Oregon Humane Society's End Petlessness Campaign

Danny is just one of many homeless animals brought to the Oregon Humane Society through the Second Chance program, where animals are transported from overcrowded shelters on the West Coast to OHS. A two-year-old terrier mix, Danny was found living on the streets in Merced, California. Like many strays, Danny was in desperate need of grooming. He came to the Merced County Animal Control looking more Muppet than dog, with an overgrowth of matted fur that covered his entire body. Even his sweet, brown eyes were covered by gnarls of white and brown fur.

Through no fault of their own, Merced’s intake of homeless animals is far greater than their adoptions — a common problem for Central Valley shelters. The OHS Second Chance program works with overcrowded shelters to help keep their population manageable by transferring animals from their shelter to ours.

Recently, Danny (along with 59 other dogs and cats!) was transported from various Central Valley shelters to OHS. The animals arrived late at night, and were brought into the shelter by our staff and volunteers, admitted, examined, and settled in.

The next day a team of volunteers set out to tame Danny’s wild fur. It took three people, including one professional dog groomer, two hours to work through the matted fur and shave Danny. One of Danny’s groomers said it was the worst matting they’d ever seen. Relieved from the discomfort he was feeling from having so much tangled fur on his body, Danny was able to rest in a comfy kennel while he waited to be adopted.

Posting before and after photos of Danny on our social media generated several potential adopters for Danny, and with his playful and friendly nature, he quickly found his new home and family.  

Thanks to support from donors, OHS can transport and rehome thousands of pets every year through the Second Chance, transforming the lives of pets, like Danny, from living in desperate need to health, security, and loving homes.