Portland shelter gets 131 rescued dogs

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The canines will be cleaned and then put up for adoption
Sunday, March 15, 2009
JANIE HAR
The Oregonian Staff
Less than 24 hours after arriving from Burns, a skinny 2-year-old setter mix pads back to her pen from what looks like the first bath she's ever had.

She bounces and retreats, both scared and curious. The shelter volunteer coos, "Good girl." The dog rewards him with a lick to his face.

"She's really a pretty girl, very smart and calm," says Ken Wells, a volunteer with the Oregon Humane Society. "Her comfort level's come up quite a bit."

The nameless mutt -- officially No. 153 -- was among 131 dogs confiscated outside Burns in what the Humane Society calls one of the largest animal rescues in state history. Their owner, Ted Tellefson, 58, agreed to give up the bulk of about 200 dogs found roaming on his property in exchange for immunity from neglect and abuse charges.

Most of the dogs arrived Friday night in vans, individually crated and exhausted, at the Humane Society's shelter in Northeast Portland. Most were malnourished, but otherwise in good health, Humane Society spokesman David Lytle said.

None of the dogs is house-trained or fixed. The oldest is 10 years old and the youngest about 6 months. Most, if not all, will be available for adoption once the shelter cleans them up.

The shelter's dog population more than doubled overnight with their arrival, and the barking in the back rooms was piercing. Two, three, even four dogs are crowded into pens littered with feces.

Several pens down from the pretty setter mix are Nos. 22 and 23, likely father and son.

"Very scared," their tag reads. Wells inches in with treats. The dogs cower in a corner, their faces turned to the wall, hoping to make the cold floor and the harsh barks go away.

"These dogs, they probably lived underground. They've got dirt and mud all over them like they burrowed under, and they've never seen people," Wells says.

"We're foreign objects. They don't know if we're friends, foe or food. They have no idea what we are."

He reaches out slowly to stroke the back of the smaller one. He does the same to the older dog, who immediately whips around.

"What I would tell clients if I'm showing these dogs is . . . this is what you get," he says. "This may be for these dogs, normal behavior."

Tellefson was charged three weeks ago in Harney County with 100 counts of animal neglect. Sheriff David Glerup convinced Tellefson to sign an agreement surrendering most of the 200 dogs found on his property to the Humane Society. He will get to keep 20 dogs, which he marked with orange-red spray paint.

Video of the property shows dry, barren land dotted with pens and trailers, including an Airstream. The dogs, which include mixes of Sheba Inus, Akitas and other breeds, competed for food.

Some dogs were chained up, apparently after they had run away.

"He was just one of those guys who collected a lot of dogs, or maybe people just dumped them on his property," Wells says. "It was just crazy."

The Oregon Humane Society needs blankets, food, donations, and, of course, good homes for the dogs. Some may be available to adopt as soon as this week.

The cost to adopt ranges from $55 to $300. The shelter expects it will cost more than $60,000 to house the dogs for five days.

To see the video of where the dogs were found or for more information, go to www.oregonhumane.org or call 503-285-7722.

Janie Har: 503-221-8213; janiehar@news.oregonian.com