Post-pandemic, shelters around the country are struggling with a historic number of animal surrenders. Despite being at or over capacity, we remain committed to not euthanizing adoptable animals for space. Many of the animals brought to shelters need medical intervention or training to be deemed safe for adoption, which extends their stay and adds to our financial burden. This national crisis has significantly impacted our resources as a private 501(c)(3) non-profit organization not owned or operated by any municipal agency.
It is with a heavy heart that the Olympic Peninsula Humane Society (OPHS) has made the difficult decision to close our doors indefinitely at our Bark House campus at 1743 Old Olympic Highway, Port Angeles, WA. The unsustainably high operating costs, due to the unprecedented number of animal surrenders and the maintenance of two campuses, drive this decision. It does not impact our Kitty City operations at 91 South Boyce Road, Sequim, WA.
This strategic decision to close the Bark House and renovate Kitty City to accommodate dogs will help OPHS stabilize our financial position and ultimately improve the housing quality for the dogs in our care. By reducing operational costs, OPHS can enhance its service to the community and better fulfill its mission of rescuing and saving the lives of homeless pets. Our goal is to have all dogs adopted or transferred to other high-save rescue organizations by the end of August 2024. OPHS is unable to take in any dogs at this time or in the foreseeable future.
We want to express our deepest gratitude to the community for their unwavering loyalty and support. Your contributions have been instrumental in the service we have provided and the relationships we have built. We are committed to continuing to serve you at our Kitty City location.
For more information on how you can help, please visit www.op-hs.org and visit our "Animal Resources" & "FAQ" pages.
Sincerely,
Jason Stipp
Executive Director
Olympic Peninsula Humane Society
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