Baker City suspect faces charges after abandoning five dogs
By Joe Hathaway on Thursday, May 9th, 2024 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER COUNTY – (Release from the Baker County Sheriff’s Office) On May 2, 2024, the Baker County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by Dick Haines, with New Hope for Eastern Oregon Animals, who reported that three dogs were found in the area of Highway 7 and Forest Service Road 1040. Haines also stated that two dogs were still in the area and had not been captured.
During the investigation, BCSO Dispatcher Church recognized the dogs from a previous call. In February 2024, several dogs were located at Virtue Flat by people recreating in the area. The owner was identified as Joseph Wallace Berkheimer (29 yoa) of Baker City. Berkheimer claimed that he had been exercising the dogs when they took off after a deer, and he was unable to locate them.
After receiving this most recent report, Sheriff Ash contacted Berkheimer. During the investigation, it was determined that Berkheimer abandoned the dogs near Tipton Summit.
Throughout the week, Haines and volunteers from Best Friends of Baker, Inc. continued to search the area in an effort to locate the two remaining dogs. On May 8th, Haines spotted the dogs in a culvert off Forest Service Road 1040. Deputy Matt Rosin assisted Haines with safely securing them.
Berkheimer was charged with Animal Abandonment. Due to Senate Bill 48, which was enacted by the Oregon legislature and ultimately removes discretion and requires Oregon jails to follow a matrix to determine whether arrestees will be held or released, Berkheimer did not meet the requirements to be lodged in jail.
The rescued dogs will undergo a veterinary evaluation, and more charges may be forthcoming.
Baker County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all those involved that made this rescue possible, including the individual who initially located the dogs, Dick Haines and New Hope for Eastern Oregon Animals, Best Friends of Baker, Inc., employees with the U.S. Forest Service, and the Animal Clinic. We are grateful to everyone who worked tirelessly in an effort to locate these dogs.
Read our previous coverage of this case here.
