Rescue organizations in Oregon, such as Fuzz Ball Animal Rescue and Pendleton Animal Welfare Shelter, are facing fines from the Oregon Department of Agriculture for recordkeeping violations. The fines, which can amount to thousands of dollars, are seen as punitive by the rescues, who operate on limited budgets and rely on donations. The fines are part of a compliance pathway established by the state to ensure that rescue entities meet specific standards.

The Department of Agriculture licenses and inspects animal rescue entities in Oregon, with 184 licensed entities in the state as of April 2025. The fines are intended to help rescues comply with state law, but some organizations feel that the penalties are excessive. While some rescues have been successful in reducing fines by resubmitting records for audit, the process is time-consuming and challenging for volunteer-run organizations. The fines are causing stress and concern among rescue representatives, who worry about the impact on their ability to care for animals.

Some rescue representatives feel that the fines are targeting organizations that are trying to comply with the law, rather than addressing neglectful or abusive rescues. The fines are leading some rescues to consider giving up their work, as the added stress of dealing with penalties is making it difficult to continue. The fines are also raising questions about the effectiveness of the licensing program and its impact on the ability of rescues to operate effectively. Rescue organizations are calling for changes to the fines and regulations to better support their efforts to care for animals.