The decision to close the Bark House campus was the most difficult decision any of our board members have made. We consulted with many people outside the organization, including donors, financial experts, and previous board members. We ran through every possible scenario before coming to the conclusion that this was the best course of action to ensure the longevity of the organization, and honor our donors and the investment made in OPHS by the public. By scaling down our operations, we can consolidate, restructure, and streamlined.
We recognize that public and private donors have invested time and money into the acquisition of the Old Olympic property and the building of the Bark House. It is of utmost importance to us that we honor their legacy. We feel our plan to sell the old Olympic property, including the Bark House structure will continue to benefit dogs in the long term. This investment will be used to create a new facility that is more cost-effective, safe, and comfortable for the animals. The honorary benches, memorial garden, pavers, and donor plaques will all be moved to the new property so they may continue to be enjoyed always. We have tried to communicate the urgency of our situation to local agencies many times over the past several months. We are a shelter, not animal control. Our mission is to save as many lives as possible. Despite informing animal control of our overcapacity and inability to accept more animals, we were advised to euthanize dogs to make room. Our conflicting ideology lies in the fact that animal control's job is to control the animal population, while our job is to save lives.
We will never euthanize an adoptable animal due to their length of stay or lack of space. Animals that come to us often require extensive rehabilitation and resources, which we are committed to providing. We invest thousands of dollars in each of these animals to give them a chance at adoption. We want to reiterate, that no adoptable animal will be euthanized.
Our finances are routinely audited, and we had a successful audit done in March by a reputable CPA firm. We have good leadership skills within our Board and we are fighting for a worthy cause. It’s all about the animals.
We are committed to transparency and are working diligently to respond to calls and emails, find homes for the dogs, and plan for our future. There is much speculation and many rumors circulating. It is important for us to provide factual answers to these questions. We are working diligently to gather the specific data needed to provide accurate information. It may take some time, but we are dedicated to getting the facts out as quickly as possible. We ask for patience and understanding from the community, and we thank those who continue to support us during this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Members of the Board
Olympic Peninsula Humane Society
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