Submitted by Karen F. who writes:
Kitsap Humane is holding a dog adoption special on July 7th and 8th: the adoption fee for all adult dogs is 50% off.
Kitsap Humane Society
9167 Dickey Road NW
Silverdale, Washington 98383
360-698-9668
12:00PM – 5:30PM Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 12PM – 6:30PM Thursday
This shelter’s kill rate is unknown.
Thank you for sharing this guy. His story on National Examiner broke my heart. While I think it was nice of that lady to bring him to her home for the weekend, when he found that he had to go back to his concrete kennel must have just broken his heart.
This is my local shelter. They have had their share of turmoil in the last year. Had a very strong Exec Director who was dismissed by the board, some very strong administrators followed in protest, sweeping changes in board composition made after public outcry, community meetings to address concerns, etc. And all along, the volunteers have really remained focused on the animals. That is not easy to do when the place is swirling in controversy, changing administrations, and under a spotlight.
They regularly post animals for adoption on Craigslist, have happy hour adoptions, participate in community events with adoptable animals, post strays on Craigslist, etc. They take great photos of all their animals and try to present them in the best light. They have a significant number of pittie-type dogs and their write-ups always try to point out what makes each dog special and unique.
Harvard’s story has gotten some nice press. I hope it gets him a home soon.
I didn’t realize that, Melinda. I hope things are settling down somewhat and that the new administration is doing good things.
He’s a handsome boy, for sure. Can you link to his story?
Hope that he goes home very soon.
Hi, db . . . the story is here:
http://www.examiner.com/article/washington-woman-s-special-gift-to-a-one-eyed-dog-named-harvard
Thanks, I think. I’m of the mind that the woman who gave him a weekend out would have been kinder to the dog to foster him long term until he could be adopted. The commentors are fairly divided about the effect of taking him back had – I’ve seen animals returned (for lots of different reasons) and it’s a hard adjustment for them. I never would have taken him back, period. My fosters always stay with me until they find homes (and sometimes that means I’m running them to adoption events, but that’s better than returning them to the shelter).
Here is the link to the examiner story.
http://www.examiner.com/article/washington-woman-s-special-gift-to-a-one-eyed-dog-named-harvard
I really like that the writer of this article says that it’s important to focus on what was learned about Harvard in his time in a home environment outside of the shelter, not about the heartbreak of his return to the shelter environment. Assessing what a dog is really like is so difficult in a shelter environment. Maybe knowing that little bit more about Harvard will land him in just the right home.
I like the idea of the “cage break” as a way for people who can’t foster long-term to help the dogs that really do need a break. If a dog is showing kennel stress, seeing them outside of the kennel area is even more important to understanding who they are and what kind of home would be best for them.
Thanks – I was just writing my opinion – which is not the same as yours.
Prayers that Harvard finds that perfect home soon before he goes completely cage crazy and is killed for that.
In spite of all the broo-haha surrounding the shelter admin, what has impressed me is the dedication of volunteers and staff that have remained focused on the animals. While all this was going on, I still saw lots of education and outreach from KHS every single day to move animals to new homes.
Such a difference compared to MAS.
At MAS, the vols remain focused on the drama while the animals suffer and die.
Awww! Such a handsome boy. I hope he gets adopted soon!
db, I respect your opinion…and even agree to a certain extent. But it’s a tough call for me. Is two days of kindness/stress relief is somehow worse than NOT sharing that with an animal in need? To me, that’s sort of like saying that it’s cruel to show kindness to animals at high kill shelters since we know that chances are they are going to be killed anyway. I know you are not saying that, but for me there is a strong correlation.
FWIW, Harvard was picked up as a stray and has been described as being pushy with other dogs. Maybe they could not find a long-term foster home without other resident dogs? So if you have someone able to offer short term stress relief for a dog, but no long term foster, do you forego the short term kindness? The short term break may not be ideal, but it give dogs like Harvard the opportunity to show a little bit more about themselves than can be seen in a shelter. And then shelter staff, volunteers, and adopters are better equipped to make decisions to get him into a permanent home.
Am interested to know what others think about his kind of cage break program.
I understand what you are saying – but I would hope there are ways to enrich his life and allow him to be more socialized without taking him home and having him think he had a real forever family. Play dates with other animals/volunteers, spending time in areas of the facility where visitors could get to meet him, enrichment while there (kongs, etc). I know of several animals at my local humane society who end up being killed because they’ve been caged too long and get aggressive or “unadoptable”. The new director is working very hard to get them out into foster homes to prevent them getting to that point.
I know cats are different, but several years I ago I had a beautiful foster, 8 year old tiger, Elizabeth who got sick at the humane society. How I loved that cat, but my angel boy, Jess, did not accept other cats, so Elizabeth was confined to a bedroom by herself (better than a small cage, I reasoned), with as much socialization/enrichment and company as I could provide. After Jess managed to get to her and there was a terrible fight, I decided that it would be best for her to go back to the humane society so she could have potential adopters actually see her. So I took her back and she was so depressed that she stopped eating and got really sick. I ended up bringing her home to her bedroom and eventually finding an adopter myself. I don’t know if she would have gotten sick eventually, even if she hadn’t been home with me, but it was like she thought she had a home and just gave up back at the humane society. That kind of brings you my reasoning on this situation.
Hoping and praying that Harvard (and lots of other dogs) will find their forever homes this weekend.
He is a gorgeous brindle and already neutered! I hope he gets adopted soon.
Hoping someone who hears about Harvard during the adoption event will let us know if he finds his family.