Like many rural areas, we have an enormous overpopulation problem of abandoned pets and feral cats. One county shelter now handles dog problems, but there are no public programs for cats. Several local private shelters have taken on this task. Please visit their websites and consider adopting a pet:

Catlink

Columbia Gorge Cat Rescue

PROD--Promoting Responsible Ownership of Dogs

PetFinder

We collaborate with Catlink to offer compassionate, humane control of our free roaming cat population by mentoring communities in the proper care and handling of feral & stray cats and kittens. Our focus is to reduce the population in a proven fashion that allows for coexistence with the least impact on our native ecosystem. To achieve this we promote owners' responsibility for retention and sterilization of their pets, simultaneously working a TAR program (trap alter and release) of their wild cousins. Using a protocol from The Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon we spay/neuter/vaccinate and provide routine medical care to about 600 cats and up to 20 dogs per year. Surgeries are done on an out-patient basis at several sites. Sick or injured animals are hospitalized at the clinic for critical care.

A broken leg

A radial fracture case. Here he is shown several weeks post-op, taking a sunbath.

Burned paws

These kittens were caught in a house fire. Their owners were made homeless, so the pets had to be given up for adoption. Their wounds healed, and, after a few months at Catlink, they finally found new homes.

Other Domestic Animals

This duck was found bleeding on a porch in a nearby town. She was missing half her beak and part of her tongue. After minor surgery and hand-feeding for several weeks, she finally has begun to eat on her own. We will transfer her to a home safe from predators in the spring.

This pheasant, another non-native, was found in the road with two broken legs. He soon recovered and was released. In the past, Fish & Wildlife has paid for the farming and release of these birds, for sport hunting.