The animal rescue crisis in Clallam County was the topic of discussion at Monday’s work session with county commissioners in the wake of the decision by the Olympic Peninsula Humane Society to close its Bark House. More than a dozen animal rescue organizations and veterinarians along with law enforcement officers came together to brainstorm solutions to deal with the community’s stray, abandoned and dangerous dogs. Humane Society Executive Director Jason Stipp said the long term plan is to get back into the business of rescuing as many dogs and cats and possible, but it will take a while.
“We acknowledge that people were shocked by the news. The situation escalated quite rapidly and it required immediate action. The decision to close the Bark House was based on a financial trajectory. We’re looking at a two to three year absence of canines in our facility at this point.
Stipp says the Humane Society is no longer taking dogs and the Bark House will close its doors as soon as the last dog is adopted.
Sheriff Brian King said his biggest worry is how to deal with dangerous dogs.
Most all of the animal rescue organizations in the county are at capacity and unable to take in more dogs but are offering to help . WAG’s resident manager in Sequim, Mel Marshall was representative of many of those groups.
“We do not have any space. That’s our problem. The county does need a physical location. Obviously that can’t happen tomorrow. We’re happy to continue to kind of support. I took in a stray dog last night.”
To get the ball rolling, an Animal Issues Advisory Committee will be established to work on long and short term solutions. It’s a committee that will include various organization with a stake in the solution including the County Department of Community Development. They will be working to try and find foster homes for dogs and to develop ways to inform the community about how to pick up a stray dog, share lists of the resources that are available for animal emergencies and find long term solutions for the problem and create robust spay and neuter programs to help control the animal populations.
After the conversations, Commissioner Mark Ozias says he has a high level of confidence that there will be success in finding solutions.
Sheriff Brian King and Port Angeles Police Chief Brian Smith were also pleased with conversations:
“I’m far more optimistic just listening to you all. I’m just blown away, I had no idea.”
Commissioner Randy Johnson said the fact that so many organizations showed up says “our community cares, and that is the most important thing to getting towards a solution.”
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