Louise McNeely was born on the family farm and lived in the La Grande area all her life. In adulthood, she had but one job, a highly responsible night clerk at the Foley Hotel. Though she had a limited education, she was very business-wise, often loaning money as well as investing in stocks and bonds while she led a very frugal life. It seems that her luxury in life was that she always had a cat for a companion.
        Louise never owned a dog, but often visited the old shelter – showing great concern for the animals kept there under the most deplorable conditions. The concern evidently led to her decision to do something about the ongoing problem, for after her death in January of 1990, Union County received $132,689 earmarked for improving or building a new animal shelter –– though it was over six years before her dream was finally realized.
        In memory of her son, Bud, who died an untimely death in 1993, Martha Smutz of
La Grande deeded 5 acres of the family Century Farm to the Blue Mountain Humane Association to fulfill the search for a shelter site. Bud’s dogs and farm animals were always dear to his heart, and he often exclaimed how wonderful it would be to do something special for the needy pets of the area. With his Mother’s gift in 1995 and construction completion of the Louise McNeely Animal Shelter in 1996, his wish has finally come true.

• Mar 3, 1976 – Union County passed a Dog Control Ordinance.
  
• June 1, 1976 – Grande Ronde Humane Society formed and took over animal control from City of La Grande.
  
• Mar 19, 1980 – Union County Court established itself as Board of Supervisors of the Dog Control District.
  
• Dec 1, 1982 – Advisory Committee established for dog control matters.
  
• Feb 9, 1987 – Joint city/county animal control established.
  
• Nov 16, 1987 – Coalition of Concerned Pet Owners objected to passage of the city ordinance without the following actions or changes:
  (1) Shelter needed to be enlarges and renovated to handle any increase in animal numbers. (2) Section on cats was too restrictive, and unenforceable; fine & adoption fees too high. (3) No general fund monies were available to conduct a program of magnitude proposes. Warning was given to not repeat the same mistakes made during the previous ten years; namely, insufficient funds to run a good program. (4) Recommendation for vote of the people before adopting any ordinance. (5) Recommendations ignored by controlling body.
  
• Jul 1, 1989 – City of La Grande took over enforcement operations, leaving GRHS responsible for all sheltering operations with a maximum guarantee of $7200 per year compensation.
  
• 1990-91 – Louise McNeely bequeathed Union County $132,689 for a new animal shelter.
  
• 1990-92 – Advisory committee conducted search for new shelter site as the existing one had no sewer service, and did not conform to DEQ requirements.
  
• Mar 31, 1991 – City of La Grande took over control of shelter operations on 1sr of August, ceased taking cats, and limited number of dogs housed. GRHS began inactive status.
  
• Spring 1992 – City of La Grande ceased all dog control/sheltering operations, citing Tax Measure 5.
  
• Summer 1993 – The PAWS Society founded to address solutions to local animal welfare problems. Betty Lingafelter of Help Pet-n-People and Jerry Gildemeister of The PAWSs Society completed search for shelter site with Martha Smutz’s offer of family Century Farm property. Gildemeister began research and design development for the shelter site and facility. Dog Control District Advisory Committee begins work on drafting county-wide dog control ordinance.
  
• Dec 1993 – Revised Union County Dog Control Ordinance adopted, Hearings Officer appointed, and Fee Schedule adopted by County Commissioners.
  
• Jan 1994 – County-wide dog licensing activated, and County Dog Control Officer reinstated.
  
• Feb 1994 – Conditional Use approved for animal shelter on Smutz property, and site plan approved.
  
• Mar 13, 1994 – PAWS request to Bosack-Kruger Foundation for assistance.
  
• Mar 30, 1994 – County Commissioners approve $2000 budget for drafting drawings of Gildemeister shelter design.
  
• April 21, 1994 - With adoption of By-Laws, Blue Mountain Humane Association founded as a non-profit, 501(c)(3) humane organization based in La Grande, Oregon. President elect - Rae Welch, Vice-President - Charles Young, Secretary-Treasurer - Nell Locken.
• June 28, 1994 – Gildemeister site development plan approved by La Grande Planning Commission.
  
• July 6, 1994 – Commissioners vote to reject building design and adopt shelter plan used in Columbia County.
  
• July 13, 1994 – Commissioners reject offer of The PAWS Society of leasing the Smutz site for $1 per year, and return to old animal shelter site at County Fairgrounds.
  
• Aug 24, 1994 – Zoning change for Fairgrounds site rejected by La Grande Planning Commission because of non-conforming use.
  
• Sep 7, 1994 – Commissioners reconsider County Airport, Sewage Lagoon, and Smutz sites.
  
• Sept 26, 1994 – County Planning Commission rejects County request of airport site.
  
• Sept 30, 1994 – Martha Smutz rejects County request for direct deed of land. PAWS again offers the Smutz property to the County with 99-year lease at $1 per year.
  
• Oct 10,1994 – Chief Deputy District Attorney gives legal opinion that Commissioners cannot lease property from a private company.
  
• Nov 22, 1994 – Shelter siting negotiations resume between Union County and PAWS.
  
• Dec 10, 1994 – Bosack-Kruger Foundation contacts The PAWS Society about status of local animal welfare problems.
  
• Dec 22, 1994 – Bosack-Kruger Foundation representative begins negotiations with County Commissioners.
  
• Feb 23, 1995 – Commissioners accept help of Bosack-Kruger Foundation to find shelter operator and to help with shelter plans.
  
• May 17, 1995 – Union County Board of Commissoners sign cooperative agreement with Blue Mountain Humane Association for shelter construction and operation.
  
• June 7, 1995 – Commissioners exempt shelter from public bidding requirements to allow BMHA Vice-President Charley Young to oversee shelter construction, thus permitting use of donated funds and materials.
  
• June 23, 1995 – Martha Smutz deeds 4.88 acres of family Century Farm to BMHA for shelter site.
  
• July 5, 1995 – Commissioners approve revised plans based on shelter design prepared by Gildemeister so Blue Mountain Humane can proceed with shelter construction schedule.
  
• July 19, 1995 – Final siting and operational agreements with BMHA approved by County Commissioners.
  
• July 20, 1995 – Ground-breaking ceremony with Martha Smutz turning the first spade full of soil.
  
• Spring 1996 – Opening ceremony of the newly constructed 3968 square foot Louise McNeely Animal Shelter