Helping Pets and People in our Community

The day she saw Cotton, Zoe just knew he was hers. When she adopted him, he still had some healing to do and more striking fur to grow back. Then she saw a photo of what he looked like when he first arrived at Oregon Humane Society…

What Zoe said stuck with me. “I don’t know who the person was that called the case in, but thank you, because it takes a lot of courage.”

A rescue like Cotton’s often begins with one small courageous action. Someone who sees animals in need and makes that call, or volunteers their time to care for shelter pets, or gives generously to fund our critical work. 

It takes a village—and that village includes you. The kindness of animal lovers like you saved Cotton’s life and gave him a second chance.

Cotton and ten other dogs were rescued from dire conditions by Jackson County Animal Services, in need of emergency lifesaving care. Cotton had almost no fur at all—just bright red, inflamed skin covered in painful scabs on a thin and shaking frame. Once they were brought to safety, it was determined that Cotton and the other dogs needed extensive medical care and time to recover. Thanks to donations, OHS had the capacity to aid in this rescue and act quickly, taking all ten dogs into our loving care.

When they arrived, like Cotton, all of the rescued dogs were emaciated, suffering from a severe skin disease and a slew of other medical conditions that had gone untreated. Our medical team got to work, and OHS staff and volunteers came together to support the healing of these resilient dogs, showering them with love and affection.

Cotton, and the other dogs, began to heal, but it was a slow process. After several weeks, his condition greatly improved, and he was ready for adoption. Staff and volunteers knew Cotton hadn’t yet reached his full potential but were confident that he’d find an adopter who would connect with his deep, soulful eyes.

For Cotton, that adopter was Zoe.

At their first official meeting the link between them grew even stronger. In that moment Zoe knew that Cotton wasn’t just her dog— in Zoe’s words: “He is my soulmate.”

Zoe’s gentle love and diligent care meant Cotton was finally free to live up to his fluffy namesake. In his new home, he flourished. He quickly doubled in weight and that sparse, thin hair ballooned into the furball he is today. True love and companionship had helped Cotton heal and completely transform.

Your donations fund the essential programs that saved Cotton:

• Our Humane Law Enforcement and Second Chance teams who brought Cotton to safety,
• Our medical team that helped him heal and recover,
• Our Animal Care Technicians and volunteers who provided consistent, quality care,
• Our Customer Care Team worked diligently to find him the perfect home.

Thank you for being a part of this incredible community of animal lovers and helping create a world where all animals are treated with compassion, kindness, and respect.

For the Animals,
Sharon Harmon
President and CEO

Links:

• You can watch Cotton's video here!
• OHS' Humane Law Enforcement Team
• About Oregon Humane Society