Sheriff Riley is pleased to report that during the calendar year of 2015, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Department did not have to euthanize any dogs. Animal Control has been a department within the County government for many years, but 2015 was the first year they shelter was able to place, return, or adopt out every dog ending up in their custody.
Animal Control supervisor, Staff Sergeant Steve Looney said, “We could not have met this huge goal we set, without the amazing staff and veterinarians at Linn Veterinary Hospital and Linn County Kennel Club.” Staff Sergeant Looney, together with Sheriff Riley, commend the staff at Linn Veterinary Hospital, who expertly provided veterinary care for every sick or injured animal received in 2015. In addition, the Linn County Kennel Club made a donation to the shelter’s medical fund, allowing Linn County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control to assist many more sick and injured dogs, that arrived at the shelter.
Staff Sergeant Looney is clear to anyone asking that the facility is not considered a “no-kill” operation, because there will be times when an injured or extremely aggressive dog may have to be euthanized. The facility also euthanizes pets for area families when needed. “But we will exhaust all other options before this happens,” he added. “Everyone here put in a tremendous amount of effort to accomplish this goal and we are proud to say we made it.”
The Animal Control department is more than a shelter, where dogs await their fate. Staff Sergeant Looney and his staff have revamped the facility to include a covered play area for dogs, and a very large outdoor off-leash play area. This has enabled the staff to rehabilitate every aggressive dog received at the shelter, to a level the animal was able to find a home. In many cases the dogs received at the shelter are in need of a good grooming too. A local groomer, Linda Johnson, the local small business owner of J and J Dog Grooming in Millersburg, Oregon, regularly sees to the grooming needs of animals at the shelter. In fact, Staff Sergeant Looney said you can set your watch to Linda’s arrival, she is so dedicated. Linda prepares the dogs for presentation to families looking to adopt, and other shelters or kennels willing to accept stray animals. This is a major contributing factor to the Animal Control being able to meet their goal of not euthanizing dogs in 2015.
Should a Linn County resident need inexpensive animal health care, a mobile veterinary unit comes to the facility from 1 to 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Friday of each month. Microchipping is available on site, and thanks to donations from local businesses and residents, emergency dog food rations are available.
Sheriff Riley and his staff at Animal Control always like to remind Linn County residents that all dogs that are at least 6 months old or have their canine teeth must be licensed. The cost to license your dog is $15 for a dog that has been spayed or neutered or $25 if they are not.
Linn County Animal Control is at 3008 S.W. Ferry St. and is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 541-967-3925 for more information, or to adopt a dog.
