Public steps up to quickly adopt most of a dozen Toy Australian Shepherds surrendered by Tumalo-area owner

(Update: Addiing video and comments from Humane Society of Central Oregon)

TUMALO, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Humane Society of Central Oregon, said Friday it was seeking to find loving homes for 12 Toy Australian Shepherds surrendered from a Tumalo-area property owner who deputies said will face a felony animal neglect charge.

And within hours of Friday's announcement, most indeed had found new homes.

Here's the information shared with KTVZ News in a news release from DCSO Public Information Officer Jason Carr:

Last Sunday, Bend Fire & Rescue responded to a property on Tumalo Reservoir Road for a reported structure fire. While there, firefighters observed multiple dogs living in filthy conditions and requested assistance from the Sheriff’s Office.

Deputy Benn Smith responded to the scene and found the dogs on the property. He discovered extensive accumulations of animal waste inside the home and in the basement.

After speaking with the owner, 38-year-old David De Persio, 12 dogs were voluntarily surrendered and taken to HSCO. De Persio was cited for Animal Neglect in the Second Degree, and the charge is being elevated to a Class C Felony under Oregon law due to more than 11 animals being on scene, Carr said.

The surrendered dogs are generally healthy but under-socialized, meaning they will do best in homes where they can receive extra one-on-one attention, training, and patience. All have received veterinary examinations and age-appropriate vaccinations and will be spayed or neutered before adoption.

The 12 Toy Australian Shepherds are being processed for adoption through the Humane Society of Central Oregon. Anyone interested in providing a home for one of these dogs should visit the shelter at 61170 SE 27th Street in Bend, Oregon, or visit their website www.hsco.org for more information on the adoption process and availability.

Two of the dozen dogs need additional medical attention before they can be adopted. Because of their lack of socialization, many of the dogs are shy around people. Others did not receive proper toilet training. The Humane Society recommends experienced owners look into adopting them.

“They're going to need a home where somebody is pretty dog savvy. They're going to need to be patient or need experience with the breed," said Lynne Ouchida, HSCO's director of community partnerships.

"Toy Australian Shepherds are not just small, standard Australian Shepherds," she added. "They do have the personalities of the toy breeds, which is going to be active, needing a lot of enrichment. ”

While adopting and volunteering can be a great way to support the Humane Society, they currently have a critical need for dog treats, and are asking the public to make donations. These dog treats are used in rehabilitation training while canines stay at the shelter.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office thanked Bend Fire & Rescue for reporting the conditions, Deputy Smith for his quick response, and HSCO for their commitment to animal welfare. Community members are encouraged to consider adoption to give these dogs the second chance they deserve.