The Oregon Humane Society is asking for public help in identifying suspects caught on videotape who abandoned 19 cats early this morning outside OHS; $500 reward offered.
Here's the press release we received this morning:
The Oregon Humane Society today announced a $500 reward for information leading to the conviction of two individuals who abandoned 19 cats on the doorstep of the OHS shelter early this morning.
The 15 kittens and five adult cats – ranging in age from six weeks to one and a half years – were left outside the front door of the OHS Shelter on 1067 NE Columbia Blvd. at 5:24 am, as the temperature hovered just above freezing.
The suspects were caught on the Shelter’s security camera as they parked a late-model blue Oldsmobile Cutlass in front of the lobby. The cats, housed in two red plastic storage containers, were left outside the lobby’s front door, next to a sign warning the public that animal abandonment is a crime.
"The worst thing to do is abandon a pet in the middle of the night. If you have a cat and cannot care for it, please call OHS so we help find your cat a home," said Susan Mentley, OHS Operations Director. OHS helps people find new homes for unwanted pets, and accepts thousands of cats each year from the public.
Animal abandonment is Class B Misdemeanor that carries with it the penalty of $2,000 in fines and up to 6 months in jail. A person commits the crime of animal abandonment if he or she intentionally leaves a domestic animal at a location without providing for the animal’s continued care. Anyone who recognizes the individuals shown in the videotape or has information about the abandonment is urged to call OHS at (503) 285-7722, ext. 214. OHS is offering a $500 reward for information that leads to a conviction.
The cats abandoned today appeared malnourished and dehydrated, but with no major health issues. The cats were socialized and were friendly towards people, and will be available for adoption when they are determined to be healthy enough to go to a new home.
OHS found homes for 4,550 cats last year, and its cat adoption rate of 86 percent is one of the highest in the nation. If the public is interested in adopting a cat, the OHS Shelter is open seven days a week: Sunday through Wednesday from 10 am – 7 pm and Thursday through Saturday from 10 am – 9 pm. Call (503) 285-7722 or visit www.oregonhumane.org to learn more about adopting a pet or finding a home for a pet you can no longer care for.
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