18 of 53 dogs seized in La Pine taken to Portland shelter

(Update: Dogs receiving medical evaluations; Portland shelter takes in 18 of the 53)

Thirty-five of the 53 dogs seized from a La Pine property on Friday were being given medical evaluations and care Saturday at the Humane Society of Central Oregon in Bend, while others were moved to the Oregon Humane Society in Portland to help with the task and ease crowding at the Bend facility.

The dogs were seized on an operation that lasted well into the night, prompted by a request that Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies conduct a welfare check at the location.

Sgt. William Bailey said the sheriffs office was contacted around 11 a.m. Friday to perform a welfare check at an address in the 51000 block of Ash Road.

Deputies contacted the property and dogs’ owner, a 63-year-old woman who Bailey said was cooperating in the investigation. They seized 53 dogs of various ages, breeds and conditions.

Staff from the Humane Society of Central Oregon assisted in the removal of the dogs and transporting them to their Bend shelter.

As the dogs arrived in Bend, HSCO’s veterinarian, Dr. Crystal Bloodworth, and veterinary technicians provided medical exams and treatments on each dog. The dogs will be treated and evaluated throughout the weekend, officials said, adding that the dogs are not available for adoption at this time.

HSCO officials said the process to remove and take in the dogs had staff working throughout the night and all day Saturday.

The arrival of 53 dogs placed a burden on the available kennel space at the shelter facility on SE 27th Street, said Lynne Ouchida, HSCO’s community outreach manager.

As a result, the humane society reached out to Oregon Humane Society in Portland for assistance late Friday night. Despite the snowfall, OHS staff arrived with two large vans Saturday around noon and transported 22 of the Bend shelter’s dogs, including 18 that were seized in La Pine, to their shelter in Portland. The dogs will continue to be evaluated there and medically treated if needed, Ouchida said.

The official also said you can help animals when they need it most by donating to the Humane Society of Central Oregon to help cover the thousands of dollars for diagnostic lab work. Tax-deductible donations can be made at http://www.hsco.org/donate. Donations will enable HSCO to be there when vulnerable animals need it most. For more information, visit hsco.org.