With more than 110 years of history, Kitsap Humane Society is a renowned nonprofit charitable organization that works exclusively thanks to the generosity of private donors. Their volunteer Board of Directors, comprised of local community and business leaders, advocates and raises awareness in the name of thousands of helpless pets the shelter has cared for through the years.
The adoption process at Kitsap Humane Society starts by you clicking on their website and going through their list of currently adoptable animals.
They constantly receive applications (and new animals) so there's a lot of turnover. There's no guarantee that the animal you see online will be available when you arrive at the shelter, but it's still a good idea to look ahead of time and create a shortlist of the animals that most interest you. An adoption counselor at Kitsap Humane Society can use your preferred pets to help you find other potential animals that may have been unlisted.
You need an appointment to meet the animals at Kitsap Humane Society, and they request you schedule at least two days in advance. Appointments are open Thursday-Sunday and are scheduled between 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm. You can meet up to two pets at each adoption appointment, but you should have several pets in mind.
After scheduling your appointment, complete the adoption application available here and email it to . You must include the date and time of your scheduled appointment in the email's subject line.
When you arrive, bring your completed adoption application and wait for an adoption counselor to meet you and your family. If you’re looking to adopt adult or senior pets, you're required to bring all members of your household, including the furry ones.
If everything goes well, you can go home with your new pet the same day!
Kitsap Humane Society also has great resources for pet owners, so make sure you check these links out:
Adoption fees at Kitsap Humane Society are as follows:
Plus many others ranging from $5-$30 as available on their website.
Some animals at Kitsap Humane Society qualify for their Hidden Gem pricing if they've been at the facility for 30+ days or have special housing needs. These animals are available at half price.
Your adoption fee covers spaying/neutering, age-appropriate vaccinations, microchipping, deworming, and a professional veterinarian evaluation.
Our writing team is hard at work researching this shelter's adoption process and fees, so this page will be updated soon!
In the meantime, here's some nice-to-know info that applies to nearly every animal shelter, humane society, and rescue.
Because shelter dogs are full of love!
Is it because they know you saved them and love you harder for it?
I can't say for certain, but yes.
Jokes aside, there are three things all shelter dogs need to thrive in their new home:
Older shelter dogs, generally 1+ years old, may have experienced a lot of trauma, which often results in one of 8 common behavioral issues:
These issues are correctable! Your dog isn't broken, they're just damaged. You can fix them with enough love, patience, and a good training plan.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, finding good dog trainers can be hard. Like everything else, dog training is moving only. but there are great online dog trainers that are proven to work and can help get your new pup on the right path.
You can learn a lot about an animal welfare organization just by looking at their name.
Adoption processes vary drastically from organization to organization, but here are some general tips that apply in most instances. Note that we'll use the term "shelters" here for simplicity but it includes all types of rescue organizations.
If you have any questions about adopting an animal (what you'll need, what to expect, etc.) feel free to contact the PetLists team!
If you're looking to adopt a new dog, our Dog Adoption Guide is a must-read. It has everything you need to know about bringing a shelter dog home:
And we're adding new guides all the time.
