Reporting Animals in Emergencies
Please see below for a list of resources and options for animal emergencies in Multnomah and surrounding counties. Please send us a message or call if any questions, and we will try to assist you further. 971.645.3450
QUICK LIST:
- For non-emergency animal related issues please call Multnomah County Animal Control: 503.988.PETS (7387)
- Gresham 24 HR noise/animal complaint line: 503.618.2603
LOST/FOUND NON-INJURED DOMESTIC PETS
Go to https://multcopets.org/lost-pet
Post and search on this facebook page, as well as other lost/found facebook local groups, pawboost, and nextdoor.
INJURED OR ILL STRAY ANIMALS OR WILDLIFE
1. For injured wildlife, please attempt Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) first: 503.673.6000 (they will often not be available to respond, but they have jurisdiction, so protocol is to call them first)
2. Bird Alliance of Oregon - 5151 NW CORNELL RD - PORTLAND
(some non-native species may be humanely euthanized): 503.292.0304
3. DOVE LEWIS is always open and never turns away injured or ill stray animals or wildlife. Hundreds of injured strays, lost pets, and hurt wild animals come to DOVE LEWIS from county shelters, good samaritans, police officers, and firefighters each year. They also regularly care for injured wildlife when the Bird Alliance of Oregon is closed in the evening. It is not uncommon for the cost of emergency treatment for lost, stray, and wild animals to rise above $200,000 every year. And thanks to our generous donors, we are here 24/7 for stray animals and wildlife needing emergency care.
ANIMAL TECHNICAL OR HIGH ANGLE RESCUES (EX. DOGS FALLEN OFF CLIFFS)
OHSTAR-Oregon Humane Society Technical Animal Rescue Team: 503.849.5655. Please leave a voicemail or text message, this number is monitored regularly by volunteers.
For citizens: Contact the Oregon Humane Society Technical Animal Rescue team (OHSTAR) when your pet is trapped or stranded and needs help to survive. Trained OHSTAR volunteers perform several types of rescue.
- Evacuating injured pets from wilderness areas.
- Retrieving pets stranded on cliff sides, river banks, and other areas and structures that can only be accessed safely using ropes, climbing equipment, and other technical rescue equipment.
- Extricating animals trapped in enclosed spaces whose lives are in danger.
- (Depending on extrication situation, may at times be a collaborative effort with fire department and/or local LE).
OHSTAR also offers information and referral on situations when the Team is unable to assist.
OHSTAR responds across the Portland metropolitan area and adjoining counties and on national deployments when requested.
Call OHSTAR: 503-849-5655
IF YOU GET VOICEMAIL, DON’T HANG UP!
Please leave a complete and detailed message so a team member knows how best to respond to your call. To learn more about OHSTAR and see the team in action please visit: https://www.Oregonhumane.Org/services/emergency-animal-rescue/
CAT IN TREE:
****OHSTAR occasionally responds to cats in trees. We have equipment and training to do so, but will only respond after the cat has been given 4 days to come down, there are no powerlines in the tree, and there are strong enough branches for rescuers to belay from.
The Oregon Humane Society’s Technical Animal Rescue team (OHSTAR) routinely receives calls to aid cats stuck in trees. If you are concerned about a cat stuck up a tree, you should first attempt to find the owner of the cat – the cat may respond best to its owner. Do not try to rescue the cat yourself. Scared cats will bite and scratch. The majority of cats will come down on their own after a few days. As we are an all-volunteer team, we may not be available to respond or assist. See this PDF for more info.
Please see the steps below on encouraging a cat to come down:
- Monitor the cat’s condition and keep track of the number of days the cat is in the tree
- Keep dogs away from the area surrounding the tree
- Encourage the cat to come down by: calling to the cat, shaking dry cat food in a bowl, leaning a ladder or some type of large object against the tree at a safe angle, some cats may use the ladder or object to aid in coming down.
FOR THE OWNER: You will have a faster response by contacting an arborist from your local area. Please note that the Oregon Humane Society is unable to provide funding for any arborist services to remove your cat from a tree. Often times, friends and neighbors will pool together to pay to have a cat safely removed from a tree.
REPORT ANIMAL CRUELTY:
REPORT TO MULTNOMAH COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL (LE EMERGENCY NUMBER) 503.988.5222 OR (PUBLIC NUMBER) 503.988.7387
http://multcopets.org/investigations-field-services
Any and all animal cruelty and neglect should also be reported with Oregon Humane Society Humane Investigators at 503.285.7722 ext. 214, (please encourage citizens, neighbors, etc., to report these events, even if law enforcement has responded to the scene or been advised of the suspicious or criminal activity) these Special Agents are highly trained certified police officers commissioned by the Oregon State Police to investigate animal crimes. OHS Special Agents are also authorized to issue citations, author search warrants and assist law enforcement agencies in investigation, crime scene processing, and evidence collection.
EMERGENCY CLINICS WITH EXTENDED HOURS
Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital (OPEN 24 HOURS)
(503) 228-7281
1945 NW Pettygrove, Portland (may accept wildlife after hours for Audubon)
VCA Southeast Portland Animal Hospital (OPEN 24 HOURS)
(503) 255-8139
13830 SE Stark St
St. Francis Animal Hospital (OPEN 24 HOURS)
(360) 253-5446
12010 NE 65th St, Vancouver (Orchards) WA
Northwest Veterinary Specialists, Clackamas (OPEN 24 HOURS)
(503) 656-3999
16756 SE 82nd Drive
Banfield – Portland Urgent Care (OPEN UNTIL 2300)
(503) 254-7349
1816 Northeast 82nd Ave, Portland
Banfield – Nyberg Woods Urgent Care (OPEN UNTIL 2300)
(503) 692-4511
7029 Southwest Nyberg St, Tualatin
Emergency Veterinary Clinic of Tualatin (OPEN 24 HOURS)
(503) 691-7922
8250 SW Tonka St, Tualatin
St Francis Animal Hospital of Vancouver, WA (OPEN 24 HOURS)
(360) 253-5446
12010 NE 65th St
ASPCA Animal Poison Control (OPEN 24 HOURS FOR PHONE CONSULT)
(800) 548-2423
LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTERS AND RESCUES
Animal Aid (Portland) – (503) 292-6628
C.A.T (Sherwood) – (503) 925-8903
Family Dogs New Life Shelter (Portland) – (503) 771-5596
Feral Cat Coalition (email [email protected] – also rent cat traps) (503) 797-2606
Indigo Animal Rescue (Beaverton) – (503) 626-7222
Oregon Dog Rescue (Portland) – (503) 819-1720
Second Chance Companions (Vancouver) – (360) 687-4569
SW WASHINGTON HUMANE SOCIETY (VANCOUVER) - (360) 693-4746
LOCAL COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL AGENCIES
Multnomah County Animal Services - (503) 988-7387
Clackamas County Dog Services - (503) 655-8628
Clark County Animal Control (Vancouver) - (360) 397-2488
Columbia County Animal Control (St Helens) - (503) 397-3935
Washington County Animal Services - (503) 846-7041
Multnomah County Vector Control and Code Enforcement - (503) 988-3464
Non-Emergency Police and Fire Dispatch Dispatch line - (503) 823-3333 (dial 0 or 1 until you reach an operator)
Or call 911 if you have an emergency involving an animal which includes: Stray pet on a highway or busy street, Stray livestock (if you are unable to locate the owner or safely confine the animal), Loose or aggressive dog, Dog and cat bites that break the skin (unless the animal is confined), Animal abuse (if the animal is in distress or immediate danger), Pet in a hot, parked car, Sick or injured stray animal.
For a full list of animal-related services visit https://multcopets.org/animal-rescue-emergency
Multnomah County has a variety of resources available to domestic and wild animals who are injured, trapped, or in some kind of distress where they need immediate assistance. However, it can be difficult or frustrating at times to find or be connected to the appropriate resource when these “emergencies” come up. The most important thing to remember is to stay calm, speak clearly, and have the following information for any dispatchers or officers you may be speaking to before help arrives:
1. WHERE ARE YOU AND WHERE IS THE ANIMAL?
An exact address is best, but a street intersection will suffice for most responders. If you do not know, don’t panic. Just walk to the nearest intersection and read the street signs, or you may be able to check a piece of mail if you are at a residence, and of course you could always ask a passerby for help in narrowing down your
location.
2. IS THE ANIMAL CONTAINED OR TRAPPED?
If the animal is unrestrained or “loose” to the point of creating a road hazard and a safety matter for human lives please call the non-emergency police dispatch line for Multnomah County 503.823.3333 and select 0 or 1 to speak to a dispatcher and have a police officer respond.
DOGS IN VEHICLES:
Per the Oregon Humane Society website:
If you see a pet alone in a hot car, write down the car’s make, model, and license plate number. If there are businesses nearby, notify their managers or security personnel and ask them to make an announcement to find the car’s owner.
If the owner can’t be found…
Does the animal appear in immediate life-threatening distress? For example, heavy panting, lethargy, painful wailing or crying, unresponsiveness, vomiting, dark red tongue, or are there extreme high or low temperatures outside that would put the animal in immediate danger? If so, call the non-emergency dispatch line for Multnomah County police dispatch, 503.823.3333 and select 0 or 1 for an operator.
Be advised the dispatcher will likely ask you a series of questions to confirm that the animal is in emergency distress before attempting to dispatch a police officer. If those conditions are not met, he or she may refer you to call Multnomah County Animal Control at 503.988.7387 who may or may not respond depending on the time of day and whether they have any animal control officers available at that time.
Unfortunately, Oregon state laws do not protect any and all citizens in breaking into or entering a vehicle to free an animal in these cases; only peace officers are able to do so and be protected by law in those actions.
http://www.oregonhumane.org/hot-weather-safety-for-pets-resources/#Cars
LOST, INJURED, OR UNATTENDED WILD ANIMALS:
SEE THE BELOW INFORMATION FROM OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
Contact Us: Please contact us with any fish, wildlife, and/or environmental enforcement questions and/or concerns or to report suspicious activity and/or violations. See contact information below.
For non-enforcement fish and wildlife issues and regulations questions, please contact Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at 1-800-720-6339 or 503-947-6000.
For non-enforcement boating issues and regulations, please contact Oregon State Marine Board at 503-378-8587.
Please visit our Related Links page to find links to other state and federal agencies.
Address: 3565 Trelstad Ave SE Salem, OR 97317
Hours of Operation: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Contact: [email protected]
Phone: 503-378-3720
TIP Hotline: 800-452-7888
Fax: 503-363-5475
Related Links:
- Division Personnel
- Regional Offices
- Wildlife Problems or Concerns? Report Fish, Wildlife, and Habitat Law Violations and Suspicious Activity
- What is Turn-In-Poachers (TIP)?
- Download Suspicious Activity / Violation Report Form
TIP Hotline: 1-800-452-7888 (24/7)
TIP E-Mail: [email protected] (Monitored M-F 8:00AM – 5:00PM) (Please use the TIP Hotline for Weekend and Evening Reporting)
Wildlife Rehabilitation
Oregon’s licensed wildlife rehabilitators care for sick, injured and truly orphaned wildlife. They are permitted by ODFW and governed by a set of rules.
What should you do if you see a sick or injured animal?
Call ODFW, OSP or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before picking up or moving any wildlife. More information.
What should you do if you see a young animal alone?
Leave it where it is unless you saw its parent die. Most animals leave their young to forage or hunt. Removing a young animal from the wild greatly reduces its chances of survival and it is illegal.
If you see a bear or cougar, contact ODFW or OSP. Do not attempt to assist it or assume it has been abandoned. Oregon Administrative Rule does not allow for Wildlife Rehabilitators to rehabilitate bears or cougars.
Removing or “capturing” wildlife from the wild and keeping it in captivity without a permit is against the law. It is considered a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $6,250 fine.
Oregon Wildlife Rehabilitators (pdf)
Note: New Oregon Administrative Rules (pdf) associated with wildlife rehabilitation effective July 1, 2011 to December 9, 2015.