foster them in the local community until the case has worked its way through the court system and the ‘owner’ has most likely found their way to prison. We also have mass intake for hoarding cases, puppy mill dogs and breeders that find themselves overwhelmed. Our senior staff also spend a lot of time in Salem, working with legislators to write and pass animal rights laws that insure prosecution and appropriate jail terms for animal abusers.
All of this is prologue to the fact that homeless pets from the Texas floods have started to arrive! This very first shipment is from San Antonio...Texas is trying to free up as much room in shelters as possible so that lost pets might eventually find their true owners. We have a rapid response team in Texas, already working to help animals in need. You can read about their experiences here:
www.oregonhumane.org/…
Oregon Humane Society is expanding over the next few years. New property has been purchased to expand space for mass seizure of animals….last year 260 birds were forfeited to OHS and had to be housed for months in temporary shelters. We would like to have permanent facilities to hold and socialize these animals because court cases can last for months before the pets can be released to the public. There are also plans to expand the medical center to provide veterinary care to low income individuals in the area.
Virtually every shelter in Oregon is now no-kill due to extensive exchange and transfers between area shelters. Our spay and save program has been so successful that we even take in animals from all surrounding states (including Hawaii) to meet local adoption demand.
We will be taking in a lot more woozles from the Harvey disaster (and likely Irma as well….sigh….) It won’t be long now before the pooties start to arrive as well! I’ll post again as more make their way to Oregon. If you feel moved to donate to our efforts, here’s a link to the OHS donation page:
oregonhumane.tfaforms.net/…
Thanks so much for reading and know we are trying to save as many critters as possible!