Willamette Humane Society is carefully monitoring the current wildfire situation impacting Marion County and surrounding areas. At this time, the shelter and our animals are okay. We are open and serving the community by appointment at this time. s. WHS maintains its commitment to prioritizing the safety of our animals, team, and shelter visitors.
We are so thankful to the Petco Foundation for providing a $10,000 grant to help fund essential care, support, and supplies for pets and their people who were impacted by the fires.
Resources for Owned Pets, Evacuees
We encourage pet owners in the community to keep their animals with them, if at all possible. Utilize available resources, including the Red Cross, or seek shelter with family or friends. See below for additional information about local emergency resources. WHS hopes to keep kennel space open for lost and stray pets impacted by the fires.
However, WHS is offering emergency short-term housing for owned animals displaced by wildfires on a case-by-case basis for families who have no other options left. Please contact our Customer Service Team for additional information: 503-585-5900 or info@whs4pets.org.
Resources for Lost/Stray Pets From the Fires
If you find an UNINJURED stray cat or dog you think might be impacted by the fire, please contact the following organization, depending on your location:
- Uninjured stray cats in Marion and Polk County and stray Polk County dogs: Call or email Willamette Humane Society at 503-585-5900 (ext. 300) or info@whs4pets.org to report the pet (lost or found) before bringing it in. We do not answer live calls but voicemails will be returned as soon as possible.
- Uninjured stray dogs in Marion County: Contact Marion County Dog Services at 503-566-6933 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, to set an appointment to drop-off.
In addition, visit the WHS stray pets page. Submit a missing dog or cat online. You can also help out other families missing a pet. Submit a found report for a dog or a cat. These reports help us track and record lost animals, and potentially reunite them with their families. Please include a photo with your report; pictures are invaluable as we try to identify animals.
If you find an INJURED or HURT cat or dog that you think might be impacted by the fires, contact our partners at VCA Salem at 503-581-1438 between 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to schedule time to drop off the pet. We’re thankful to partner with VCA to provide free, emergency care for pets separated from their families and hurt by the fires. Following treatment, these pets will be transferred to Willamette Humane Society or a partner organization to help reunite the cat or dog with its owner
Additional information about how Willamette Humane Society is managing stray or lost pets at this time:
- We’ve extended our stray hold time to seven days to provide families extra time to locate their animals.
- We are offering microchip scanning, food, crates, litter, etc. to support finders who can keep lost/stray pets in their home as emergency fosters while families are located.
Other WHS Shelter Services and Programs
The downtown WHS Thrift Store is open as usual. Please visit our Facebook page or this website for ongoing updates.
The WHS Spay and Neuter Clinic is not current accepting new appointments. Thank you for your understanding.
Any additional updates about shelter operations or urgent needs will be published here as soon as possible.
Shelter Services: 503-585-5900 (extension 300), info@whs4pets.org
Media Inquiries: marketing@whs4pets.org
Updated Wednesday, September 16, at 1 p.m.
Local Evacuation and Safety Information
Refer to official alerts for the most up-to-date information on the wildfire situation:
- Marion County updates are available at: https://www.co.marion.or.us/Alerts.
- You can also visit the Marion County Sheriff’s Department Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MCSOInTheKnow/
If you or a loved one need to evacuate, please consider a local staging area:
- The Oregon State Fairground. The Red Cross is on-site, and pets and livestock are permitted. Address: 2330 17th St NE, Salem, Oregon
If your animal is lost, or if you find a stray animal, please utilize the following resources:
- Marion County Dog Services. Watch the lost and found dogs page if your pup is missing. You might see the furry face here that you’ve been looking for.
- Polk County Dog Services. Dog’s aren’t held for long periods at the Sheriff’s office. But call to find out if your dog was found and picked up.
- Willamette Humane Society. If your pet is missing, visit the stray pets page. Submit a missing dog or cat online. You can also help out other families missing a pet. Submit a found report for a dog or a cat.
- Oregon Department of Agriculture: Newly launched website from ODA to help reunite owners with animals, including livestock. Click here to visit the ODA Animal Tracker.
For additional information about emergency planning and preparedness as a pet owner, visit our recent blog post.