OHS Rescues Nearly 100 Pets from Damascus Home

 

OHS rescue team member Roberta Cobb, wearing haz-mat protective suit, holds four kittens seized from the Damascus property.

Nov. 1, 2011: Acting to save the lives of nearly 100 animals facing neglect, the Oregon Humane Society today seized 95 cats and two dogs from a Damascus woman who had been under investigation for more than a year. The rescued animals, including three kittens, will be arriving at OHS at approximately 3 pm this afternoon.

 

Many Lives at Risk

 

“The evidence strongly indicated that this was a potential cat hoarding case and that dozens of cats could be suffering from neglect,” said Dr. Kris Otteman, OHS Director of Shelter Medicine. All the animals will get a medical exam and any needed care at the OHS Holman Medical Center.

OHS Humane Officers, along with officers from the Damascus Police and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s office, served a search warrant at the home on SE Foster Road at approximately 11:30 am this morning. The search warrant authorized officers to remove all animals at the property. Once inside the property, experienced animal handlers and veterinarians from OHS began the task of removing the animals. The animal handlers wore protective suits and respirators.

 

Lengthy Investigation

OHS Officers and officials from Damascus code enforcement had been in contact with the resident of the property beginning May 12, 2010. OHS Officer Austin Wallace had visited the house numerous times, noting evidence of neglected cats inside and outside the property and a strong odor of feces and urine. An individual who visited the house told Damascus officials there was a cat “with its eye sticking out and a bloody tail” in the house along with several malnourished cats on the property. Repeated requests by OHS to see the cats on the property were denied by the owner.

The pets rescued from the Damascus property will begin arriving at OHS, located at 1067 NE Columbia Blvd. in Portland, at approximately 3 pm. The OHS Holman Medical Center is fully equipped to provide any needed medical care for these pets. The media is invited to witness their arrival and initial treatment at OHS.

 

The pets are not available for adoption at this time, as they are considered evidence in a court case.

 

You Can Help Combat Neglect

 

Currently OHS is at capacity for cats. We are encouraging anyone who is thinking of adopting a cat or kitten to adopt today. Also donations of wet or dry cat food would be greatly appreciated. OHS relies entirely on donations to fight animal abuse and neglect throughout Oregon. Although OHS humane officers are commissioned by the Governor, they receive no tax dollars to support their work. Please make an online donation today to help fight animal cruelty.