Animal Welfare United States Project #4789

Oregon Humane Society's End Petlessness Campaign

by Oregon Humane Society

Project Report | Dec 1, 2020
Responding to a disaster...during a disaster

By Nicole Lutton | Grants and Special Programs Manager

Cats rescued during the Oregon wildfires

Six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, Oregon faced another massive challenge. Wildfires were raging across the state — roaring through the Santiam Canyon, decimating towns in Southern Oregon and the coast range, and creeping dangerously close to some of the most densely populated areas in Oregon.

Oregon Humane Society’s Incident Command team, already meeting regularly, shifted their focus to wildfire response.

“We deployed all of our resources to meet the specific needs in the affected communities,” says Jennifer Barta, OHS staff member who led planning through the wildfire incident. “We approached the response in three distinct ways.”

OHS collaborated with agencies in the Portland metro-area to help pet owners from Clackamas County – sending teams into the field to deliver supplies, setting up kennels and caring for animals at evacuation sites.
OHS worked with partners around the state to transport shelter pets to Portland so space and resources were freed up to help pets and people directly impacted by the fires.
OHS supplied pet food and supplies so evacuees could keep their pets with them. OHS also provided emergency boarding as a last resort for pet owners who were not able to stay with their pet.

In addition, stray cats from Clackamas County were brought to OHS for medical treatment and daily care until their owners could be located.

“But, we couldn’t forget that we were still operating during a global health crisis, so we always had to put our plans through that filter,” says Brian August, OHS Chief Operating Officer. “For example, if we were sending responders to an evacuation site, we made sure they had masks and could stay six feet apart if they were in the same vehicle, or we planned for separate vehicles.”

“Every aspect of managing operations during the wildfire was a challenge,” says Chase Patterson, OHS Operations Director and member of the Incident Command Team. “When we were bringing transports of pets to OHS, we had to make sure our processes kept employees safe from COVID-19 and the smoky air.”

To keep the hazardous air out of the shelter, dog walks were suspended and special indoor areas for potty breaks were set up. The OHS maintenance team brought in extra filters and air scrubbers to keep staff, adopters and the animals safe.

Although the wildfires in Oregon have subsided, OHS continues to be a resource to both pets and people in our community. To help pet owners impacted by COVID, job loss, or other factors, OHS is hosting a pet food bank on Dec. 1-2 where free pet food is available to those that need it.

“Our goal is to continue to support pet owners in our community in any way we can. By hosting this Pet Food Bank, we hope to give those who are struggling one less thing to worry about this holiday season," said Sharon Harmon, OHS President and CEO, in a statement.

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Aug 2, 2018
Danny's Spa Day at Oregon Humane Society

By Nicole Lutton | Grants Program Manager

Danny is just one of many homeless animals brought to the Oregon Humane Society through the Second Chance program, where animals are transported from overcrowded shelters on the West Coast to OHS. A two-year-old terrier mix, Danny was found living on the streets in Merced, California. Like many strays, Danny was in desperate need of grooming. He came to the Merced County Animal Control looking more Muppet than dog, with an overgrowth of matted fur that covered his entire body. Even his sweet, brown eyes were covered by gnarls of white and brown fur.

Through no fault of their own, Merced’s intake of homeless animals is far greater than their adoptions — a common problem for Central Valley shelters. The OHS Second Chance program works with overcrowded shelters to help keep their population manageable by transferring animals from their shelter to ours.

Recently, Danny (along with 59 other dogs and cats!) was transported from various Central Valley shelters to OHS. The animals arrived late at night, and were brought into the shelter by our staff and volunteers, admitted, examined, and settled in.

The next day a team of volunteers set out to tame Danny’s wild fur. It took three people, including one professional dog groomer, two hours to work through the matted fur and shave Danny. One of Danny’s groomers said it was the worst matting they’d ever seen. Relieved from the discomfort he was feeling from having so much tangled fur on his body, Danny was able to rest in a comfy kennel while he waited to be adopted.

Posting before and after photos of Danny on our social media generated several potential adopters for Danny, and with his playful and friendly nature, he quickly found his new home and family.

Thanks to support from donors, OHS can transport and rehome thousands of pets every year through the Second Chance, transforming the lives of pets, like Danny, from living in desperate need to health, security, and loving homes.

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May 10, 2018
Medical Care Turns Blanche into Affectionate Cat

By Nicole J. Lutton | Grants Program Manager

The Oregon Humane Society adopts more than 11,000 pets every year. There are no time limits on how long pets remain available for adoption, and animals are never euthanized for space. OHS also provides medical care and behavior training to ensure pets are healthy and happy before being adopted into their forever homes.

Blanche is just one of the many animals whose life was improved by coming to OHS. The grouchy 12-year-old white cat was surrendered to our shelter because of her behavior, which included growling, scratching, and biting.

Upon examination, the veterinary team discovered Blanche was not only deaf due to ear infections, but also suffered from kidney disease, dental disease, and arthritis — common sources of pain for older pets. At our shelter, Blanche received the medical care and ear surgery needed to help her thrive in a new home.

During recovery, her sweet personality began to emerge. Surgery had caused her ears to droop, giving her a delightfully grumpy expression. With her deep, throaty purrs and beautiful eyes, the affectionate cat became a favorite among the Animal Care staff and volunteers.

After more than nine months of care, including dental treatments and plenty of affection, Blanche's matted fur smoothed out and developed a healthy shine. She also gained some much-needed weight, most likely from the tuna treats lavished on her by OHS caregivers. Finding a home was the next step in her journey.

When cat lovers Ami and Clark came to OHS, they fell in love with the contrast between Blanche's sweet disposition and her curmudgeonly look. Blanche’s medical and behavior history didn’t discourage them from adopting, as the couple had experience caring for cats with medical needs.

A few days after adopting Blanche, Ami let us know Blanche was settling in wonderfully in her new home. Ami wrote, “She has only been with us a few days, but already we know that she is the piece that was missing from our hearts and our home.” She added, “Looking through her long medical record, it is hard to imagine that there are many places that an old, sick white cat could have gone to get half of the care that she received from you. Thank you for believing in this little white cat.”

Blanche is now living pain free in a loving family, enjoying excellent care and plenty of window seats where she can safely watch the world go by.

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