In just a matter of weeks, 79 dogs—46 poodles and 33 toy Aussies—were rescued from alleged neglect in Central Oregon. These animals were found in heartbreaking conditions and are now being held at the Humane Society of Central Oregon (HSCO), which is now operating at over 200% capacity. They’ve had to shut down owner surrenders entirely for the first time in recent memory.

This crisis didn’t happen overnight, and it didn’t have to happen at all.

Oregon’s existing animal cruelty and neglect laws are not enough to prevent abuse before it escalates. Backyard breeders and negligent owners continue to operate without meaningful inspections, licensing requirements, or proactive oversight, all while shelters are left to clean up the mess with no room, no resources, and no timeline for relief.

Rescue shouldn’t be the only response to cruelty. Prevention must come first.

We call on Oregon lawmakers to:

• Strengthen licensing and inspection requirements for all large-scale breeders and animal sellers
• Provide dedicated funding for proactive enforcement of animal neglect laws
• Increase penalties for chronic or egregious neglect, especially when large numbers of animals are affected

Our shelters are drowning under the weight of cruelty that should have been stopped long before animals needed to be seized. It's time to act before more animals suffer and more shelters are pushed to the brink.

Sign now to demand stronger animal welfare laws in Oregon that prioritize prevention, not just rescue.

Photo: Oregon Humane Society