It's the Best Time to Get a Cat. Or Another Cat. |
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It's kitten season, which means Kitsap Humane Society is bursting at the seams with feline friends. With that in mind (and because we're of the belief that every household is happier with the pitter-patter of tiny paws), we're reducing adoption fees on all cats and kittens throughout the month of August.
Check out our adoption page to find your new buddy. For one month only, adoption fees for kittens 6 months and younger are $175 (or 2 for $300); teen cats 6 months to 1 year are $100 (or 2 for $175); adult cats 1 to 6 years are $80 (or 2 for $150); and senior cats are $40. Meowser!
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The KHS Pet Food Pantry: Help Us Help Others |
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There're a lot of ways KHS serves as a safety net for the community - and the Pet Food Pantry is among the most important.
In 2022, more than 32,000 pounds of food was distributed to over 500 of your Kitsap neighbors, accounting for a lot of happy companion animals and relieved pet parents. But we can't do it without the generosity of the larger community and people like you.
Right now, our cupboards are nearly bare and KHS is desperately in need of donations of wet and dry dog and cat food and treats. All brands and donations are greatly appreciated. Items cannot be opened or expired and we accept drop-off donations onsite at any time. You can also order these essential supplies on our Chewy Wish List, Walmart Wish List, and Amazon Wish List and ship directly to KHS!
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Drinkin' Wine and Feline Fine |
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Every animal lover's favorite wine event is back and bigger than ever!
Wine & Whiskers is your opportunity to enjoy a tasting from each of 12 of the Northwest's premier wineries at one low price - and all benefiting Kitsap Humane Society! And this year, we've extended the event to two full months, so you have plenty of time to raise a glass at each one!
Imagine yourself sitting down to a tasting at each of the following participating wineries!
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Online Auction to Benefit KHS - August 16 |
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People donate all kinds of things to Kitsap Humane Society. Food, toys, pet beds, even cars – but it’s not often that it's a house.
But that’s exactly what happened a couple of months ago when a community member with a shared love of animals bequeathed to us a Kingston home – with all its contents.
So, in partnership with local auctioneers Blue Nest Home (who are generously donating their services), we will be holding an online auction from August 16 to 26. On their website, you’ll have the opportunity to bid on a wide range of items, from common household items, to artwork, furnishings, and collectibles (including a jukebox and baseball cards).
To take part in the auction, simply go to Blue Nest’s website and search for Kitsap Humane Society. Also, you can meet their Customer Relations Dog, Sophie.
And just a reminder: August is National Make-A-Will Month, which is a great time to protect your legacy and ensure that your final wishes are followed.
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A Tail of Community and Cats |
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It takes a village, or in this case, a social media community of cat lovers.
When KHS Veterinary Operations Manager Jean Gibowski received an email about a large colony of community cats in East Bremerton, she reached back out to the group that contacted her for assistance. The caretaker of the colony had recently been hospitalized and members of the Kitsap/West Sound Community Cats Facebook Group had been feeding them in his absence. When one group member had to leave town, she emailed Jean for help. Jean saw it as an opportunity.
"At Kitsap Humane Society, we believe trapping, neutering, and returning (TNR) community cats to their neighborhoods is the most effective and humane way to control the population," says Jean.
In fact, there are an estimated 30 to 40 million community cats in the U.S. alone, and 80 percent of the kittens born in the U.S. are to such cats. And one unaltered female cat and her offspring could produce 420,000 cats in only seven years. TNR programs - such as the one run by organizations like KHS, Community Cat Coalition, and Alley Cat Allies - control populations and prevent them from rapidly increasing.
So Jean set out on a chilly Wednesday morning, her KHS van loaded with traps and food, and armed with a village of volunteer Facebook friends to help in her efforts. In all, 26 cats were humanely trapped, spayed or neutered, and returned to their neighborhood over the course of two days.
"It was a rewarding day," said one of the volunteers. "These cats don't know it yet, but we've probably just saved their lives."
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Join us for a toast! Wine & Whiskers passports are now on sale. It's your ticket to a 12-winery self-guided two-month tour of Kitsap's best wineries and you can get yours now. Your Wine & Whiskers passport gets you free wine tastings at each of our 12 participating wineries and you can pop in for our pop-up wine events at Hard Hat Winery in Poulsbo on Friday, August 11, 5-8 p.m.; Holy Water A Heavenly Lounge
in Port Orchard on Saturday, August 12, 3-5 p.m.; Sinclairs Twenty-Two in Port Orchard on Saturday, August 19, 1-4 p.m.; and d’Vine Bistro in Kingston on Sunday, August 20, 11-2 p.m. Cheers!
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And if you're interested in becoming an Animal Krackers sponsor, email Events & Outreach Manager Jessi Reynolds for details.
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Some huge thank-you's to everyone at Haselwood Auto Group! All month long in July, Haselwood donated to KHS $20 for every vehicle sold and $5 for every service repair! And they hosted a fur-bulous adoption event on July 15 at West Hills Kia where several of our puppy and kitty friends found new homes. Thanks to everyone who helped KHS in its mission - managers, salespeople, event staff, and clients!
If you're interested in becoming a sponsor next year (when it'll be even bigger), email Jessi Reynolds.
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Adorable Available Animal
Maverick!
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Just look at that face! This handsome 4-year-old Rottweiler mix is a sweet guy who loves to get his picture taken and has awesome floppy ears! He's not a picky eater, and is easily motivated by food. He enjoys playing and sniffing, and getting cuddles from his friends. Maverick is a big boy, but he's a huge softie on the inside, and loves his human friends. He does, however, get a little excited around his feline pals, so would do best in a home with no cats. Does Maverick sound like a match for you? Come meet him today! |
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Volunteer Spotlight
Vickie Josal
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Vickie Josal started volunteering at KHS in August of 2009 after adopting a rescue German Shepard named Lincoln. She was struck by how many pets were in need and wanted to help in some way. That way was to volunteer as a dog walker and became a lead walker just three short weeks later. She then became a transfer volunteer when that program started, getting animals settled in kennels with the least amount of stress possible, driving to airports and shelters to pick up animals, and even helping to develop the training plan for transfer greeters.
“It’s so amazing to see dogs and cats come from overcrowded shelters and get adopted to loving homes at KHS,” she gushes.
Having passed her CCPDT-KA test last year, Vickie is now a certified pet dog trainer and loves working with dogs who have behavior issues and seeing them progress. She is also on the board and a trainer at Kitsap Animal Rescue and Education (KARE), and says her favorite thing is seeing people develop a better relationship with their dogs based on communication and positive reinforcement.
Originally from Minnesota, she’s been a dental assistant, retail sales associate, and board member and volunteer Coordinator at a haunted house. She and her husband Todd (“he supports all my craziness”) have two grown sons, two daughter-in-laws, two granddaughters, and two dogs - Sia (a rescue labradoodle) and Daphne (a KHS-alum lab mix). We’re just happy she has time for us as well.
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Staff Spotlight
Meet Timber Hunt!
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Some people were just meant for their jobs. That's Timber Hunt. Timber joined the KHS team in June of 2023 as our Marketing and Social Media Coordinator. In this role, she strengthens the connection between the shelter and the general public on our social media platforms, sharing the life-saving work of every department at KHS and throwing in a cute puppy picture or two!
Timber was born and raised in Kennewick, Wash. and graduated from Washington State University before completing an internship at a wildcat sanctuary in Minnesota. It was there that she discovered her true passion for sharing the stories of animals in need and the amazing work being done to help.
She is excited to use her knowledge of social media marketing to help support all areas of KHS, learn how best to advocate for our animals in need, and foster a sense of community among our online audience! On any given day, you can find her running around the shelter with a camera in one hand and a phone in the other, capturing photo and video of our adorable animals, or thinking up the next TikTok idea.
Timber just recently moved to Kitsap county and is excited to settle into her new home, exploring all the beauty the west side of Washington has to offer!
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Donor Spotlight
Petsense by Tractor Supply
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To think they came all the way down here to make sure our scaly little buddies had what they need…
Our Animal Control Officers were delighted to help unload a truckload of reptile supplies from our friends at Petsense (affiliated with Tractor Supply) of Port Angeles. Among the items generously donated were freeze-dried foods, tank mats, tank covers, and bedding, as well as fish supplies like tanks, food, cleaning tools, and plastic plants. All told, more than $4,000 worth of merchandise was dropped off to fill our shelves.
Thank you, Petsense!
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"My passion is helping people become homeowners," says Jessica Neice, Loan Officer at Evergreen Home Loans and this month's Puppuccino Pets Sponsor. "Growing up, my family, along with many others struggled to make ends meet. I want people to know that homeownership is attainable."
Jessica chose to become a KHS sponsor because she and her husband have adopted two animals from KHS and they believe pet ownership and homeownership go hand in hand. "There are many renters out there who have put off owning a pet because of large deposit requirements or because pets are simply not allowed in a rental. That's why I believe a partnership with KHS could truly benefit our community. If more people can own a home, then more people will have the freedom and ability to adopt a pet from KHS. It's a win-win for everyone!"
Thank you Jessica!
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Many Thanks to Our Grand Shelter Sponsor: |
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Kitsap Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; Tax ID: 91-0728353 |
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