Media Contact:
Mike Bush, Director of Communications
(360) 692-6977 x 1206
mbush@kitsap-humane.org

KITSAP HUMANE SOCIETY KENNEL RENOVATION INCREASES NEED FOR BIG DOG FOSTERS

Information included: Dog fosters needed; advice for those who find strays; temporary dog adoption changes; new microchipping station

Silverdale, WA – Kitsap Humane Society (KHS) is desperately seeking new foster homes to temporarily care for dogs 40 pounds and up during a renovation of its dog holding area.

The area being remodeled is the oldest animal holding space on the KHS campus and is in dire need of a makeover, to create a more calm and comfortable quarters for the resident large canines. Beginning Sept. 17 and expected to take 4-6 weeks, the remodeling project will include grinding and resurfacing the floors, wall and ceiling treatments to better absorb the noise, and new hardware for 26 kennels. During the construction, KHS will need to find kennel space for a constant influx of stray canines and is reaching out to the community for help. Two outstanding partners – McDonald’s Kennels in Silverdale and Peninsula Pet Lodges in Gig Harbor – have already offered temporary boarding.

“We’re so excited to remake this space and grateful to the generous donors who are footing the bill,” said Co-Executive Director Jamie Nocula. “Unfortunately, however, we’ll be short more than two dozen kennels during the rebuild – a 50 percent reduction in kennel capacity – and need to find temporary homes for these pups. We’re hoping our wonderful Kitsap community can open their homes, if only for a short while.”

You can learn more about fostering by visiting: www.kitsap-humane.org/get-involved/foster-care/.

In the month-and-a-half of construction, KHS’ dog kennel area will be closed to the public and all dog adoptions will be by appointment only. Also, KHS will be unable to take in dog owner surrenders during construction and is asking the public to help in finding the homes of strays that they may come across. People who find strays will be able to check them for microchips via KHS’ new microchip station located on the sign near the Dickey Road entrance.

“We simply won’t be able to accommodate the number of animals we normally do,” said Director of Communications Mike Bush. “We get upwards of a dozen strays in every day. If the public can help reunite strays with their families until the end of October, we would be enormously grateful.”

Instead of bringing dogs to the shelter, Bush urges finders of lost dogs to post announcements on local social media groups and distribute flyers in their neighborhoods to locate the animals’ homes. He also suggests visiting KHS’ website and making use of the Petco Love Lost website, where people can post and find lost pets, and create posters for missing animals. KHS will also be offering “stray kits” to assist those who find animals with necessary resources. You can learn more about posting and finding lost animals at: www.kitsap-humane.org/resources/lostfound-pets/.

About Kitsap Humane Society

Kitsap Humane Society is a private, non-profit, charitable organization caring for animals in need since 1908. KHS’s vision is that every adoptable companion animal has a home. For more information about our lifesaving work, visit www.kitsap-humane.org.

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