Signs of trouble before raid at Marion Co. dog shelter
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — There were signs of trouble at a Marion County animal rescue operation before it was raided by authorities who seized 140 dogs and arrested three of its principals.
Willamette Animal Rescue hadn't completed state registration requirements for nonprofits, prompting the Oregon Department of Justice to threaten legal action, the Statesman Journal reported. Residents who suspected abuse contacted Marion County and several animal welfare agencies about it.
Willamette Animal Rescue sometimes alarmed people at adoption events by bring dirty, scruffy-looking animals, the newspaper reported.
Deputies raided the shelter's warehouse in Brooks on Jan. 13. Many of the dogs seized were emaciated and suffered from ringworm, mange, eye infections and parasites. Each of the three arrested — 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.
The organization ostensibly was formed to save dogs from certain death at "kill shelters" and make them available for adoption. It registered with the Secretary of State's Office in May 2011.
But by September 2012, Inglish stopped paying vet bills, according to Sheri Morris, owner of Willamette Valley Animal Hospital, and she lost her job at a Keizer pet supply store.
Dan Carroll, the attorney appointed to represent Inglish in the criminal case, declined to comment to the newspaper.
Soon after the news broke about Inglish's arrest, PetSmart Charities terminated Willamette Animal Rescue as an adoptions provider. PetSmart Charities has adoption centers in every PetSmart store.
"Our primary concern is clearly for those pets," said Steve Pawlowksi, a spokesman for PetSmart Charities.
The nonprofit, a separate organization from the retailer, has approved a $20,000 grant to help the Oregon Humane Society deal with the influx of dogs from the closed shelter. Pawloski said the charity did a site visit of a "foster home" where Inglish had dogs, but never checked the Brooks warehouse.
Like all PetSmart's adoption partners, Inglish's animal rescue organization received a $10 reward for every pet adopted through a PetSmart adoption center, Pawlowski said.
Willamette Animal Rescue has no employees, only a three-member board of directors that includes Inglish, said Geordie Duckle, a Portland lawyer who represents the organization. Duckle added that many volunteers assisted with its operations.
Families who adopted pets from Willamette Animal Rescue told the Statesman Journal they were charged fees ranging from $150 to $275 per animal. It's not unusual for pet rescue operations to charge adoption fees to cover their costs, including veterinary care of animals and a microchip.
Sonia Pulvers of the Marion County Dog Shelter, which took in 26 of the Willamette Animal Rescue dogs, said some of the animals contained microchips from rescues outside Oregon.
"Other states have shelters that are overwhelmed with dogs," Pulvers said. "What's happened is the shelters in other states are putting out a call for help."
Sandy resident Tina Morgan spotted a Corgi mix named Chloe at a PetSmart adoption event in Wilsonville.
After being assured that Chloe was great with other cats and dogs, Morgan paid Willamette Animal Rescue a $275 adoption fee. She was told paperwork on the pet's history would be mailed to her. It never was, and Chloe fought with other pets in the household and nipped at family members or hid from them.
Inglish "said it was my fault that the dog was having all these problems," Morgan said.
Willamette Animal Rescue agreed to take Chloe back but refused to provide a refund or a replacement dog, Morgan said. Morgan has filed a complaint with the Oregon Attorney General's Office.
Hopes Haven Animal Rescue director Marsha Chambers said she and others "started spying on" Inglish because they suspected animal neglect. Chambers contacted the Marion County Sheriff's Office, the Willamette Humane Society and the Oregon Humane Society — initially to no avail.
Finally, Marion County officials searched the warehouse after receiving photos of conditions there from an informant, Chambers said.
"It took a private person to bust her," Chambers said.
Why were they only arrested for "animal neglect"...this is abuse, no matter what some would like to say. To minimize it by just saying neglect is absolutely wrong.  And, they should be tried on multiple charges of abuse...one for every animal that was neglected or abused. So if they got 6 months jail time (which they won't), they should get 140 times that amount of time...served consecutively....parole only on the very last sentence.
 @flyingtime I think for the legal definition, abuse means they hit the dog, kicked the dog, threw the dog, etc. Neglect means they didn't take care of the dog and it ended up with major issues. Since thus far no one has any proof that they did anything to "abuse" the dog, they wouldn't be able to bring abuse charges.
This sounds like a classic case of, "The path to destruction is paved with good intentions."
They probably really wanted to help these animals, but got way more work than they knew how to handle. I just wish they would have admitted they couldn't do it, and have prevented the animals suffering.
It sounds like a classic case of "GREED"Â at the expense of treating animals humanely !
They could have asked for help. DIDN't !!!!!!
And so they could make a buck animals were treated inhumanely and cruely.
I wouldn't make excuses for them and neither should you !
The best punishment for those involved would be to, under strict supervision, be required to work every day at a shelter such as OHS cleaning up after, bathing, grooming, walking, feeding and watering every dog in the place. That way, if nothing else comes of it, they will understand just how hard you have to work to properly maintain animals in your care. When they're not working, they can be locked up to study and meditate on their actions.
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Naturally the courts won't go for this because it would mean that they would have to learn to be responsible citizens.
 @Mikey God forbid that we ever ask personal accountability of anyone these days. It may result in hurt feelings or something.  Just saying.
"Naturally the courts won't go for this because it would mean that they would have to learn to be responsible citizens"
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Mikey...you hit the nail right on the head with that one.
As Whirled World says " It is about the money...
This is horrific, horrible and unspeakable their is NO excuse for this.  I will say after reading the posts many of you believe this is about $.  I disagree and this is why.  Having been a board member for a non profit horse rescue as well part of day to day operations, there is little to no $ available for animal rescue.  There are no government grants for animal rescue, most all grants are private and hard to get there are so many needing the funds. The rescue I was involved with operated out of the founders pocket for the most part.  We did receive donations from time to time, but we worked very hard having public events and put in countless hours to also try to educate the public about horse ownership, required care etc.  I believe where most rescues get into trouble is they don't say NO they take more than they can care for.  Volunteers come and go, we had a lot in the summer months each of whom we were grateful for, but when winter comes and your dealing with cold temperatures, mud , etc, we didn't see many and it was up to us to take up the slack.  This is also typical of any rescue.
BELIEVE me I am not defending what they did by any means, they should be locked in a cage and given equal treatment.  But I did want people to be aware non profits struggle with $, this is a fact.  There is no free ride.  I encourage anyone who donates to check out the rescue, look it up on the Secretary of State web site, make sure they are a valid non profit via the IRS.  And most of all make sure you see the day to day operations.  But for the love of animals please don't let this despicable animal rescue organization prevent you from giving to the legitimate ones. Â
 @Faithhopedrms I have helped out a few small non profits who said, if people really want to help they should help fund existing non-profits and not start up new ones, not enough funding to go around!
Very well put. I LOVE my dogs more than anything and also know my financial limits.
"...The organization ostensibly was formed to save dogs from certain death at "kill shelters" and make them available for adoption...." NO WAY!. It's all about a few scammers making $$ off the backs of suffering animals and if the Humane Society and local sheriffs and animal controls even  did the most simplest and cursory of investigations they would find replicas of this "rescue" all over the area.
There are, unfortunately a LOT of "rescues" here in Oregon and Washington  (DOGs and BIRDS) that filed the non-profit papers (or  many more who never have but fake it), and don't do any vet care (or on 1 out of 30 animals) or other care for the pet but SELL it at a high price and rake in profits for the few top people. How? "Cooking the books", keeping poor/no records, and this area of animal trade is practically NEVER INVESTIGATED.
 Even some of the well-known  rescues like one in the news early fall are pulling fast shenanigans with the IRS about  volunteers/employees and taxes, breeding rescue dogs to sell the offspring as a side business, etc.
Even when there are calls of complaint such as one to  animal control in Lane County which turned out to be a clueless and uneducated in animal husbandry sheriff on a horrible abuse/neglect situation  who turned his back on it, saying he didn't see anything wrong(??!) when animals were wallowing in their own filth with no food, water,  or decent shelter.Â
@whirledworld Did you bother reading any of the comments before you? There is no truth in anything you have stated here
There is something seriously wrong with these young women. What began hopefully as acts of compassion turned into something sad and ultimately heartless. Thank God these beautiful animals are now in the care of those who will give them the love and care they deserve.
 @windytrees Acts of greed, actually. They were in it for the $$ and this happens a lot in the pet rescue world.
 @whirledworld So you know these women personally? Or are you projecting the actions of others onto them?
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While I don't condone in any way what they did, until more information is released regarding this situation, perhaps it's best to hold off hanging them until we actually learn more about their situation.
 @Mikey I know the pattern all too well. The fact that these dogs were re-homed for a few hundred dollars each when gotten for free, and not even fed anything more than stale bread (if that), let alone vetted or groomed etc. and crammed into kennels in utter misery says a lot when they keep hauling in more and more dogs and  most of all in those Horrid lethal conditions they REFUSE to work with or cooperate with  the Humane Society and Animal Control (dead giveaway right there).Â
Probably an idea that started with good intentions and no experience or funding to start a rescue. Then, it snowballed downhill. Sad for all those involved.  Especially, sad for the animals subjected to this misguided attempt.
 @Saltire This was about $$$ and not about helping pets.
@whirledworld @Saltire There is nothing in the facts of this case to suggest that any money was made here and your gross exaggerations about rescues nationwide shows your stunning lack of knowledge. This is a case of gross negligence and cruelty where the people involved lived in a state of denial. These people have the same mentality and sickness as hoarders. They believe honestly that they are fulfilling a mission to save these animals from being put to death and this obsession blinds them from seeing how horridly they are treating the animals. At some point the animals became so obviously emaciated that they could no longer adopt them out, so how could they make any money
If you wish to really understand this problem, put aside your pre-conceived notions about animal rescues.
This is disturbing on so many levels. That photo of those dogs in the tiny crates just breaks my heart.
We used to adopt our pets from the humane society. It was more economical, and also you knew what you were getting. From the fees they were charging, they could have had actual kennels built.
The original story looked like they got overwhelmed with animals...now it appears more as if they just wanted the money.
Glad that someone reported them.
The pet stores should do on site inspections before listing a facility as animal rescue. That way they could have seen first hand what it was like.
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 @Just Lookin This was always about the $$$. These are typical pet-rescue scammers who abound across the country right now unfettered by any regulations or licensing.
@whirledworld  How many times are you going to repeat your same garbage?
Shelter? Sheltered from what?
I have no words to speak on this travesty . It is so horrid I can't think of what to say.,.
Perhaps the three responsible for this cruel treatment of animals could be interviewed by Oprah or Katie Couric?
 @jpk Yes and Lance Armstrong should move to Portland to complete the three ring circus that we call home.
Yeah, but, he wouldn't stay in bike lanes. He'd always be passing people to win!Â
I know the perpetrators looked like some really young ladies, but god they should get some major punishment for this abuse. This is horrible, and from a "rescue" group nonetheless. Shame.