Siletz resident charged with abandoning dogs after claiming to find them on highway

Nickie Young, a 63-year-old resident of Siletz, Oregon, was arrested for abandoning two dogs after she falsely claimed to have found them on Siletz Highway. On March 26, she reported the dogs as abandoned near milepost 30, prompting an investigation by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. Animal Services deputies determined that Young was the rightful owner and had fabricated the story because she no longer wanted the dogs. In response, the sheriff's office took protective custody of the animals and relocated them to an out-of-county partner facility for adoption. Young now faces charges for initiating a false report, classified as an A-misdemeanor, and animal abandonment, a B-misdemeanor.

This incident underscores the critical need for responsible pet ownership and the consequences of neglect. The sheriff's office emphasized the importance of reaching out to local animal rescue organizations for those unable to care for their pets. By doing so, they aim to prevent similar situations and promote better outcomes for abandoned animals.