Posted
For Immediate Release: Friday, March 11, 2022
A visible reminder of a much more somber time in animal welfare will soon be gone. The incinerator at Bonnie Hays Animal Shelter that was once used to cremate euthanized animals will be removed on Monday, March 14. The incinerator was decommissioned in 2019 after years of decreased use.
When Bonnie Hays Animal Shelter opened in 1994, county shelter operations were dramatically different, and euthanasia was a common response to pet overpopulation in the region. Over the years, Washington County’s only municipal animal shelter has worked alongside other local organizations to make the community a much safer place for homeless animals. This is reflected in the percentage of animals that have been reunited with their owners or placed in new homes after entering the shelter, which has increased from 62% in 2006 to 93% in 2020.
“Healthy, adoptable animals haven’t been euthanized at Bonnie Hays Animal Shelter since 2010,” Washington County Animal Services Manager Randy Covey explained. “This is due to our increased return-to-owner efforts that reunite lost pets with their people, partnerships with other local shelters and organizations that place animals in need into homes through robust adoption programs, and more people spaying and neutering their pets.”
In a community where so many people share their home with a beloved pet, the removal of the incinerator is a cause for celebration in and of itself. But the removal of the incinerator also offers an opportunity for the shelter to better serve the people and pets of Washington County in case of a disaster. The space created by the removal will be repurposed as a dedicated location to store emergency response supplies. Washington County Animal Services is the lead animal organization in the event of a disaster in the county.
“Fifteen years ago, few people thought it would be possible to operate a public animal shelter without an onsite incinerator. Monday will be a proud day for us in Washington County,” said Covey.
Bonnie Hays Animal Shelter and Washington County Animal Services provide resources for the people and pets of Washington County. They care for stray and injured animals, investigate animal abuse and neglect, provide protective custody for animals in need, and reunite lost pets with their owners. The shelter is located at 1901 SE 24th Avenue in Hillsboro. To learn more, visit WashingtonCountyPets.com.
Media Contact:
Randy Covey, Animal Services Manager
503-846-7148
[email protected]