Esther Darlene Beireis

Rescued dog needs extensive, expensive surgeries

Mulino, OR Clackamas County

March 8, 2006

Clackamas County Dog Services removed 99 dogs from the rural home of Beireis, age 54 of Mulino.  The dogs mostly beagles and Lhasa apso-poodle mixes range in health from good to very poor.  Some of the dogs were dirty, lethargic, weak and suffering from infections, living in 3-4 foot layer of compacted feces covering an 1,800-square-foot home.

Beireis is accused of 1 count of 1st degree animal neglect.  Beireis was cited and released.  She must appear in court on April 12th.

The Clackamas County Dog Services, the Oregon Humane Society, Multnomah County Animal Services and the Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter in Washington County are caring for the dogs and will be placing them for adoption.

3 of the longer-haired dogs were so covered in feces, urine and debris that animal control workers couldn't tell their heads from tails.  Some of the dogs could barely move, let alone stoop their heads to eat or drink.  After shaving one of the dogs, workers were astonished to find the mat of waste weighed more than the dog.

Veterinarians expect to amputate the rear legs of 2 dogs with untreated broken bones.  2 other dogs were euthanized.

At one of the adoption events a 10-week-old Lhasa apso pup was stolen.  The thief made off while shelter workers tended to other visitors.  The car, a Mercedes SUV left shelter workers wondering why the driver wouldn't pay the $130 adoption fee.

Update August 8, 2006:

     (Photo courtesy of Casey Campbell/Gazette-Times)  Eddie a 3-year-old Lhasa apso-poodle mix, looks behind as he walks down the sidewalk outside of the Ark Animal Clinic.  Eddie's walk is more of a waddle, as he has a severe deformation in his hind legs where his tibias are bowed and his knees rotated outward.

Eddie, a Lhasa-poodle mix that was rescued in March 2006 with 98 other dogs from a 54-year old Beireis of Mulino, needs extensive, expensive surgeries.  Eddie was discovered confined in a feces and urine filled metal cage.  It appeared that he rarely, if ever, was allowed out of his confinement.

With bright brown eyes, a sleek new haircut and fluffy tail, it is difficult to image a dog with more charm.  But when Eddie rises from a sitting position, he waddles - his back legs are near-perfect right angles.  His unusual gait is the result of severe deformation, possibly brought about by the neglect and abuse he suffered at the hands of his former owner.  No one knows for certain if his severe leg deformities are solely the result of confinement or were just aggravated by it, but his tibias are bowed into “S” shapes, and his knees have rotated outward.  He is in a mild amount of pain, but this could increase as his deformities worsen. Eddie needs help soon or his leg problems will only get worse.

When he first arrived at the Ark Animal Hospital in Philomath, he could not move as well as he is now. To correct Eddie’s gait will require two expensive surgeries, which will cost $2,500 to $3,000 per leg.  Because of the pain and recovery time involved, the leg surgeries will be done a month apart to give him time to heal.

Susan Faria, a receptionist at the Ark Animal Hospital and a founding member of Senior Dog Rescue of Oregon took Eddie in because Senior Dog Rescue offers hospice services to a limited number of dogs in need.  He has become a fixture in her home and with the staff at the Ark Animal Hospital. But $6,000 is a lot of money.

Fund-raising is the only option and a number of Faria’s friends and associates, as well as fellow members of Senior Dog Rescue are joining together to raise money for Eddie’ surgeries.  It will be the biggest project they have ever done.

Once the money is raised the Eddie’s surgeries are complete, he’ll face months of recovery and physical therapy – including massage and swimming.  It is uncertain how mobile he will become, but everyone knows the risk is worth it.

Update December 12, 2006:

Beireis plead guilty to animal neglect charges and was sentenced to 30-days of electronic surveillance and 4 years probation.  Beireis was ordered to pay $5,000 as a compensatory fine.

The Beireis case was diverted to the county's mental health court, which began in 2002 and is loosely modeled after the county's drug court, where addicts are routed away from jail in favor of intensive treatment in a program closely monitored by the court.

Reference:

Corvallis Gazette-Times

The Oregonian