Maisie’s Story
When a worried community member caught a glimpse of Maisie and noticed her unkempt condition, they alerted our Humane Law Enforcement team and we rushed to investigate. Thanks to donor support, Oregon Humane Society can take action for animals like Maisie in desperate need of assistance.
Humane Special Agent Mike Rowe checked on Maisie and met her elderly owner. It was clear that this was a case of a person who loved their animal but no longer had the physical or financial ability to provide for her.
Maisie’s matted fur was extremely painful, and continuing to leave it untreated could cause skin infections, restrict blood flow, and lead to open wounds or tears in the skin. Because of her overgrown, matted fur that covered her eyes, Maisie was living in darkness. Her elderly owner struggled to provide the daily care needed for her, and so Maisie was kept primarily inside–even for potty breaks–and rarely saw the light of day. Wanting a better future for Maisie, and with Officer Rowe’s empathetic support, Maisie’s owner decided to surrender the tiny dog to OHS.
Back at our Portland shelter, the OHS team was immediately able to help Maisie—diligently shaving away her tough matted shell, assessing her medical needs, providing her with nourishing food, and giving her a comfortable place to recover.
OHS’ Humane Law Enforcement at Work in Our Community
Most of the calls our HLE team responds to are for families who need a little extra support—a bag of dog food to get them through until pay day, flea medicine and basic pet supplies, or educational guidance on improving the well-being of their animals. But sometimes, we encounter overwhelmed owners whose care for their animals has rapidly diminished.
This was unfortunately true for Maisie. OHS is the only humane society in Oregon with a Humane Law Enforcement team and Humane Special Agents with statewide authority to follow up on reports of animal neglect or abuse. Without donor support, animals like Maisie would remain in the shadows.
In 2024, OHS Humane Law Enforcement
Received 4,387 reports from community members
Investigated 478 cases
Helped 1,015 animals
Maisie Transformed
Today, Maisie has been adopted and has new soft fur growing in. Once kept exclusively indoors, Maisie is now an eager daily walker, alongside her dog-bestie Miss Mollie, and she enjoys snuggling under the covers with her owner after a day of adventures.
Maisie returned to OHS in late October to visit Officer Mike Rowe and her transformation was stunning. Seeing Maisie change from the shaggy dog we first met to the bright-eyed, happy pup she is today reminded all of us at OHS why we do this work. Because of our generous community of animal-lovers, Maisie can see the world again and has a bright future ahead.
A Season of Giving
Join thousands of passionate animal people in our community and make a light-filled holiday gift to the animals! Thanks to our friends at the Eccles Coit Family Foundation, holiday gifts will be matched up to $100,000!
Shelter animals are counting on you and need your support now more than ever! Without your generosity, we cannot continue to rescue animals, provide them with robust medical and daily care, and find them new homes.
