Kitsap Humane Society (KHS) provides humane pet euthanasia services for the community.

Perhaps the kindest thing you can do for a pet that is extremely ill or severely injured that will never be able to resume a life of good quality or one that is in its final stage of life is to have your pet put to sleep quietly and humanely through euthanasia. Your decision to have your pet euthanized is a serious one and is never easy to make.

The decision concerning euthanasia may be one of the most difficult decisions you will ever make for your pet. Although a personal decision, it need not be a solitary one. Your veterinarian, family and friends can help you make the right decision. Consider not only what is best for you and your family, but also what is best for your pet.

It is expected that you have a medical statement from your veterinarian that recommends euthanasia. In the absence of a veterinarian recommendation, the staff at KHS will evaluate whether the pet is treatable and adoptable, or if euthanasia is the humane course of action.

Please call ahead or e-mail us at admissions@kitsap-humane.org for an appointment and applicable fees. The fee is determined by the weight of your pet and whether or not you wish to pick up the remains for burial. Cremation is also available.

By appointment, you can bring your pet to the shelter any day of the week between the hours of 11 a.m. and 5 p.m or during limited hours on the weekend.

If you have any questions feel free to call the shelter at (360) 692-6977 and ask for Animal Care/Admissions.

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Shelter Euthanasia & General Policy Overview

The vision of Kitsap Humane Society is to inspire and engage the community to end animal suffering. We accomplish this through our mission: Providing positive life-changing solutions to people and companion animals. We do so by: (1) Accepting, sheltering, and rehabilitating companion animals in need (2) providing humane rescue, protection, prevention, adoption and education services (3) implementing progressive life-saving and life-affirming programs and (4) creatively collaborating and partnering with our region and supporters to build a model humane community.

Euthanasia is not considered for adoptable animals who have been relinquished to KHS or transferred from the various animal controls and partner shelters. Our commitment to the adoptable animals in our care means that we are willing to pursue all reasonable efforts in order to provide for their well-being.

For the purpose of this policy, adoptable shall include only those animals eight weeks of age or older that at, or subsequent to, the time the animal is taken into possession, have manifested no signs of a behavioral or temperamental defect that could pose a health or safety risk or otherwise make the animal unsuitable for placement as a pet, and have manifested no sign of disease, injury, congenital or hereditary condition that severely affects the quality of life of the animal now or in the future.

Euthanasia because of lack of space is not an acceptable option. Euthanasia is to be considered only after a reasonable and appropriate pursuit of all other viable options. Euthanasia is only performed when there is a consensus by the Animal Welfare Committee that it is the most humane offering for the animal in question or the only reasonable option to ensure staff or community safety. It is never a decision that is made without the utmost consideration for all of the factors, as we know them.

Animals who are suffering mentally, emotionally or physically may be candidates for euthanasia. Animals with a poor prognosis, protracted painful recovery, incurable debilitating illness, are non-responsive to treatment or if treatment is not reasonably available, are candidates for euthanasia. Animals who are deemed to pose an unacceptable danger to other animals, themselves or the public are candidates for euthanasia.

Each animal admitted into KHS’s adoption program will continue to be evaluated in its entirety, taking into account both behavior and medical conditions. A condition that may not necessitate euthanasia on its own, when present in combination with other issues (such as a medical condition occurring with behavior issues), may lead to the decision to euthanize.

Alternative options will always be reasonably explored for animals initially accepted for adoption but that fail to continue to meet the criteria for adoptability.

Download a full copy of Kitsap Humane Society's Euthanasia Policy. and Chart.