[quote style=”2″]For 20 Years, Pet Rescue Has Been Serving Pets and Their Future Owners[/quote]
For 20 years, Pet Rescue in Hermiston has taken in stray or abandoned pets and worked to find good homes for them.
Recently, the Tour of Knowledge visited Hermiston’s own Humane Society of Eastern Oregon Pet Rescue.
Started in the 1994 by Gay Van Schoick, Pet Rescue is a nonprofit organization. Schoick saw the need for a safe place for pets to find new owners, or for owners to find their lost pets. Even though it now has a board, it is still kept in the family – the current executive director and manager, Beau Putnam, is married to Schoick’s granddaughter.
Pet Rescue is funded by private donations, adoption fees, and a contract with the city of Hermiston. The adoption fee is $125 and up per dog, $30 per cat and covers the feeding and caring for that animal. There is a three-day return policy and all adopted dogs come with a $50 refund if they are spayed or neutered within 60 days of adoption. Adopted cats come with a $20 refund if spayed or neutered within 60 days of adoption. Putnam said that puppies and kittens adopt faster than older animals, so the adoption fee helps Pet Rescue provide care for animals that are at the shelter longer.
Putnam said Pet Rescue euthanizes animals only as a last resort, such as when an animal becomes a danger to other animals or humans or when their physical or mental health is deteriorating. There is a $25 fee for bringing a dog into the shelter $10 for cats and that helps cover the cost of vaccines and other medical care they may need.
Although Pet Rescue does not have a full spay/neuter program, vet students from Washington State University occasionally pick up dogs and bring them back to WSU to be spayed or neutered.
All pets adopted from Pet Rescue are up to date on their vaccines and come with a free vet check.
As with most nonprofit organization, Pet Rescue gladly accepts donations and volunteers. Animal food and treats, cat litter, cleaning supplies, first aid supplies, and yard maintenance supplies are some of the items that are needed. Volunteers are also needed for cleaning kennels, walking dogs and playing with cats. Talented photographers who are willing to help take pictures of animals in order to list them on such websites as Pet Finder are welcome, as well.
Oregon state law requires a hold of three days before animals are available for adoption. Pet Rescue extends this to five days to give owners an opportunity to claim a lost pet.
Currently the inner premises are undergoing a light face lift. An office is being converted into a “meet and greet” area for potential owners and animals to meet without being exposed to the elements or causing stress to other animals in the facility. Doors in the cat room are being replaced, the floors in the common area are receiving a new look, and storage areas are being rearranged and renovated.
In the spring, Pet Rescue will host an open house and barbecue.
Pet Rescue, located at 1844 N.W. Geer Road, is open from noon to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 541-564-6222.
