KEZI TV coverage
Posted on December 28, 2009 with 7 Comments
Watch the video: http://kezi.com/news/local/157029
Neglected Dogs Brought to Greenhill Humane Society
By Stacia Kalinoski
EUGENE, Ore. — In one of the worst animal neglect cases in state history, nearly 150 dogs were seized in Harney County earlier this month.
Those dogs have gradually made their way into shelters around the state. And now, four of them have arrived at Greenhill Humane Society in West Eugene.
The four dogs are among nearly 90 others who were rescued by Harney County Save A Stray and the Oregon Humane Society, but Harney County Save A Stray Rescuer Melanie Epping said there are at least 60 dogs still on the property, a rural farm in Princeton.
Epping said at least 20 are puppies, so rescuers are giving them priority. Butt she said many of the older dogs are just too wild, and may not be able to be saved. Even the ones Greenhill took in, still need some work.
Rita the dog has nothing but food on her mind. The two-year-old has been living off cattle carcasses her entire life. “She definetely loves her treats,” Greenhill Humane Society Kennel Supervisor Dustin Vissering said.
Rita’s the only one Vissering can take outside to play. The other three are still terrifed of human interaction, after living under wooden planks or chained to farm equipment. “I would imagine the dogs, from what we’ve seen, are mostly unaltered, so there was probably a lot of reproducing going on,” Vissering said.
Video courtesy of the Oregon Humane Society captures the nearly 150 dogs, living in sub-freezing temperatures in a high-desert area. The sight leaves dog lovers like one couple, heartbroken. “They were just out there in the snow. And i felt so sorry for them.”
The Cottage Grove woman has anxiously followed the dogs’ progress. She and her husband even visited the OHS last week to see if any of the neglected collies were available for adoption. “We were a little sad that so many got adopted, but happy that so being so close to Christmas, they found homes.”
Now Vissering is trying to get these four ready for adoption. We just want to place these dogs where we can, so we can work with them and get them the best care that we can. Socialization is their main goal as they attempt to get at least two of the dogs ready for adoption by Tuesday. But Epping believes the neglect has been going on for at least five years, making socialization nearly impossible for some of the older breeds.
Category: Burns Hoarding/Neglect Case Dec 09, Everything
I am a vollenter at Greenhill and have happy news. Clark one of the 4 dogs that the shelter took in has been adopted. He was adopted on tuesday 12-29-09. Rita another one of the dogs has been put on hold by a nice pair and will go home once she is spayed. Sonny a jack rustle mix is also up for adoption. The 4th dog from the 4 we took is still shy and is being worked with by the staff.
Thank you so much for the update, Beth. This is great news!!
Rita and Sonny have both been adopted out to great homes.
The 4th dog is still shy and is being worked with. with time she should be able to go up for adoption
What IS THE PROBLEM with dog owners in that county!
There are no words for the shamefulness of these stories that keep coming from there… and where are the authorities that should step in BEFORE there are this many unspayed dogs, and who are obviously being neglected by their owners…
I will send a donation, again, but certainly hope that their local council or commissioners are taking a serious look at strengthening or enacting some sort of Ordinance that will beceom a VERY strong deterrent to this repeat of dog abuse there. By the way … WHAT charges will the Owner face, and how much of this rescue cost will become theirs? I hope they have to pay for the rest of their lives towards this abhorrent situation, even if it is never paid in full. And some time behind bars with no heat (or better yet, living in a hole) would not be a bad idea either. This is just disgusting abuse and criminal behavior against animals.
A big thanks to the folks up there trying to help and rescue … you give me some hope for humanity.
Please, write to elected officials! http://www.co.harney.or.us/electedofficials.html
I myself would like to know what CHARGES these dirt bags are facing..
And why are there still some dogs (pictured) locked up in fenced areas out in the cold? Is anyone taking care of them?
Does anyone live in that mobile home? And if they do..Kick them out, turn up the heat and let the DOGS IN.
I also don’t understand how/why these dogs are feeding on cow carcasses? Who owned the cows? Why are they dead?
I can’t seem to find the whole story on this horror from day 1.
Thanks for commenting, Kim. Here are a couple of links to stories that tell more of the story as it was beginning to unfold:
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/12/humane_society_rescuing_100_do.html
and
http://burnstimesherald.info/2009/12/16/neglect-case-involves-more-than-100-dogs/
The dogs you see fenced in the photos have been removed from the property now. HCSAS has some temporary fenced kennel areas set up to capture the teen dogs. It is the unfenced dogs that are tough to catch that we’re after now. They are well-fed; the bones you see are what the dogs had been fed before we got involved and came from a local rendering facility. Safeway donated kibble to the rescue effort; you see it in some photos.
The dogs that remain are feral, not having had human contact at any close proximity. If they could be caught to go inside, they would be caught and removed from the property. That’s what we’re trying to do now.
Please do contact your legislators about charges; out goal is to work with the people so as to get the dogs off the property while we can.
http://www.co.harney.or.us/electedofficials.html