Humane society nursing 149 dogs back to health after rescue
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Oregon Humane Society hopes to soon adopt out almost half of 149 dogs turned over to the Oregon Humane Society by their owners Tuesday after animal neglect charges were brought against the operators of a dog resuce.
OHS hopes to have 40-60 dogs ready for adoption in 2-3 weeks, according to spokesman David Lytle.
Sheriff’s deputies raided Willamette Valley Animal Rescue's warehouse in Brooks on Jan. 13. Many of the dogs seized were emaciated and suffered from ringworm, mange, eye infections and parasites, the responding agencies said.
Each of the three suspects arrested and charged in the case -- president Alicia Marie Inglish, 24; secretary Amanda Noelle Oakley, 19; and board member Merissa Marie Noonan, 21 -- faces more than 100 counts of animal neglect.
“We were extremely concerned that the rescued dogs would be caught in a legal battle for months without any possibility of adoption,” said OHS Executive Director Sharon Harmon. “Now that ownership of the pets has passed to OHS, we are going to place these dogs in new homes as soon as their health allows.”
OHS said more details about the upcoming adoptions will be posted on its website.
The dogs range in age from puppies to mature dogs, and include German shepherds, terriers and mixed breeds.
“Once these dogs get back to the road to health, we think their recovery will go even faster when they are with a loving family,” said Harmon.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Surreallllllll. We double over the efforts and cost to RESCUE these animals how many times now? Just so they can be cyclically mistreated... Yup.Â
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Where are the LEGAL standards and government mandated oversight of agencies and non profiteers promoting that they care so very much about animals and their health and well being - and we as a society don't require them to show PROOF they really do care or are being WATCHED over very carefully - by ethical entities.Â
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We just give PEOPLE carte blanche to insert their INHUMANITY upon undeserving vulnerable animals who have already been mistreated and abused? - because (gulp) these people care so very much? - oh how SICK is that - of us?
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When is it more humane to simply euthanize an animal - rather than subject them to the evil intentions of unregulated unethical and cruel human beings hell bent to harm and abuse them instead under the guise of "animal rescue"? We arrogant hypocritical human beings need to get REAL with this issue.Â
One big problem I have with the animal abuse and neglect cases is that the situations are left to continue WAY TOO LONG after there has been credible and multiple reports to authorities who have power to do something about it, so the animals in danger suffer ...in some cases, irreparably, and others even die before help comes.
I really think it is time to allow the law to confiscate abused/starved/endangered animals as soon as there is evidence of a problem that is not resolved in 48-72 hours or less. Letting these things go on for MONTHS ... and it seems like every time I read a story about animal abuse in the NW it always is a matter of months since the first report before the animals are taken to safety...the ones that are still alive by then, that is. : (
These photos just turn your stomach. How can anybody let something like this happen - all those 'people' around 'helping' the woman run this 'rescue'?? All it takes is a phone call to the Humane Society and decide you will stand up in court against somebody this twisted that would shove multiple dogs in one kennel fit for one. . and starve the lot of them. This could have been stopped sooner if more people came forward. I'm glad they arrested all the scum involved in their scam or scheme to bring in more money for themselves. Yes, too bad about short sentences for this horrible crime - probably probation for 3 mos. We need to toughen up these laws - our society demands it. Our dogs sleep in our beds these days!! THANK YOU OHS!
 @shewiz Earlier articles stated that people had been reporting it for quite awhile and that when organizations came to check them out they were refused entrance. That it had been under investigation for quite awhile from what I have read and heard..from other legit rescue groups.
Here's hoping the people that neglected them get at least a year in prison. Highly unlikely of course.
 @Oregon7812 Someone at a veterinary clinic said this was "a case of mental illness" and she personally knew this was a "fact"...that made the rescue run off the rails but I say bullpuckey: too many people were involved for it to be one person's mental illness issue.
 @Oregon7812 Statesman Journal said that they could get up to 15 years each. The president of the group was out on bail but the judge increased it last week and she could not make bail so all 3 of them are sitting in a cell...hope they get stale bread or nothing at all just like the dogs they neglected got.