Feb. 3 Update: More than 100 animals arrive from Los Angeles
At the tail end of January, OHS coordinated our third and largest transfer from shelters affected by the LA fires. This special rescue flight was made possible through partnerships with Greater Good Charities and Southwest Airlines. More than 100 cats and dogs from LA County arrived safely at PDX on Saturday, Feb. 1.
The airport arrival was all-hands-on-deck as our partners from Greater Good charities and Southwest Airlines—including the pilots!—helped OHS staff and volunteers unload the animals onto the tarmac.
Once safely at our Portland campus, the animals were assessed for any medical needs before being placed in kennels and given the chance to settle in. Wonderfully, 22 of these new arrivals have already been adopted into loving homes.
Because of the incredible support of our donors, animals like Emmett, a goofy and immediately loveable pup, and George, a friendly tripod kitten, not only have a second chance at finding families, they also provided critically needed space for animals impacted by the wildfires.
As the Southern California community continues to take stock and the effects of these devastating fires emerge, help is needed now more than ever. OHS remains committed to assisting our rescue partners for as long as help is needed.
Jan. 17 Update: 21 (More) Dogs and Two Cats Arrive from Southern California
The transport coordinated by Greater Good Charities arrived this afternoon, bringing 21 dogs and two cats from Southern California to Portland. Our OHS team met the plane at the airport, safely unloaded the crates, and brought the animals to our Behavior & Rescue Center (BRC). Upon arrival, every animal received a medical and behavior screening to assess when they will be ready for adoption.
It’s inspiring to watch our community of partners, volunteers, medical experts, and animal care specialists work together to do our part to support the communities impacted by the fires. We expect the next wild fire response transport to arrive early next week.
Jan. 16 Update: 21 Dogs Arrive from Sacramento
Oregon Humane Society is planning to receive multiple transfers of dogs and cats from California shelters over the next few days. The first arrived on Wednesday, Jan. 15, bringing 21 puppies and dogs from Sacramento Front Street shelter. Within the next 1-2 weeks, we are planning for two additional transfers thanks to Second Chance partnerships with Greater Good Charities and other rescue partners.
These rescues would not be possible without the Behavior & Rescue Center (BRC) at Oregon Humane Society Portland Campus. This purpose-built space was built in 2022 specifically to house large-scale transfers and providing a haven for animals in need of additional training or decompression prior to being made available for adoption.
As the fires are still active, the full scope of what is needed to help animals in Southern California is rapidly evolving. Recovery from the fires will take years. OHS is committed to helping animals impacted by this disaster for the long haul.
How You Can Help
Adopt or Foster
Freeing up kennel space at OHS enables us to say yes to animals in need. While we navigate welcoming transfers from California, our Admissions team is also working to accommodate requests from the community for surrendering pets, and requests from rescue partners across Oregon. OHS is fortunate to be in a position to respond to these needs, but we can only continue to do so if we have available kennel space. Help free up kennel space temporarily by becoming a foster parent or adopting an animal from either of our shelter locations seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Now, more than ever, adopting a pet from anywhere helps pets everywhere.
Provide a Meal
OHS goes through a lot of canned dog food. We add a spoonful to every bowl of kibble, which helps encourage anxious dogs to eat and maintain a healthy weight. We also use it in Kong toys as an enrichment tool to keep active dogs busy and mentally stimulated in their kennels. As we prepare to welcome these imminent transfers, our shelves of canned food are practically empty. Please help us keep the dogs in our care healthy with full bellies and active minds by donating cans of wet dog food to our shelters. Any type of canned dog food is welcome! It can be mailed or dropped off any time during business hours. View our Amazon Wish List for a quick and easy way to send us a few cans.
Donate
Transferring animals into our shelters requires a lot of resources. By making a gift today, you will be helping us provide the highest quality care for these new arrivals, including any necessarily medical treatments such as spay/neuter surgery and vaccines. Any amount is helpful. We are so grateful to our community of supporters for your willingness to help. We couldn’t help these animals without you!