Chilly season is right around the corner, with the official first day of winter sneaking up on us at the end of the month. With colder weather on the horizon, we’ve complied a list of pet safety tips to keep your furry friends safe and warm:

Keep them inside!

Even with a “fur coat,” cats and dogs are still susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia and should only be outside for short, supervised periods of time. Limit travel with your pet to only when necessary and never leave your pet alone in your vehicle.

Know your pet’s tolerance!

Older animals, young puppies and kittens, or those with health conditions may have a harder time regulating their body temperature, leaving them more prone to weather-related illness. Pets with smaller bodies and shorter coats may get cold quicker than those with long hair. Keep an eye on elderly and arthritic pets when walking as they may be more prone to slipping and falling.

Check up after outside time!

Check your pets' paws frequently for signs of cold-weather injury or damage, such as cracked paw pads or bleeding. During walks, your dog’s feet, legs and belly may pick up deicers, antifreeze, or other common winter chemicals. These can be poisonous and should be kept of our reach of pets at all times. Wipe down or wash your pet’s feet, legs and belly to remove these chemicals and reduce the risk of poisoning if your dog licks or grooms itself.

Look out for community cats!

A warm vehicle engine can seem like a good heat source to outdoor or feral cats, but it can be deadly! Cats that hide up in cars for warmth can suffer from severe burns, loss of limbs and even death, if the engine is started. Before starting your engine, make sure to check underneath your car, bang on the hood, and honk the horn- encouraging any hiding cat to leave their spot. Taking a few minutes to do this could save a life!

Feral and outdoor cats will be on the lookout for safe, warm shelter during cold weather and winter storms. You can help outdoor cats be safe and healthy by offering shelter that is well insulated, has minimal air space and is waterproof. Check out this DIY guide for temporary shelters, here!

Be prepared for severe weather!

Cold weather also brings the risks of extreme weather, meaning potential power outages. Prepare a disaster/emergency kit, and include your pet in your plans. Have enough food, water and medicine on hand to get through at least 5 days.

Home for the PAWlidays

With the holidays right around the corner, we're full of adult dogs ready to find loving homes this December. To help our canine companions snuggle up in warm homes, we're waiving adoption fees for all adult dogs over 40 lbs every day until January 1st! With more than a handful of adoptable dogs in our care, you're sure to find your match!

Ivan is a one-year-old Alaskan Malamute with a passion for chasing tennis balls! He's still working on learning his best canine manners but is highly encouraged by love and pets. One thing he absolutely loves is a good butt scratch. He's a sucker for snuggles and is ready to cover you in doggy kisses and affection! He's ready to find a loyal and loving home, where he can shine as the energetic boy he is!

Domino is a favorite of staff and volunteers and comes with a lot of adoption incentives to make his transition to a new home as easy as possible! He's an Australian Cattledog/Pittie mix and is ready to find his family. This active, playful boy loves fetch, and has a great time playing in the yard and enjoying nature. He also likes to splash around in the water at the beach like a true PNW pup, showing off his tricks, and cuddling with his friends! Such a good boy!

Rhonda is an adorable three-year-old shepherd mix with a cute face and a spunky personality. She's a loyal companion with a playful spirit who enjoys bouncing around the yard or having cozy cuddle sessions. She would like for everyone in her home to be 6 or older, as she can be a bit exuberant when excited. She may be dog selective, meaning that while not necessarily interested in making friends with every single dog, she may possibly become friends with slow, proper introductions. She much prefers the company of humans!

Phylander is a 2-year-old hound mix, and is a true connoisseur of affection, with a deep love of treats! He also loves a good game of chase with whatever tennis ball or stuffy toy he can find! With bounds of love and loyal affection to give, Phylander is ready for to find a new home filled with his favorite humans and endless playtime!

Prince is a lovable Pitty mix with a heart as big as his adorable brown eyes. Despite his initial shyness, he quickly warms up to new people, showing off his true, loving personality! He's seeking a patient family who can provide him with the security and love he craves. He's a great fit for a home where he can be the center of attention, go on leisurely walks, and enjoy cozy evenings cuddled up on the couch!

2024 Calendars

The new year is fast approaching! Never lose track of your important dates with your 2024 KHS calendar!

Filled with 12 months of adorable pets, including Spokespet Angelo and a few staff pet collages, it's sure to brighten your month every month!

Get in the Holiday Spirit with KHS!

Looking for ways to give the perfect gifts this holiday season - while also giving back to your community? Look no further! Kitsap Humane Society has a whole sleigh-full of ways to stuff the stockings of your family and friends, with all the proceeds providing for the animals in our care!

GET YOUR PET'S PIC WITH OL' ST. NICK!

"The perfect holiday card doesn't exis..." Wrong. Bring your adorable pets to Santa Paws, presented by Eagle Pipe Heating and Air, where you can get your favorite furry friend's photo with Santa (and you can even jump in if you want). There are just two opportunities left for you to pose with the big man himself and get the pet picture you've always wanted:

Sunday, Dec. 10 at West Hills Kia

Saturday, Dec. 16 at the KHS Barn

DECK THE HALLS OF KHS

Our very own Giving Tree is officially up and running inside our Pet Adoption Center Lobby! Adorning the tree, you'll find ornaments highlighting our adoptable pets, items off our shelter wishlist, and a fun new way to add a festive twist to our shelter kennels:

With a monetary donation, KHS will deck out a KHS kennel space in your honor!

• $20 decorates a cat condo
• $50 decorates our entire kitten room
• $35 decorates a dog kennel
• $100 decorates our small puppy room

Simply, pick an ornament off the tree, leave your holiday message and donation with us, and our staff will send you a adorable photo of the difference you make for a shelter pet in need!

What a fun and festive way to help the sweet pets in our care, while spreading holiday cheer throughout the shelter!

November Adoptions

Seasons change and holidays come and go, but the one thing you can always count on here at Kitsap Humane Society is the utter joy felt shelter-wide when we see our animals adopted into loving homes.

With the help of our adoptions, foster, animal care, behavior, and veterinary teams, as well as those who advocate and care for them, 302 pets found loving homes including 101 cats, 47 dogs, 1 chicken, 131 kittens, 19 puppies, 2 rabbits, and 1 snake in November.

It truly takes a village to create wonderful endings for so many pets in need, which is why we are so grateful for each and every person involved, from the staff who care for them, to those who donate to their care, and finally to our adopters who choose to open their hearts and homes.

If you've recently adopted a new family member from KHS, we'd love to hear more! Submit your KHS alum's Happy Tail for a chance to have them featured across our social media platforms!

Donor Spotlight

Donation Drives!

This month, we were so fortunate to have multiple small business and organizations supporting our mission of keeping pets and people together by organizing food drives for our Pet Food Pantry!

A huge thank you to Silverdale Elementary School, Johnny Coffee, Klahowya School, Bremerton Senior Center, Realogic Sotheby's Bainbridge, MudBay of Silverdale Gig Harbor, Hops & Drops and many others for their support this month and for their generous donations of food and other supplies, keeping us stocked and able to support pet owners in our community.