Bonnie Hays Animal Shelter

08/14/2025

Dogs have gotten very sick and even died after swimming in or drinking water containing this type of harmful algae. Visit the Oregon Health Authority's website at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HEALTHYENVIRONMENTS/RECREATION/HARMFULALGAEBLOOMS to learn more about cyanobacteria blooms.

08/14/2025

Learn more about catios and find inspiration for building one of your own at the annual Cats Safe at Home Catio Tour taking place on Saturday, September 6!

Details and registration: https://www.catssafeathome.org/catio

This Catio Tour is brought to you by the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon and Bird Alliance of Oregon.

08/13/2025

Leash up your dog and check out the Canine Community Carnival on Sunday, August 24! For more information, visit Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District's website at https://www.thprd.org/events/detail/canine-community-carnival/08-24-2025.

Get ready for some Paw-some Fun! Mark your calendars for Sunday, August 24 from 9 am - 12 pm at the Garden Home Recreation Center. The Canine Community Carnival is happening - and it's free to attend!

08/13/2025

Harmful algae bloom advisories have been issued in the Portland area. Visit https://www.oregonvma.org/toxic-algae-advisories for more information.

Harmful algae bloom advisories for bodies of water throughout the state have been issued by Oregon Health Authority. Check our Web site for a list: https://www.oregonvma.org/toxic-algae-advisories

Note: The advisory in the graphic below has been expanded to include the Willamette River from the Ross Island Bridge downriver to Wapato Bridge and Kelley Point Park.

Avoid contact with the water in these locations. Dogs can become extremely ill—and even die—within minutes to hours of exposure to cyanotoxins from drinking water, licking their wet fur, or eating floating mats or dried crust along the shore.

A toxic algae bloom can look foamy, scummy, thick like paint, and pea-green or blue-green in color. It can look like a thick green or brownish-red mat, or bright green clumps suspended in the water. If you find thick, brightly colored foam, scum or mats in a lake, pond, river or stream—especially in shallow, marshy areas where cyanobacteria blooms can form—don’t let your pet drink or swim in the water.

Check our Web site or Oregon Health Authority's site for the latest cyanobacteria advisories before heading out. And remember: when in doubt, stay out!

08/12/2025

It's hot today. Let's try to stay cool by flashing back to February when there was snow on the ground and the huskies staying at the shelter were having the time of their lives!

08/12/2025

It will continue to be hot today! Check on family, friends and neighbors to make sure they are staying cool. Visit www.StayCoolWashingtonCounty.com or call 211 for a list of cooling centers and other resources.

Make sure your animals always have access to fresh drinking water and shelter to protect them from the elements.

Keep the phone numbers for Washington County Animal Services (503-846-7041) and non-emergency dispatch (503-629-0111) in your phone in case you find an animal in a car during this heat. If the animal is in obvious distress, call 911.

Thank you for helping to keep our community safe during this heat wave!

08/11/2025

Fourteen dogs (including Max, pictured) and three cats were reunited with their people last week at the Bonnie Hays Animal Shelter! We also transferred 15 dogs/puppies, 14 cats/kittens and two guinea pigs to partner organizations for eventual adoption. Thank you for your continued support!

08/09/2025

It's going to be hot over the next few days! Make sure your animals always have access to fresh drinking water and shelter to protect them from the elements.

Check on family, friends and neighbors to make sure they (and their pets!) are staying cool. Visit www.StayCoolWashingtonCounty.com for a list of cooling centers and other resources.

⚠️🌡️Extreme Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories have been issued for much of the NW Oregon and SW Washington interior lowlands for Sunday through early Tuesday.
Forecast for your location ➡️ weather.gov/portland
Heat safety tips ➡️ weather.gov/safety/heat

08/08/2025

We got visited by a cute lil' Stinker today! And yes, that's her real name.

Stinker stopped by the shelter today with her human to get her very first Washington County dog license. Yay, Stinker!

If your dog needs their first license (or it's time to renew!), visit www.WashingtonCountyDogLicense.com to learn more about doing that online, over the phone, in person or by mail.

08/08/2025

is the purr-fect reminder to make sure you have an emergency plan in place for your feline family members.

Many cats don’t like getting into carriers or otherwise being told what to do or where to go. But if you ever need to evacuate, taking your pet with you helps ensure they are safe and cared for in an emergency.

Plan ahead by helping your cat become more comfortable with a crate or carrier. Every cat is different, but you may find this advice helpful: https://www.petfinder.com/cats-and-kittens/training/general/cat-hates-carrier/

08/07/2025

'Tis the season for foxtails! These barbed grass seeds can get stuck in the nose, ears, eyes and skin of pets. Ouch!

After outings with your pet, be sure to check them for foxtails, a grass seed pod that resembles a fox’s tail. Brush your pet, checking between their toes, as well as in their ears, armpits, and groin areas.

Foxtails (also known as cheatgrass) usually enter a pet's body through the nose, mouth, ears, and eyes. Because of the fish-hook-like shape of the barbs, they only move in one direction—inward. If not removed, they can migrate into a pet's tissues and can potentially cause abscesses and widespread infections.

Foxtails are a foreign body that need to be removed from your pet. If they are at the surface, you can try to remove them with tweezers, but be sure to get the entire seed pod. If you don't get the entire seed pod out, or if you think the foxtail has already migrated inward, please see your veterinarian, especially if your pet is shaking its head or persistently sneezing.

What to watch for:
* If a foxtail has entered through the nose and/or throat, the animal may exhibit persistent sneezing, snorting, nasal discharge, shaking of the head, pawing at the head, head tilting, or gagging.
* If it has entered through the paw, the animal may limp on the affected limb. Excessive licking of a specific area may also indicate the presence of a foxtail.
* If a foxtail has entered the eye area, uncontrolled blinking and swelling may be observed.

08/07/2025

In our column in this month's Beaverton Resource Guide, we discuss the benefits of keeping your dog on a leash in public. Read it at https://beavertonresourceguide.com/leash-up-to-keep-pets-and-people-safe-enjoy-your-walks-in-the-park/.