Emergency Response & Rescue
If your emergency involves a life-threatening situation for a human being, call 911.
If you have a domestic animal-related emergency during business hours, 7 days/week, call (503) 988-7387. MCAS does not currently have the ability to respond to after hours animal emergencies from 5 pm to 8 am.
AFTER HOURS:
Domestic Animal-related emergencies - Call 911
- Dog and cat attacks in progress.
- Observing active animal abuse (if the animal is in distress or immediate danger).
- Pet confined to a motor vehicle during extreme heat / cold.
Stray Pet on a Highway or Busy Street
If the animal is friendly and you are able to get a hold of it without endangering yourself or the animal, please do so. If the animal is clearly frightened, do not attempt to capture it. This may make the situation worse and frightened animals often bite.
If you are able to safely collect the animal, you may bring it to our shelter in Troutdale during normal shelter hours. See additional options for found pets.
Stray Livestock
If the animal can be safely confined, call (503) 988-7387 during regular hours and arrange to have an animal control officer investigate.
Loose, Aggressive Animal
For incidents that have occurred within the past 15 minutes, call (503) 988-7387 from 8 am to 5 pm. For all other times, call 911 immediately.
Dog, Cat, and Ferret Bites That Break the Skin
Call (503) 988-7387 during open hours to file a report. An animal control officer will contact the owner regarding quarantine procedures.
Animal Abuse or Neglect
If an animal is actively being abused and is in immediate distress, call 911 immediately to report an emergency.
If you want to report potential animal abuse or neglect for a pet that is not in an active situation, please call (503) 988-7387 during open hours to request a welfare check. If necessary, you may remain anonymous.
You will be asked to provide details of what you’ve observed that may constitute neglect or abuse. Use the guidelines below.
Minimum Care Standards for Animals
Multnomah County Ordinances and Oregon State Law (ORS 167.310) require that animals have:
- adequate shelter (protection from sun, rain, wind, extreme temperatures)
- ventilation
- adequate food
- access to clean, potable water
- regular waste removal
Not providing for a pet's basic needs is considered neglect. We rely on members of the community to report when animals are being mistreated. If you are uncertain whether a situation is a case of abuse/neglect, it is better to call us before it is too late and animal control officers will help make the determination.
Pet in Parked Motor Vehicles During Extreme Hot or Cold Weather
Locate the animal’s owner if possible to address the situation.
If the owner is unwilling to comply, or you can’t immediately find the owner and you believe the animal’s life is in jeopardy, call 911 to report an emergency. Dispatchers will ask you about what you observe, and advise of next steps:
- Is the vehicle in the shade or the sun?
- Does the animal appear to exhibit any of the signs of heatstroke?
- Symptoms of heatstroke in dogs include excessive panting, glassy eyes, weakness, fast heart rate, drooling, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, and a body temperature over 104 F.
- Animal Control Officers and municipal police departments will respond to assist you.
- Citizens are legally permitted to enter a vehicle and remove pets or children in imminent danger of suffering harm if certain requirements are met, as per ORS 30.813.
- Multnomah County Animal Services or law enforcement must be notified of your emergency entry into the vehicle prior to or soon after the pets are removed. You must also remain with the removed pets in a safe location near the vehicle until Animal Services or law enforcement arrives.
Sick or Injured Animal
If the animal is yours
If the sick or injured animal is yours, call your vet immediately. Owners are responsible for their own animals.
If the animal is not yours
If possible, keep the animal protected from wet, wind and traffic. Locate and inform the animal’s owner. If you cannot locate the owner and you feel the injury/illness is life threatening, call (503) 988-7387 from 8 am to 5 pm to report an emergency. If outside of those hours, you can call 911 or bring the animal to Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital. The animal may feel threatened and bite out of fear and/or pain, so please use extreme caution when engaging.
If the injury or sickness does not appear to be immediately life threatening, call (503) 988-7387 during regular hours.
Birds
Contact the Bird Alliance of Oregon at (503) 292-0304.
Wildlife
Contact Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife at one of the following locations
- (971) 673-6000 Clackamas ODFW office (use if east of Willamette River)
- (503) 621-3488 Sauvie Island ODFW office (use if west of Willamette River)