OHS Teams Up with Columbia Gorge Humane Society

At the request of The Dalles Police Department’s Animal Control Officer and in partnership with Columbia Gorge Humane Society, a team from Oregon Humane Society rescued 19 dogs who were living in a remote area of Wasco County affected by the Larch Creek Fire.

The situation was urgent. The dogs were living outside–some roaming free and others in makeshift kennels. Their owner was no longer able to care for them and contacted Columbia Gorge Humane Society for help. Within hours, four OHS staff members and the OHS Second Chance vehicle were en route.

After driving down miles of gravel road, the team arrived at the remote property and began working with a representative from Columbia Gorge Humane Society and the Animal Control Officer from The Dalles Police Department to catch the dogs and bring them to safety.

The dogs were terrified. Amid the blistering heat and smoke-filled air, our team spent hours crawling under structures, searching the property, gently coaxing the dogs, and earning their trust. Eventually,19 dogs were safely in crates and loaded up into our air-conditioned transport vehicle.

Rest and Recovery at the Behavior and Rescue Center

With the main shelter at OHS’ Portland Campus—which was already caring for more than 300 animals—staff quickly mobilized to prepare the kennels at the Behavior and Rescue Center for the dogs’ arrival. The dogs would need a calm, quiet space to recover from their trauma.

When the Second Chance vehicle arrived at the BRC, the lingering smell of smoke wafted out as the van door opened. Each dog was placed in a kennel in the air-conditioned building and received a comfy bed, bowl of food, and fresh water.

Now, almost a week later, some of the dogs’ personalities are starting to come out as they begin to relax in the calming environment. Animal care staff, behavior experts, and volunteers are spending time with each of them to learn their needs and help them become more comfortable and confident.

OHS’ Behavior and Rescue Center opened in December 2022 and was designed to serve two purposes. One half of the building houses animals in the Behavior Modification Program and the other half, known as the Rescue Center, includes flexible space ready to accommodate transports of pets from crisis situations. Last August, the building received close to 100 cats from Maui Humane Society after devastating wildfires. More recently, the space was used to receive 60 dogs from Josephine and Jackson counties after their shelters were experiencing a capacity crisis.

“We are already seeing a very active wildfire season, so having the Rescue Center as a resource for our community is more important than ever,” added Patterson.