November was a busy month at the Olympic Peninsula Humane Society (OPHS)!
At Kitty City, we found forever-homes for 22 felines AND cleared our backlog of cats waiting for spay/neuter procedures. Many thanks to the great folks at Greywolf Animal Hospital who performed most of these procedures at a reduced fee so that these animals can now be adopted. So, come see us…we now have lots of new cats just waiting to go home with you!
At Bark House, we are continuing to make progress on safety repairs and upgrades to the kennels and facility. We also initiated a series of intensive staff training that will include proper kennel maintenance and safe dog-handling and exercising. We’re still projecting a January 2025 re-opening, but a new challenge has presented itself: In November, vigilant staff at PUD alerted us to a leak in our water system…to the tune of ~168,000 gallons lost in October! Even with the help of five different plumbers, we have not found the leak, but think it is likely to be in the distribution system (i.e., not in any of the buildings). To add to the difficulty, the distribution pipes were not placed as specified in the architect’s plans, nor were the specified shut-off valves installed. We will continue to work on this problem, but if you have any clever suggestions on how to find and fix the leak (or if you have an extra backhoe or dowsing rod), please let us know.
We’ve mentioned this issue previously, but we are in DESPARATE need of hiring a part-time veterinarian. If you know of a veterinarian who has recently retired, is reducing their hours, or simply wants to spend more time just taking care of cats and dogs, please ask them to call our Veterinary Services Manager, Britt, at (360) 457-8602 ext. 314. (And, if you’ve decided to go to veterinary school to help us out, please hurry up!)
We have a new Board member to introduce: Please welcome Karen Willcutt! Karen has had a life-long love affair with dogs and cats, having served as a vet tech, dog-trainer, and owner of a pet shop. She currently has four fur-babies at home (one of whom, Alli, was adopted from OPHS). If you’re interested, we’re still seeking Board members, especially those with specialized skills in accounting, law, and construction.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to OPHS on “#GivingTuesday.” And please remember our cats and [soon-to-be] dogs during the upcoming Season of Joy and Giving. Your contributions enable us to keep our doors open and provide the care our furry fellow Clallam County residents need. “Give what you can. Give from your heart!”
Finally, I want acknowledge the contributions of current OPHS staff who have been working hard to get us through these difficult times, this time of transition, and to ensure a great 2025. If you know any of them or see them on the street, say thanks. They deserve our respect and gratitude.
May we all find Peace and Good Health in 2025.
Humbly (and gratefully) yours.
Paul Stehr-Green
Board President and Acting Executive Director
Olympic Peninsula Humane Society