MCAS Enforcement: A miscarriage of justice Multnomah County Animal Services has a long established practice of spending thousands of public taxpayer dollars in meaningless aggressive prosecutions of animal control violations. The trials serve no useful purpose beyond muscle flexing at public expense. These are commonplace violations, most often secondary to poverty, happenstance or ignorance, that would be best handled through cost effective community mediation or owner education programs. Animals are impounded, often for months, and in some cases over a year, and suffer physically and emotionally. The agency response to these concerns has been don’t appeal not correction of an unfair process. The persons charged with violations almost without exception have been homeless, poor, and/or members of minorities. The expense to the public both in dollars and injustice is significant. Solutions are not part of the program. The county’s goal is to “win” by denying fairness and due process, especially easy with a vulnerable population. Brian and Stewie, a cautionary tale: Brian and Stewie (pictured), 2 year old Labrador Retriever / Staffordshire Terrier mixes, provide another example of the agency excesses that seem to never end. The agency is a place where, much like the hotel in a horror film, once you check in you can never get out. The conditions for adoption are so punishing that few will consider adopting Stewie and Brian. They have been held at MCAS since January 22, 2017: 222 days without socialization, company or normalcy. Qualifying for adoption should be a way out. It isn’t. Incident history and background: Stewie and Brian’s owner is impoverished, handicapped, and must navigate with a walker. At the time of the incident, she was in the process of being evicted from her home. Both young dogs had escaped the yard through a fence that was in disrepair. While at large, a minor bite incident involving 2 pedestrians happened. Each pedestrian suffered a bite to the leg, one involving a puncture and scrapes, the other described as more of a scrape. The victims could not identify which dog bit so both dogs were cited. The fact that one was innocent made no difference. The owner was ordered to build a secure enclosure as a condition of the release of her dogs. But she was being evicted. She could not comply. She reported plans to live in a travel trailer out of the area, in Washington. That was not good enough for MCAS. Holding on like a dog with a treasured bone, MCAS escalated. They demanded suspension of ownership for Brian and Stewie because another dog, Charlie, temporarily staying with the owner became injured. Treatment was needed. The most she could afford was Neosporin. It was inadequate but all that she could afford. She was poor, had no funds and did not know where else to turn. It was not neglect. It was poverty. On May10, 2017 the county hearings officer issued her findings: Brian and Stewie, emotional therapy animals for the owner’s adult daughter, were allowed to go home. But now they had no home to return to because during the lengthy legal process their owner, after being evicted, could not be located. They were declared county property. After being declared county property, both Brian and Stewie “passed” their temperament tests with flying colors, qualifying them for the adoption floor . Brian ‘s notes read:“ Soft body but keeps himself slightly lowered/hunched especially at first… Very affectionate! Climbs into my lap and gives kisses. LOVES giving kisses…Very sweet dog. Easy to handle… Could use some work building up his confidence and teaching manners.” Stewie’s notes read: “Body was soft…tail wagging…Readily ate offered treats.. Easy to leash... Approached some strangers cautiously and would wag tail when he got close to them.. Very treat motivated! Loves toys!” They were clearly ready for new homes, but not really. Despite their benign nature and the single minor incident, MCAS has imposed so many onerous conditions and disclaimers on their adoptions that the likelihood is that they will never leave. The excessive conditions imposed by new MCAS Director Jackie Rose include a kennel inside a secure fenced yard; a warning sign graphically picturing a lunging attacking red eyed dog; and an $150 classification fee in addition to the usual adoption charge, far beyond the means of most adopters. Although both dogs qualified for adoption in July 2017, the conditions for adoption are so harsh and unaffordable that the likelihood that they will ever be adopted is low. That means they will live at MCAS until the distress of incarceration destroys them and they are declared “unhealthy/ untreatable” and killed, a sacrifice to government ignorance. The only way out is adoption out of county where the agency has no authority. Some animals have left that way. They are doing well: free, happy, and living a dog’s life. Stewie, MCAS 5056 Brian, MCAS 5126