"DOGTOWN USA" 2006: FACT OR FICTION?
MCAS deserves no credit for any increases in the frequency of adoptions
or
reductions in the region's canine euthanasia rate. Whatever
improvements have
been achieved are attributable to the work of the Oregon Humane Society
and the
many local rescue groups, not MCAS. In fact, that agency has become
the
biggest obstacle to humane progress.
Dog Fancy reported that "working together, OHS and Multnomah County
Animal
Services adopted out a total of 6,936 dogs" in 2005. If the reported
figure is
accurate, it is almost entirely due to OHS's efforts.
In all of FY 2005, MCAS adopted out a total of only 812 dogs.
Worse still, during the recent years that MCAS has been led by Director
Michael Oswald, the rate of adoptions has dropped by nearly 50% and the
frequency of killing has nearly doubled. MCAS now kills nearly 60% of
all dogs
over which it has life or death authority and finds new homes for only
about 25%.
For those dogs labeled "pit" or "pit mix," the odds are even worse.
At
least 85% of the dogs assigned that label are killed within days of
entering the
MCAS "shelter."
For so long as MCAS is permitted to continue its current practices,
"doggie dashes," "pug crawls," and today's block party will not prevent
continued killing at rates far exceeding the "no kill" level that this
community wants and our animals deserve. For so long as we celebrate
our
reputation while ignoring the facts, our companion animals will
continue to die
at rates that should make us shudder.
For more information, contact:
Citizens for Humane Animal Legislation
Or...
Robert E. Babcock
Portland, Oregon's Dog-Friendly Designation Demands Investigation
A Regional REport
by Reb Babcock and Gail O'Connell-Babcock
All who today take pleasure in Dog Fancy magazine's naming of Portland
as
"Dogtown USA 2006" need to know that Portland's generally "canine
friendly"
environment exists in spite of the policies and practices of Multnomah
County's
government and, specifically, Multnomah County Animal Services (MCAS).
16004 SW Tualatin-Sherwood Rd., Box 508
Sherwood, Oregon 97140
503.635.4563
5800 Meadows Rd., Suite 220
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
503.224.8949
503.317.0312 (cell)
503.224.0410 (fax)