A Multnomah County, OR, judge last Thursday ordered that 89 of 117 pets seized from an unlicensed animal board and rescue facility last year, be released for adoption through Multnomah County Animal Services (MCAS).
MCAS launched an investigation in response to complaints about conditions at Woofin Palooza & Meowers Too in NE Portland. After an inspection of the grounds, MACS, the Portland Police Bureau and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office issued a search warrant. On August 11 2020, 52 dogs and 65 cats were removed from the NE Portland facility. Prior to their removal the Oregon Humane Society's forensic veterinary team triaged and treated the pets onsite.
Investigators found conditions inside the facility deplorable. Aside from feces and urine found on the floors of kennels, dirty kennels were stacked on top of occupied kennels allowing excrement to seep through onto the occupied kennels. Young animals with immature immune systems were housed with mature adults resulting in rampant disease transmission. Many documents attesting to pets being vaccinated were fraudulent. A few of the animals did not survive.
Torrance (Terri) Lynn Head and Samantha Miller, owners of Woofin Palooza, were both charged last May with 157 counts of second-degree animal neglect, 13 counts of identity theft, and 15 counts of second-degree forgery. The facility had promoted itself as a training, boarding, rescue and daycare for pets.
Woofin Palooza was never accredited by the Better Business Bureau and received scathing reviews on its website.
Per information obtained on Scam Rescues, Facebook, this was not the defendants’ first fraudulent rodeo. Before reinventing themselves as Woofin Palooza, the pair did business as All Terrier Rescue (ATR) in Aloah, a west Portland suburb. ATR was reportedly shut down in 2018 by the Oregon Department of Justice for misrepresenting their status as non-profit. Legitimate rescues had alleged that the group failed to vet their animals, screen prospective adopters and had falsified records. The group later reconstituted as Rescue Strong Oregon, LLC, but were again shut down.
Multnomah County staff and community members have stepped in to care for the animals seized from Woofin Palooza. Six kittens were born in care since the forfeiture bringing the total number of animals available for adoption to 95. The status of the remaining 28 pets will be determined at a later date.
Volunteers fostering the animals over the past year will get first crack at adopting these companion animals. Those not adopted will need new, forever homes. Click here to view adoptable animals.
As noted in our recent blog, scammers steal invaluable resources from legitimate shelters and rescues, worsen the plight of animals in their care and ultimately increase the numbers of homeless animals. Check the non-profit status, BBB ratings and reviews of any shelter, rescue or day care before patronizing them. Many individuals and groups caught and charged with nefarious activity simply vanish, then pop up in another part of the state or country under another name.
But rebranding cannot hide the skulls and cross-bones buried in their closets.