While ORS does provide for animal neglect law, look at how the local
authorities would, by law or ordinance, be required to handle the
impoundment of animals.  Some areas allow for impounded animals to be
given to a third party for safekeeping.  I see nothing in the statutes
to allow for that.  I recall that Multnomah County, OR does have such
provisions as well as provisions for reimbursement to third parties.  I
totally agree that ferret groups and rescues need to work with animal
control and officials.  Agreements and arrangements (official or not)
need to be worked out IN ADVANCE.  There is not always an opportunity
to do this.  There is nothing ssaying we could make Animal Control turn
the ferrets over to another shelter.  Nor is there anything saying AC
HAS to seize the animals.  A warning or citation could have been issued.
I will skip chapters/sections dealing primarily with dogs or litters
(about 75%):
http://www.co.lane.or.us/Animals/default.htm
 
4.385 Impounding Regulations and Disposition of Impounded Animals.
(1) The animal regulation authority shall keep any animal impounded for
the period of time herein specified.  A daily record of such animals
shall be kept at the place of impoundment and shall be made available
to the public.  The animal regulation authority shall dispose of such
animals in accordance with the following provisions:
 
   (a) An unlicensed dog or a dog for which the owner is unknown which
   has not been redeemed within 72 hours after impoundment may be sold,
   adopted or destroyed.
 
   (d) Except when state law mandates a different disposition procedure,
   all animals other than dogs shall be disposed of as provided in
   subpart 4.385(1)(a).
 
(3) Any animal unclaimed within 24 hours of a court order authorizing
the redemption or release shall be destroyed, adopted or sold.
 
(6) Notwithstanding the previous subsections, any animal given to the
animal regulation authority by the owner for disposition may be destroyed
immediately or, in the alternative, adopted or sold to any person.  The
owner shall pay a fee for handling the unwanted animal.  For purposes of
this section only, an owner is a person who has had the animal in their
care, possession, custody, or control for six weeks or more.
 
(7) Notwithstanding the previous subsections, certain sick or injured
animals may be destroyed immediately pursuant to the provisions of
section 4.420 of this code.  <refers to lethal injection>  Who lives or
dies would be up to the discretion of Animal Control.  It would certainly
be bittersweet to think that 17 were removed from a bad situation only
to have many be PTS.  It appears to me only the ones they felt could be
adopted or sold would be kept.
 
Kevin B & The Way Kewl Kritter Crew    [log in to unmask]
Oregon Ferret Shelter volunteer http://www.OregonFerretShelter.com
Pacific Ferret Shelter Network member http://www.FERRETNET.ORG
[Posted in FML issue 3927]