Oregon Humane Society helps rescue 17 dogs, six cats in Christmas Valley neglect case; 3 puppies found dead
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) – At the request of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the Oregon Humane Society assisted with the rescue of 17 dogs and six cats suffering from suspected neglect at a property in Christmas Valley.
The rescue, which took place last Thursday, was part of a search warrant served by the sheriff’s office following a weeks-long investigation into reports from concerned neighbors, according to an OHS news release on Monday.
Four staff members from OHS traveled to the site and worked alongside deputies to load the animals for transport. One puppy, in critical condition, was immediately transported to the Humane Society of Central Oregon for emergency medical care.
Three deceased puppies were also recovered at the site and transferred to OHS’ Animal Crimes Forensic Center, which is located in Portland, for analysis.
“Our partnerships with other law enforcement agencies are critical to helping animals who may be suffering from abuse or neglect,” says Chris Allori, OHS Chief of Humane Law Enforcement. “Many agencies around the state do not have the resources to help large groups of animals, making OHS a critical resource.”
“We appreciate the Oregon Humane Society’s rapid response and expertise,” said Lake County Sheriff Daniel Tague. “Their assistance was vital to the safe removal and care of these animals. Additionally, we would like to thank the North Lake Humane society, Lakeview Animal Hospital and Oregon Department of Human Services - Child Welfare Division for all of their assistance in this case.”
In 2025, OHS Humane Law Enforcement assisted other agencies more than 150 times and investigated nearly 800 cases.
“Cases like this demonstrate why we built a dedicated Rescue Center and invested in an Animal Crimes Forensic Center,” says Dr. Steve Kochis, OHS Chief Medical Officer and Co-Interim President & CEO. “Helping animals heal from trauma and holding people accountable requires resources. We could not do this work without our donors, and we are incredibly grateful for their support.”
The animals from this case are not currently available for adoption. Updates will be posted on the OHS website.
