Animal shelters in the region are having difficulty handling a surge of new arrivals as a result of the devastating fires that are still raging in Southern California, burning houses and causing evacuation orders. As a result, many of them are being forced to seek assistance from sister shelters located outside of the region.
On Sunday, Seven Tails at a Time, a Portland-based organization, welcomed seven dogs from Los Angeles.
Juli Zagrans, executive director of One Tail at a Time, told The Oregonian/OregonLive that it’s crucial for other organizations to step in and be able to assist with the animals that were already in the shelters in Southern California so that there is that space [available for new arrivals there]. It has a profound impact on the planet.
Rescued animals are not placed in kennels at the Portland no-kill shelter, which has been in operation since 2015. Rather, volunteers take care of the dogs in their homes, according to Zagrans. “One Tail at a Time provides all the necessary supplies and covers veterinary expenses until the shelter finds a permanent home for the animals through its adoption center in Northeast Portland,” she continued.
According to her, 30 to 40 canines are usually enrolled in One Tail at a Time at any given time.
“I immediately sent out a message to the people in One Tail at a Time’s foster network after receiving an email over the weekend from a California shelter asking for assistance in housing several animals they no longer had room for,” Zagrans said. Seven individuals offered to take in a dog right away.
According to Zagrans, Wings of Rescue, another nonprofit that airlifts rescued animals across state boundaries, was instrumental in bringing the dogs from Southern California to Portland in a timely manner.
When One Tail at a Time’s jet touched down on Sunday, Natalie Mesa-Smith, who fosters dogs for the group, was prepared.
According to Mesa-Smith, “I always wanted to foster animals because we had a senior dog that was my soul dog.” We’re currently on our fourteenth foster, and after she died away, I thought, “I want to give this opportunity to other dogs.”
The six additional canines that One Tail at a Time saved arrived with Mesa-Smith’s new foster dog, Venice, a puppy who is about four months old.
The adoption of Venice is scheduled for Saturday, January 14.Thanks to Juli Zagrans
The canines were off the tarmac and safely in their homes in less than two hours after the plane landed at the Troutdale airstrip at around 3 p.m., Mesa-Smith said.
Venice was starting to come out of her shell after only a few hours at her foster home.
Mesa-Smith claimed that she was already prepared for a celebration. There are the nice, calm times and the highly crazy ones that come with pups since she is a play and a napper.
By this weekend, the seven dogs from the Los Angeles region will have completed their veterinary examinations and be available for adoption. On Saturday, they will be at an adoption event at One Tail at a Time’s center. Zagrans went on to say that they will probably soon be accepting more dogs from the Los Angeles region.
“Improving the lives of companion animals is our mission,” Zagrans stated. We accomplish this by giving them a secure home, the necessary medical attention, and the opportunity to live the life they are entitled to.
Crime, public safety, and local news are all topics covered by breaking news reporter Tatum Todd. You can contact them at 503-221-4313 or [email protected].
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