Helping Pets and People in our Community

Within days of opening the Animal Crimes Forensic Center at Oregon Humane Society, our Humane Law Enforcement

(HLE) team was contacted by the Salem Police Department. Officers were investigating a case of animal abandonment and neglect in Marion County. When officers arrived, they discovered a home with several cats inside, left without food or water—living in their own waste, flea-ridden, and deserted.

One of these precious cats was Judith.

My name is Erika Sims, and I am the Feline Behavior Modification Manager for OHS, working with cats like Judith, the most fearful and shy that come into our care. In the twenty-four years I have worked for OHS, I’ve seen our programs and services evolve. OHS is so much more than a shelter, but an agency of transformation for animals in

desperate need of safety and care. Pets like Judith cannot speak for themselves, but we are able to give them a voice because of the support from people like you.

Salem Police acted quickly and the HLE team was able to assist Judith and the other cats in the home. All of the cats were transported to OHS to receive emergency medical services and care. Veterinary evidence would be critical in building a case against the suspect who’d left these animals in such dire conditions. Thanks to the support from our donors, the newly opened Animal Crimes Forensics Center (ACFC), one of only two facilities of its kind in the country, had the space and state-of-the-art tools for specially trained veterinarians to perform exams and document the evidence of the victims. Sadly, this included two deceased cats that were found.

Even though Judith was now safe at OHS, she and the other cats were terrified. Staff and volunteers moved slowly, with gentle hands assessing her condition, still Judith backed into corners, hissing and swatting. The environment she came from made her reluctant to trust humans. Thankfully, because of donor support, there was a purposefully built, calming space for Judith to recover in—the Behavior and Rescue Center (BRC).

The BRC offers wide kennels, stimulating play structures, large windows, and even a communal sunroom. The space is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the main shelter, allowing the cats to rest, heal, and rebuild trust. Just what Judith needed. Over time, her fearful exterior melted away and her soft personality began to emerge. Time spent with our loving staff and volunteers imprinted new memories in Judith—humans can be safe and kind after all.

When she was ready, I set out to find the perfect family, one that would be patient and understanding of Judith’s traumatic past. Thankfully, Judith was adopted by Kaya, who today describes her as a massive snuggler who begs for forehead kisses and tummy rubs, a ball of yarn’s length away from that fearful cat she was.

Judith is now living the cozy cat life she truly deserves because of the kindness of our donors.

And Salem Police were able to track down and arrest Judith’s previous owner. Thanks in large part to the evidence our team collected at the ACFC, justice was served. The defendant plead guilty and was prohibited from owning animals for five years as part of their sentence.

Twenty-four years ago, when I first started working at OHS, Judith’s outcome would have been much different. A charge of animal neglect most likely would not have been successfully prosecuted and OHS didn’t have the space or resources that we have today. Your sustaining generosity has transformed OHS into a leader in animal welfare. In 2023, the Animal Crimes Forensics Center team performed services for 63 cases investigated by OHS Humane Law Enforcement and 22 other criminal justice agencies; this unique facility is quickly becoming a vital resource across the region.

There is still so much more work to be done and pets like Judith are counting on you. Will you give your most generous donation to provide more transformative care for pets in our communities?

Thank you for your compassion in helping create a More Humane Society. Because of you, animals have a voice!

For the animals,
Erika Sims
Feline Behavior Modification Manager

Links:

• OHS' Behavior and Rescue Center
• OHS' Animal Crimes Forensic Center
• About Oregon Humane Society

The day she saw Cotton, Zoe just knew he was hers. When she adopted him, he still had some healing to do and more striking fur to grow back. Then she saw a photo of what he looked like when he first arrived at Oregon Humane Society…

What Zoe said stuck with me. “I don’t know who the person was that called the case in, but thank you, because it takes a lot of courage.”

A rescue like Cotton’s often begins with one small courageous action. Someone who sees animals in need and makes that call, or volunteers their time to care for shelter pets, or gives generously to fund our critical work. 

It takes a village—and that village includes you. The kindness of animal lovers like you saved Cotton’s life and gave him a second chance.

Cotton and ten other dogs were rescued from dire conditions by Jackson County Animal Services, in need of emergency lifesaving care. Cotton had almost no fur at all—just bright red, inflamed skin covered in painful scabs on a thin and shaking frame. Once they were brought to safety, it was determined that Cotton and the other dogs needed extensive medical care and time to recover. Thanks to donations, OHS had the capacity to aid in this rescue and act quickly, taking all ten dogs into our loving care.

When they arrived, like Cotton, all of the rescued dogs were emaciated, suffering from a severe skin disease and a slew of other medical conditions that had gone untreated. Our medical team got to work, and OHS staff and volunteers came together to support the healing of these resilient dogs, showering them with love and affection.

Cotton, and the other dogs, began to heal, but it was a slow process. After several weeks, his condition greatly improved, and he was ready for adoption. Staff and volunteers knew Cotton hadn’t yet reached his full potential but were confident that he’d find an adopter who would connect with his deep, soulful eyes.

For Cotton, that adopter was Zoe.

At their first official meeting the link between them grew even stronger. In that moment Zoe knew that Cotton wasn’t just her dog— in Zoe’s words: “He is my soulmate.”

Zoe’s gentle love and diligent care meant Cotton was finally free to live up to his fluffy namesake. In his new home, he flourished. He quickly doubled in weight and that sparse, thin hair ballooned into the furball he is today. True love and companionship had helped Cotton heal and completely transform.

Your donations fund the essential programs that saved Cotton:

• Our Humane Law Enforcement and Second Chance teams who brought Cotton to safety,
• Our medical team that helped him heal and recover,
• Our Animal Care Technicians and volunteers who provided consistent, quality care,
• Our Customer Care Team worked diligently to find him the perfect home.

Thank you for being a part of this incredible community of animal lovers and helping create a world where all animals are treated with compassion, kindness, and respect.

For the Animals,
Sharon Harmon
President and CEO

Links:

• You can watch Cotton's video here!
• OHS' Humane Law Enforcement Team
• About Oregon Humane Society