Oregon rescue groups will keep records and larger groups will need licenses

Starting January 1, 2027, animal rescue entities must keep a record for each animal in their legal custody. An animal rescue entity is a person or organization that keeps, houses, and maintains animals in its legal custody and asks for or accepts donations; veterinary facilities are excluded. The State Department of Agriculture will set the record requirements by rule. The record duty begins January 1, 2027.

Starting January 1, 2027, an entity must obtain a license if it keeps 10 or more animals in its legal custody for more than two consecutive business days. The requirement applies to animal rescue entities, as defined in law; veterinary facilities are excluded. The department will set licensing requirements by rule and charge a reasonable fee to cover enforcement costs. The licensing requirement begins January 1, 2027, and applies after the entity meets the animal-count threshold for more than two consecutive business days.

Starting January 1, 2027, officials may investigate suspected unlicensed operation and inspect licensed entities; the department or state law enforcement must investigate certain complaints. Officials may investigate rescue entities required to have a license and inspect licensed entities. State agencies that receive complaints about licensed entities must notify the department. The department or state law enforcement must investigate a complaint only if it finds the complaint credible and serious; that investigation is limited to checking compliance with animal rescue requirements. If the department finds evidence of animal cruelty during a valid investigation, it must seize the evidence and report the violation to law enforcement. Officials may inspect licensed entities at any reasonable time. The complaint investigation duty applies when the department or state law enforcement receives a complaint it finds credible and serious.