Animal Abuse Case Spanning Two States Ends With Prison Terms for Former Humboldt County Man

Joe Larue

A long-running animal abuse case that stretched from Southern Oregon into Humboldt County has ended with prison sentences in both states for Joseph Larue, the former operator of Pawsitive K9 Solutions in Grants Pass.

According to the Grants Pass Tribune, Larue was sentenced in Josephine County, Oregon to 80 months in prison after entering guilty pleas to multiple charges tied to an animal neglect investigation that began in 2022. The Oregon sentence is ordered to run consecutively to time he already has to serve in California.

Humboldt County court records, as reported by John Chiv who covers local cases on his blog, show that on November 18, 2025, Larue was sentenced to five years in prison in case CR2403294, with 713 days of credit for time already served. Two related extradition cases were later dismissed after Larue was ordered transported out of the county on December 18, 2025.

State prison records indicate Larue was admitted to North Kern State Prison on December 19, 2025. He is currently listed with a parole eligible date of May 2027, though that date is subject to change based on credits, rules violations, or other factors. The Oregon sentence will begin after completion of his California term, meaning Larue is expected to remain incarcerated well beyond his initial parole eligibility in California.

The case against Larue began in 2022 when authorities in Oregon investigated complaints about conditions at his dog training business and associated properties. According to a press release issued by the Josephine County Sheriff’s Department after the business was raided, “Deputies and Animal Control Officers recovered 13 canines all at different levels of malnourishment. Some of the canines required immediate care from veterinarians who helped after hours to see them in a timely manner.” Then, according to a later press release also by Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, deputies served a warrant on his Selma residence on September 26, where they found one horse and one rabbit deceased. In addition, 16 animals—including another horse, multiple dogs, cats, and chickens—were located without food or water and living in poor conditions.

In March of 2023, another warrant was served at LaRue’s home in Oregon and more abused animals were found.

In the process of serving a search warrant to recover a stolen John Deere tractor located on LaRue’s property, deputies located the tractor and also discovered 10 dogs in a garage, some of which were in cages. [Photo and description from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office]

According to a Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office press release, deputies responded around 4 p.m. on October 15, 2024, to a report of a domestic disturbance with possible shots fired on Orchard Lane in Redway. Investigators found significant blood and evidence of a disturbance inside an apartment, but the individuals involved had fled. Larue was identified as the primary aggressor and was believed to have sustained a gunshot wound to the face or head during the incident. A vehicle linked to the incident was located not far away, and the suspect was believed to have fled on foot into a wooded area. This led to a large-scale search involving SWAT, K9 units, drones, and CHP aircraft. Despite the extensive effort, Larue was not located that day. Authorities later sought warrants for felony domestic violence, resisting arrest, and firearm-related charges.

He was arrested in Fortuna in November 2024 after weeks of evading capture. He was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on multiple felony charges.

He later took a plea deal and was transferred into state custody and admitted to North Kern State Prison in mid December of 2025. Following his California sentencing and transfer, Larue was extradited to Oregon to resolve the pending animal abuse case there, where he ultimately entered guilty pleas and received an 80-month prison sentence to be served after his California term.

In addition to prison time, the Oregon court ordered that Larue was not allowed to own or have control over animals for 15 years. Under current law, that begins now, –that means part of the prohibition will run while he is incarcerated.

The cases involving LaRue that wound from Southern Oregon into Humboldt County—resulting in multiple dead animals and arrests, a bullet to the face, a manhunt, and years of court proceedings—appears, at last, to have come to an end.

Earlier:

• • • Oregon Law Enforcement Seeks Humboldt County Couple After 13 Starving Dogs, Dead Horse and Rabbit Found
    • Law Enforcement Gathering in South Redway
    • Manhunt Following Domestic Dispute in Redway Is For Accused Animal Abuser in Well-Known Oregon Case
    • Suspect in Felony Animal Abuse Case Still Sought in Redway This Afternoon
    • Alleged Animal Abuser Evades Capture in Eureka; Woman Arrested on Multiple Charges
    • Breaking: HCSO Aided by Fortuna Police Capture Suspected Animal Abuser Wanted on Multiple Other Charges
    • Wanted Fugitive Located and Arrested; HCSO Gives Details on Arrest of Man Wanted for Animal Cruelty
    • Joseph Larue and Katina Baker Arrested Again, Facing Felony Burglary Charges
    • Joseph Larue, Known for Repeatedly Fleeing Law Enforcement, Released After Bail Was Set This Week