Dogs neglected - nearly 200 seized from filth
Portland, OR (US)Incident Date: Friday, Mar 13, 2009
County: Multnomah
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Ted Tellefson
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Deputies removed nearly 200 dogs from a man's property in southeastern Oregon.
Many of the animals are now on their way to the Oregon Humane Society in Portland, investigators said.
Officials at the Oregon Humane Society were doing everything they could to get ready for the huge influx of dogs which were scheduled to arrive there sometime Friday afternoon.
Officials said they have been getting their beds ready and have lots of kennels prepared to take the new dogs. They dogs will have to be quarantined for awhile to make sure they're healthy.
OHS was already at capacity for dogs when it received the call about the seized animals. So the 115 dogs that were already there are going to be doubled up with other dogs.
The Harney County Sheriff's Office said they arrested Ted Tellefson, 57, on animal neglect charges after they found many of his more than 200 dogs living in filth.
They said Tellefson has health problems and couldn't keep all the dogs clean. But the sheriff's office agreed that if Tellefson gave up all but 20 of his animals they would drop the charges, which sent dozens of the dogs to Portland, and they will soon be available for adoption.
"(Saturday we) will assess them. Some will go to different shelter groups and then we're really hoping for a big adoption weekend to move some of the dogs that are ready now into new homes," said Sharon Harmon of the Oregon Humane Society.
The dogs coming from southeast Oregon are all types: akitas, golden retrievers and some smaller breeds.
Case UpdatesA man the prosecutor says is known around Oregon for running puppy mills has pleaded guilty to animal neglect in Klamath County.
Humane Society officials say they are caring for 38 dogs taken from 57-year-old Ted Tellefson. They say the dogs haven't been fixed, aren't well socialized, probably have worms and will require much care before they can be adopted.
District Attorney Ed Caleb says Tellefson also faces charges in Harney County. Nearly 200 dogs were taken when he was charged earlier this summer in what was described as one of the largest dog rescues in Oregon history.
Caleb says Tellefson is known for neglecting animals when he can't sell them and moving his operations when criminal charges are imminent. | Source: KGW - Aug 8, 2009
Update posted on Aug 10, 2009 - 12:47AM |
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