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Frequently asked questions
What are OPHS's hours of operation?
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The Olympic Peninsula Humane Society is open to the public, Tuesday thru Saturday; from 12:30pm - 4:30pm
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Office Hours are Tuesday thru Saturday; from 9:00am - 5:00pm
We are closed every Sunday & Monday and for the following Holidays:
New Year's - January 1st
Memorial Day - Last Monday in May
Independence Day - July 4th
Labor Day - 1st Monday in September
Thanksgiving - 4th Thursday in November
Christmas - December 25th
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What is included in the adoption fee?All animals adopted from OPHS include, but are not limited to a microchip, spay or neuter, vaccinations, de-worming, flea treatment and a free wellness check by a participating veterinarian if scheduled within 3 business days of the adoption.
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Why are small breed dogs more expensive?Small breeds tend to be highly adoptable and there are fewer available in our area. Their higher adoption fee helps offset the costs of the pets that need to have a reduced fee for adoption.
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I am looking for a specific breed. What do I do?We generally have a large selection of mixed breed animals and, on occasion, we have purebreds available. Check our website frequently or check petfinder.com to see what animals are available.
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What breeds of dogs will I find when I visit the shelter?Although we have a wide variety of breeds, you will almost always find a large selection of these breeds and/or breed mixes: husky, lab, pit bull, terrier, border collie, cattle dog, shepherd.
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May I adopt a pet as a gift for someone else?Adopting a pet is a personal, lifestyle decision, and all potential adopters are carefully counseled by our Adoption Counselors to ensure that the pet and adopter are a good match. If you’re considering adopting a pet as a gift, Please contact a member of Office staff so we may make accommodations for this request as the individual you would like to receive this animal must be the one to fill out the adoption paperwork.
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Can you hold an animal for me?For Dogs: We may place a Dog on hold if the potential adopter's household seems like a good fit for their family and the animal. This will also depend on the needs of Dog as well from their new family. For Cats: Cats at OPHS are typically not put on hold. This especially is true for Kittens. Holds may be placed especially if an animal has specific needs and the potential adopter's household seems like a good fit for their family, household and the animal. *Please note: OPHS places holds on animals at our discretion, and our priority for our animals is finding the home that best suits their needs! -Thank you!
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Resources for animal EmergenciesCurrently there is no emergency vet or 24 hour vet care on the northern Olympic Peninsula. The nearest emergency vets are listed below. If your pet has an emergency during the daytime; you are advised to contact your pet's veterinary hospital. However due to pandemic related issues, many hospitals are not able to work in emergency care. If they are able, this visit may likely cost more than an average exam. In addition, no clinics or hospitals currently have business hours on the weekends. Below are some resources in case you need emergency veterinary care. You MUST call before making the trip to any emergency center. All hospitals are now triaging patients, and this can be anywhere from 3-48 hours. Please mind that most of these clinics are at least a 2 hour drive from Sequim and Port Angeles. Animal Emergency and Specialty Center, Poulsbo, WA (360)697-7771 VCA Central Kitsap Hospital, Silverdale, WA (360)692-6162 Puget Sound Veterinary Specialty and Emergency, Gig Harbor, WA (253)400-5052 As of 2023, there are (3) house call vets practicing on the Pacific Northwest within Clallam County. Huckleberry Veterinary Services, Dr. Suzy Zustiak (house calls for companion animals and euthanasia) (360)670-7766 Diamond B Veterinary Services, Dr. Tara Black (house calls for companion, farm and livestock animals) (360)912-1864 Trails West Veterinary Services, Dr. Gaelin Arbios (house call euthanasia services only) (360)565-4941 Another option is to become familiar with Pet First Aid practices. Check out the website and the downloadable phone app from the Red Cross. Red Cross Logo Cat and Dog First Aid On-Line Training Red Cross Mobile App for Pet Emergencies
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Should you contact us to make an appointment to surrender you pet.Yes. Please call us at 360-457-8206. Below is the paperwork to fill out and bring with you when surrendering a dog or cat that allows us to know the animals personality, preferences, and disposition.
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Will you charge me if I have to surrender my pet to the Humane Society?We do not charge a fee for surrendering an animal, however, we appreciate your donation to help care for the animal you are surrendering to the shelter. It costs over $25 per day to care for each pet.
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What will happen to my pet if I bring it to the shelter?If your pet is healthy and adoptable, it will be placed for adoption once it is given a physical exam. If it is ill or has behavioral issues, we will do what we can to treat it and then put it up for adoption. Our staff veterinarian will do an exam, lab work if needed and update core vaccines. We also deworm and provide flea/tick prevention for each animal and if needed, perform more extensive services. We also work closely with behavior specialists if there are any severe issues.
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Will you euthanize my pet if it is not adopted in a certain number of days?No. We do not euthanize healthy, adoptable animals for the length of time they’ve been at the shelter or for space.
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Can I bring my pet’s favorite toys and/or bed if I surrender it?Yes. We do everything we can to make your pet comfortable while it is at the shelter
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Can I find out if my pet has been adopted?Yes. We do not make contact with you, but you are more than welcome to give us a call 10-14 days after the surrender, we will give you the status of your pet.
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I don’t support euthanasia, so how can I support you?We do not believe in euthanizing healthy and adoptable animals due to lack of space or the length of time they’ve been at the shelter. Euthanasia is reserved as a last resort to relieve suffering for the untreatably ill or injured and for very aggressive or potentially dangerous animals as classified by law enforcement.
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Is the Olympic Peninsula Humane Society a “no-kill” shelter?We are a very "high-save" shelter. This means that euthanasia is reserved as a last resort to relieve suffering for the untreatably ill or injured animals or animals that have been determined by law enforcement as highly aggressive and dangerous. We receive approximately 1,500 animals annually. We do not turn away any animal regardless of breed, health or temperament. We are however limited to the available kennel spaces we have. While “no kill” is a popular phrase in today’s animal welfare environment, its use is misleading. Shelters that call themselves “no kill” limit the number of animals entering their doors. Some of these limited admission shelters close their doors to admissions when their kennels are full. Others charge high surrender fees to keep those who can’t afford the cost of surrendering their animals, and some only accept highly adoptable pets. This leaves the hard to adopt animals behind. This method does not provide a community-wide solution to the pet overpopulation problem and simply pushes the difficult to adopt or unadoptable animals to other area shelters.
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How can I make a donation to help the animals in your care?Click here to make a secure online donation or you can print out a donation form and mail or fax it to us.
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Can I rent a trap from OPHS to catch a stray animal?Yes. If there’s a stray cat in your yard, you may rent a humane cat trap from us. We also have larger dog traps for roaming, stray dogs that may present a challenge to catch by other means or who may present a traffic danger. Traps are available at the shelter for a $50 refundable deposit and a fee of $5 per day. Please call the shelter at (360) 457-8206 for more information.
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I found a raccoon under my porch, can you help me?Any question regarding wildlife should be directed to Fish and Wildlife at (360) 452-3394.
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What should I do if I have knowledge of an animal that is being abused or neglected?If you live in the county, please call Clallam County Animal Control at (360) 417-2259. If you live in the City of Sequim, call the police at (360) 683-7227 and if you live in the City of Port Angeles, call the police at (360) 452-4545.
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