Oregon Humane Society helps the state protect animals
The Oregon Humane Society is an animal shelter in Portland. Thomas Lamb Eliot started the organization in 1868. In those days, people rode horses and used them to pull wagons. People made the animals work very hard. After Eliot saw the beating of a horse, he decided that he must do something. So he created the Oregon Humane Society to keep animals safe.
Today, the Oregon Humane Society helps to find homes for dogs, cats, and other kinds of animals, including animals that lose their homes in natural disasters, such as hurricanes. The Oregon Humane Society also works with the state to pass laws that protect animals against cruelty. (Something cruel is very unkind or causes harm.) “Since its inception in 1868, OHS has been putting pressure on legislators to make sure that the most vulnerable members of society are adequately protected,” according to an article in the animal shelter’s newsletter. “OHS has been successful in authoring and sponsoring dozens of bills to protect animals and is now a respected voice in Oregon’s legal community.”
Here are some ways the Oregon Humane Society has helped animals through laws:
1884 – Oregon passes its first rules about animal cruelty
1921 – A new law requires Oregon schools to teach children about the humane (kind) treatment of animals.
1959 – A new law starts $500 fine for anybody who abandons (leaves) a dog, cat or other domestic (home) animal.
1995 – Animal abuse (violent or cruel treatment) is now a felony (a very serious crime).
2013 – The state says animals should be cared for in ways that minimize (lowers) pain, stress, fear and suffering. The state also increases punishments for animal neglect (not taking care of an animal).
2017 – A new state law says people can rescue (save) animals from cars in hot temperatures. This is because it is very dangerous for animals to be in cars in hot weather; they can easily die.
-This story was first published in ESOL News Oregon September 26, 2018.
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Discuss
- Look up the words “human” and “humane” in an online English-English dictionary like Longman. They are in the same word family, but their meanings are different. Why is “humane” used in the name of this organization?
- People in Oregon love their pets. Many people consider them members of their family. What about you? Do you have any pets? Talk about current or past pets with your group members.
- The Oregon Humane Society is a shelter for animals that need homes. Many places do not have shelters. The animals are either killed or continue to live on the street. We also have shelters for people who are homeless. These are supposed to be temporary housing for people to stay dry and warm until they can find permanent housing. What are the similarities and differences between animal shelters and homeless shelters?
- The Oregon Humane Society says that it protects society’s most vulnerable members: its animals. Do you agree that animals are the most vulnerable members of society? Why or why not? You may want to look up the meaning of “vulnerable” in an online English-English dictionary like Longman. Who else is vulnerable in society?
Write
- People in the United States love their pets. Many ESOL students are surprised by how animals are treated here because in their country they are treated very differently. Compare and contrast the treatment of animals in the United States with your country/culture.
- Although Americans love their pets, most Americans eat meat, which comes from animals and requires the animals to be killed. Do you see this as a contradiction? Or is it acceptable to treat different animals differently (for example, a cat is a pet, but a cow is food)? Explain your reasons.
- What can you learn about a society based on how they treat their animals? Are there some general truths that we can understand when we look at animal treatment? Are there other indications of a society’s common values? Explain with details and examples.
- Because animals cannot communicate with language, they need strong advocates like the Oregon Humane Society to protect them. They also need to find other ways of communicating with their owners. Give some ways that animals express their needs, desires, likes, and dislikes without using words.
Sources
“A history of strong laws.” Oregon Humane Society Magazine, Fall 2018.
“Thomas Lamb Eliot Archives.” Oregon Humane Society, www.oregonhumane.org/tag/thomas-lamb-eliot/.
