Oregon Rescues Perplexed and Puzzled

This afternoon, I talked to "Chuck" who's the head of the field operations at MCAS. 

According to him, they're not close to implementing anything re SB 6. They're waiting for the county attorney to give them some guidance since the new law is in conflict with another animal cruelty law also passed this session as well as existing Multnomah County ordinances. They may have to wait until the county passes an amended ordinance that brings it into line with the state law. 

Also said the legislature tried to give SB 6 (the licensing part) to the Oregon Dept. of Agriculture to run, who threw up their hands and said no way! So it's been dumped on local animal control agencies, or I assume the sheriff's dept. for those without a county animal control agency. He said when the details are worked out, they'll probably post the info on how to apply, etc. to their web site to get the word out.

If this is old news, sorry - I'm just getting myself plugged into the informal rescue network in the area:

Then he dumped a bombshell. According to him, all rescue groups in Mult. County should have facility licenses - $195/year, and meet a whole slew of requirements and be inspected by MCAS before it would be issued.

I asked him WTF? 

He said that rescue groups "transfer" animals (e.g. adopt them out), so they're covered by the county facility law. I looked at the county ordinance which is conveniently referenced on their web site and read the relevant section of the code 

http://www.multcopets.org/animal-facility-licensing 

 What is an animal facility?

An animal facility is defined as a site which is operated or used for:

• Boarding, training, daycare (or similar purposes) of dogs, cats or other animals commonly maintained as pets for varying amounts of time.
• Purposes of breeding, buying, selling, or bartering of cats, dogs, or other animals commonly maintained as pets.

Includes:

• pet shops
• doggie daycares
• private persons whose pets have been allowed to reproduce

Excludes:

• veterinary hospitals

Not sure what he might mean, since I can't see "transferred" here at all. It all looks like it's related to something of value being offered in return for an animal. 

So….now what? I can't see paying $195/year on top  of everything else. Has anyone come across this before?  Anyone know who might have a definitive answer without the cost of consulting with an attorney?

Perplexed and puzzled,