Harney County Save A Stray Rescue

Saga of dogs in Harney County not over

The dogs left behind in rural Eastern Oregon are getting another chance.

Earlier this month, the Oregon Humane Society rounded up almost 90 dogs that were living without shelter in cold weather. Some of the dogs were living underground in holes covered with planks, while others are chained to farm equipment and have little or no shelter, officials said.

“We rescued every dog that we thought was not going to be a dangerous feral dog,” Human Society spokesman David Lytle told The Oregonian on Wednesday. “Some were too dangerous or were just uncatchable.”

But some 60 dogs were left behind. And a Long Beach, Wash. woman who grew up in Harney County is set on saving them.

Melanie Eppig is the founder of Harney County Save a Stray. She headed to the site on Wednesday to rescue more dogs. She rounded up 23 dogs, including six puppies, put them in kennels and hauled them to Salem. She has found a handful of organizations willing to take several of the dogs.

She plans on heading back to the property Saturday.

“It’s difficult to describe how sad it is,” Epping said.

Deputies were called to the property about 20 miles east of Burns by county social workers who were investigating an unrelated complaint.

Three people are facing animal neglect charges: Anita Anderson, 55; Ronald Anderson, 43; and Kathlean Fuchs-Goyogana, 34. Both the Andersons and Fuchs-Goyogana live in mobile homes on the property, the sheriff said.

The Andersons are under a release agreement to help round up the dogs and feed them properly, Harney County Sheriff Dave Glerup said.

Epping said her goal is saving as many of the dogs as possible and all the one’s collected on Wednesday were “fine.” She met with three organizations in Salem – Greenhill Humane Society in Eugene, Heartland Humane Society in Corvallis and Pet Adoption Network in Philomath – who agreed to take several of the dogs. Coopers Boarding Kennel in Amity agreed to take the puppies, Epping said.

The groups will examine the dogs, provide medical treatment as necessary and ensure they are spayed and neutered before putting them up for adoption.

Epping also found a woman in Longview, Wash., to foster a few dogs and said the Meridian Valley Humane Society from Meridian, Idaho will take some more dogs on Saturday.

“We just want to save as many as we can,” Epping said.

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From: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com