1. United States
2. Ore.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my strong support for Senate Bill 1076, which proposes implementing a flat licensing fee between $350 and $600 for animal rescue entities in Oregon. This measure would provide much-needed financial relief for the many volunteer-run and donation-based animal shelters and rescues across the state. As highlighted in the recent report, organizations like Fuzz Ball Animal Rescue, Pendleton Animal Welfare Shelter (PAWS), Blue Mountain Humane Association, and others have been hit with exorbitant fines from the Oregon Department of Agriculture, often for minor recordkeeping infractions. These fines, in some cases totaling thousands of dollars, are crippling for rescues operating on shoestring budgets. The funds going towards paying penalties could instead be utilized for lifesaving efforts like veterinary care, food, and sheltering for neglected or abandoned animals. Moreover, the current licensing fee structure, which charges higher amounts based on an entity's size, places a disproportionate burden on larger shelters that care for more animals. A flat fee would ensure a more equitable distribution of costs, allowing rescues of all sizes to allocate their limited resources more effectively towards their core mission. Animal welfare organizations provide an invaluable service to our communities by rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming countless pets each year. Rather than penalizing them for recordkeeping oversights, we should be supporting and enabling their crucial work through reasonable licensing fees. SB 1076 represents a sensible step in that direction. I urge you to vote in favor of this bill and stand with the dedicated individuals working tirelessly to protect Oregon's animals in need.