Kitsap Humane Society (KHS) announced today that they have received a generous grant in support of their lifesaving programs. The Petco Foundation awarded $43,000 at the beginning of April to the organization.

A portion of the Petco Foundation’s investment is designated to purchase a vehicle for use by the shelter’s Adoption and Rescue Me programs to transport at-risk and adoptable pets around the region. A large portion of the $43,000 investment will be put toward increasing the organization’s capacity for transferring in (and adopting out) at-risk animals from overcrowded shelters locally and regionally.

“Kitsap Humane Society transferred in 1,605 animals to our shelter in 2015 through our Rescue Me program,” said KHS Director of Animal Welfare Natalie Smith. “Animals came to us from California, South Carolina, Texas, Hawaii, Mexico and Israel, but the majority of our transfers are from partner shelters and rescues around Washington state. We are working strategically with our partners to help increase lives saved and reduce euthanasia in their areas.”

In addition to covering transportation and vehicle costs for their transfer and off-site adoption programs, the grant allocated $15,000 to KHS’ shelter medicine department so that the organization can prepare transferred pets for adoption. “Many of the at-risk animals transferred from other shelters and rescues come to us in need of vaccination, spay/neuter and microchipping. We also transfer in some animals with illnesses or injuries that require more significant medical care- everything from medication to orthopedic surgery.” Smith said. The cost of medically treating the animals they transfer to their shelter can add up quickly. The Petco grant will give KHS the means to continue to transfer in at-risk animals, provide them with the care they need, and adopt them out to local families.

Over the past three years, KHS has implemented more progressive and robust spay/neuter, surrender prevention, adoption, animal housing and other animal welfare “best practices”. Due to the efficacy of these programs, local intake of stray and surrendered pets is decreasing, adoption interest has increased, and animals wait a shorter time before being adopted. This has allowed the shelter to transfer in, care for, and adopt out more animals from overcrowded shelters and under-resourced areas where their future was uncertain. The Petco Foundation grant will allow KHS to continue to meet their transport, adoption preparation and medical costs associated with building their transfer and life-saving capacity.

About the Petco Foundation:

At the Petco Foundation, we believe that every animal deserves to live its best life.  Since 1999, we’ve invested more than $157 million in lifesaving animal welfare work to make that happen. With our more than 4,000 animal welfare partners, we inspire and empower communities to make a difference by investing in adoption and medical care programs, spay and neuter services, pet cancer research, service and therapy animals, and numerous other lifesaving initiatives. Through our Think Adoption First program, we partner with Petco stores and animal welfare organizations across the country to increase pet adoptions. So far, we’ve helped more than 4.9 million pets find their new loving families, and we’re just getting started. Visit petcofoundation.org to learn more about how you can get involved.