Background information can be found here.

On Tuesday, June 11, IDA and volunteers went back to the "sanctuary" to assess the situation and get the remaining animals off the property. When we left on Tuesday afternoon, the only animals left were 2 llamas, 4 horses, 5 cows/steers and feral cats.
It is my understanding that foster homes are ready for the remaining animals, except the ferals, and that those animals will by rescued by the end of this week. That being said, more than 420 animals have been removed from this filthy facility in the last week. Great news for the animals! Many of the animals have been seen by veterinarians and the ones that have not are lined up in the near future. Thanks to Dr. Brenda Smith for graciously volunteering her time to help the animals.

The bad news is the spider monkey, love birds, hedge hogs, guinea pigs, parrots and pet rats are still missing. Sanctuary "owner" Eddie White broke a court order when he removed those animals from the property before we could rescue them. We are still pursuing their whereabouts.

IDA will also be posting pictures taken at the "sanctuary" by Kevin in the near future on our website at www.idausa.org. I will let folks know when this has transpired.

Many wonderful stories have come out of this tragic event. One in
particular is very heart warming. A woman who adopted out her aging horse four years ago to a family was shocked to see this same horse at Ark on the evening news. Though the horse looked very thin and sickly she was sure that it was her former companion. She phoned whistleblower Peggy Kirke to find out if in fact it was her horse and the horse matched the former guardians' description exactly. The two were reunited again on Tuesday and went home together!

If you are interested in meeting some of the animals that were rescued from Ark, please consider joining IDA and volunteers this weekend when we carpool to ARK-HAVEN Animal Sanctuary in Sheridan, Oregon for volunteer day. Please note that though the names are similar, they are VERY different places. Ark-Haven is pristine and the 150 animals that reside at this safe haven are loved, well fed and have a clean and beautiful environment in which to call home.

If interested in carpooling with us, please contact IDA activist and photographer Kevin Mieras at bkind2animals@mindspring.com or at 503 274-9825 and let him know you will be joining the carpool. Interested folks will be meeting at 9:15 am, Saturday, June 15 at the parking lot of US Bank/A-Boy on the corner of SW Terwilliger and Barbur Blvd in Portland. Please bring a sack lunch, beverages and gloves. For more information about the sanctuary and directions to the farm please call 503 843-1196 and Wayne will be glad to help you.

If you are carpooling to Ark-Haven on Saturday and wish to make a food donation for the Ark relief fund, please bring and Peggy Kirke will take back to Tillamook with her.

We are in the process of coordinating drop off locations for food with several other groups and will email the information in the near future for those folks who wish to donate.

We still need donations to help with food and veterinary care. Again, if you can donate the information is as follows:

US BANK
408 Main Street
Tillamook, Oregon 97141
503 842-3690
ABA Routing Number: 123000220
Account Number 153653551108
For the Benefit of Ark Animal Relief Fund (AARF)

You can go into any US Bank or mail/wire a donation.

I would like to thank each and every person who has helped in this endeavor. Folks who dropped off blankets, cages & traps, went to the site, fostered animals, sent donations, offered veterinary care, etc. WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU! IDA thanks you, but more importantly, THE ANIMALS THANK YOU!

I am closing with two newspaper articles about the rescue at the Ark from the Tillamook paper, The Tillamook Headlight Herald. The Oregonian, unfortunately, did not cover the story. Thanks to KOIN News 6 who ran the story on Sunday evening. It was the top story and was a great piece that ran for 2 1/2 minutes. Thanks also to Channel 12 news and KXL radio for covering the story.

For additional information, follow the links below:

Animals removed from shelter

Sanctuary manager charged with animal neglect

Please feel free to crosspost.

In Peace,
Laurie M. Lown
Northwest Regional Director
In Defense of Animals
6312 SW Capitol Hwy, No. 419
Portland, Oregon 97219
503 293-1853
nwida@aol.com

It is the policy of In Defense of Animals to no longer use language that accepts the current concept of animals as property, commodities and/or things. Rather than refer to ourselves or others as "owners" of animals we share our lives with, we now refer to ourselves and others as "guardians" of our animal friends and to animals as "he" or "she" rather than "it." Guardians do not buy or sell animals; instead they rescue and adopt. We urge
you to do the same.