Nearly 100 rescued Chiloquin cats go to Portland shelter
Nearly 100 cats rescued from neglect at a home in Chiloquin last week were due to arrive Monday afternoon at the Oregon Humane Society in Portland.
OHS said Klamath County Animal Control requested its help in finding homes for the cats as there are no other shelters in Oregon capable of handling such a huge influx of animals.The rescue is one of the largest pet rescues in Oregon history, officials said.
“We’re hoping to find homes for these cats as soon as possible, even if it puts a major strain on our shelter. Fighting animal cruelty in Oregon is a top priority of OHS,” said Sharon Harmon, OHS executive director.
Harmon noted that the ability of OHS to find homes for the animals was one reason cited by the owner when the cats were voluntarily relinquished to Klamath County authorities.
Klamath County law enforcement officers are seeking to charge the owner with 98 counts of felony animal neglect related to the unsanitary and unhealthy conditions in which the cats were living.
Before Klamath County Animal Control officers entered the residence on Chocktoot Drive on June 15, they reported being met with an overwhelming odor of cat urine.
After going inside, they were confronted with a horrific presence of cat urine and feces that were found in overfilled cat boxes. The floor of the residence was stained with fresh and dried feces, diarrhea, vomit and urine.
Officers and support staff from Klamath County Animal Control used three trucks and a large trailer to transport the cats to the East Ridge Veterinary Hospital for medical checks by Dr. Marcie Keener and Dr. Doug McInnis.
OHS said it will provide any needed medical care to the pets and plans to offer them for adoption beginning this Thursday.
To reduce the impact on the OHS shelter, which is already operating at capacity, OHS will reduce the adoption fees of all cats to 95 cents from June 25 – June 28.
“We are now at the point where every space for cats in our shelter is filled,” said Harmon.The rescued cats, and all pets at OHS, will remain available for adoption without any time limits.
After the cats arrive in Portland, about 20 to 30 are expected to go in to the foster homes of OHS volunteers and another 20 will be transferred to the Cat Adoption Team (CAT) in Sherwood for adoption at that facility.
CAT will offer the rescued pets for adoption for 95 cents beginning Thursday.
“CAT is proud to work together with OHS to help these cats get out of a difficult situation and into loving homes as quickly as possible,” said Karen Green, executive director of CAT.
