Inside the Mission of Kitsap Humane Society
For 116 years, the Kitsap Humane Society (KHS) has been a cornerstone of compassion in the community — a place where people and animals find hope, healing, and home. But according to Jamie Nocula, Co-Executive Director of Kitsap Humane Society, the organization has grown far beyond its traditional role as a shelter.
“Our mission is to provide positive life-changing solutions to people and animals in need,” Nocula said. “But that doesn’t really scratch the surface of what we do. We’ve evolved over the past 116 years from being an organization that was primarily about preventing cruelty to animals, to one that found homes for animals, to one that today addresses all manner of animal welfare issues.”
“We’re not just about rehoming animals, but also about setting them up for success in the right home, while supporting the people who love them in many, many different ways, and keeping families together,” she said.
That evolution reflects the broader vision KHS has embraced: being not only a safety net for animals but a lifeline for the people who care for them.
A Mission Measured in Lives Changed
It’s easy to point to the impressive statistics that show the organization’s reach. Last year alone, KHS adopted out more than 3,100 animals and reunited 546 with their families. Its veterinarians conducted 3,464 community clinic appointments and performed 4,563 spay and neuter surgeries. Animal Control Officers investigated more than 4,500 cases, while staff and volunteers provided nearly 85,000 combined days of care for animals in need.
But numbers alone don’t tell the full story.
“It’s much more than that,” Nocula said. “It’s the families we’ve kept together by providing medical care to their pets. It’s the families who were able to make it to payday thanks to our Pet Food Pantry. It’s the animals who spent time with our Behavior team to learn to get along better in the world.”
“And it’s not just Kitsap County — we’ve been able to supply other nonprofits, those for people and pets, with food and supplies through our partnerships with organizations like Greater Good and Chewy,” she said. “Our reach and impact are extensive, to say the least.”
Building a Stronger Safety Net
At the heart of everything KHS does is a simple philosophy: keeping pets and families together.
“Through our programs like our vaccine and microchip clinics, the Pet Food Pantry, and reduced cost veterinary care, we’re able to ensure that families are taking care of their pets and themselves,” Nocula said. “And through the partnerships we’ve built with organizations like Greater Good, Petco Love, and PetSmart Charities — and locally with Bremerton Foodline, Project Connect, and Meals on Wheels — we’re able to truly be more than a shelter; we’re a vital safety net for the larger community.”
That network of support often leads to stories that illustrate the real impact of KHS. One such story involves a small Yorkie named Milo.
Milo, a four-pound dog from Bremerton, darted into the street one night and was hit by a car. His owners rushed him to an emergency clinic, where they learned that the surgery he needed would be far beyond their means.
“They brought him to our Veterinary Lifesaving Center, and our Dr. Buchannan went to work, putting more than 50 stitches in the little guy for a fraction of the cost originally quoted,” Nocula said. “He went home that night. His human, Javier, told one of our staff members, ‘I don’t know what we would’ve done without you. We wouldn’t have this little guy.’”
Stories like Milo’s happen every week.
“It’s really an honor to work with the kind of people I work with,” Nocula said.
Priorities with Purpose
KHS’s work is guided by five interconnected priorities: supporting animals in need, nurturing staff and volunteers, growing partnerships, stewarding financial resources, and building a stronger safety net for pets and people.
For many years, the organization’s long-term vision centered on building and expanding its campus — improving facilities and expanding services such as the Veterinary Lifesaving Center. But today, Nocula said, that vision is shifting.
“Now we’re moving away from building buildings and rather, building for the future,” she said. “We’re looking to build an endowment that will ensure we can keep on supporting our community through whatever might happen — disaster, pandemic, recession — whatever the future may hold.”
That focus on sustainability underscores the reality that, despite its impact and reach, KHS remains a true nonprofit — one that relies on the generosity of donors, volunteers, and community partners to keep its mission alive.
“We’re scratching and clawing for every bag of kitty litter and every box of dog treats,” Nocula said. “It’s really tough, and some months are really, really tough. But we have a fantastic staff and tremendous volunteers who are completely committed to what they’re doing, and we have a board of directors that is brilliant and dedicated. And our community is incredibly generous and supportive. We’re here to do what’s best for the animals, and somehow, we always get it done.”
A Community Effort
Among the many partnerships KHS has built, its relationship with Bremerton Foodline stands out as an example of collaboration and creativity.
“We were fortunate to be named as an Ambassador with an organization called Greater Good Charities,” Nocula said. “They provide food and other supplies that have been donated to them to other nonprofits across the country and around the world. Bremerton Foodline has been able to share space in their warehouse and provide logistical support to distribute this food to other charities across four counties. And we expect it to only grow as we identify more organizations who need our help.”
That kind of cooperation amplifies the reach of KHS and strengthens the region’s entire nonprofit network.
Volunteers are also essential to the organization’s success.
“We have some 450 volunteers right now who help walk dogs, socialize cats, feed animals, clean kennels, provide surgery prep, work our events, and foster animals in their homes,” Nocula said. “They’re the key to everything we do.”
Support also pours in from businesses large and small — from children organizing food drives to companies sponsoring major events.
“Small donors, like little kids who have a food drive at their school, and those who send in donations, to the local hockey team, scout groups, and Navy personnel who volunteer, to businesses like the 19th Hole, Silver City, and Haselwood Auto Group who hold fundraisers for us — we’re enormously grateful,” Nocula said.
Local businesses continue to step up in meaningful ways. Adoption events at Peninsula Subaru, West Hills Kia, and Rockin’ Ruby’s Records in Poulsbo help animals find homes. Lowe’s employees have volunteered for landscaping projects. Tractor Supply donated equipment for the Big Animal Barn. Bee Hill Bakery, Nothin’ Bundt Cakes, and others provide auction items for the annual gala.
“We benefit greatly, but they benefit as well,” Nocula said. “We help them promote their businesses, and they get to be a part of a great mission: to help animals.”
Innovative Programs and a Broader Impact
Innovation is part of what keeps KHS thriving. The organization continually introduces new programs to meet evolving community needs.
“Barks & Rec is a program where people can come in and ‘borrow’ a dog for a few hours or a weekend,” Nocula said. “It helps the dog get additional time out of the kennels, and people who love animals but can’t have a pet for whatever reason get to take a dog for an outing.”
Another standout initiative partners KHS with the Retsil Veterans Home in Port Orchard, where older dogs live with residents who help care for and socialize them.
“It’s a real win-win,” she said.
The organization’s popular vaccine and microchip clinics are also expanding, ensuring that more pets in the community stay healthy and identifiable.
Beyond the physical benefits, KHS’s work supports the community’s emotional well-being.
“It’s been proven that having pets improves mental health, and as long as we can keep families together through our programs, we feel like we’re contributing greatly to the social well-being of the community,” Nocula said.
How to Help
There are many ways for the community to support KHS’s mission.
“Volunteer. Donate. Foster. Sponsor an event. Provide auction items for our fundraisers. Or just spread the word,” Nocula said. “The more people who know what we’re doing, how hard we’re working, and how much we need the help — the better off our whole community will be.”
“The support we receive from the community and the professionalism and dedication of our volunteers and staff,” she said. “We have some very special, amazing humans living in Kitsap.”
And that spirit of shared compassion continues to drive the organization forward.
“Kitsap Humane Society is filled with good people doing good work,” she said. “The organization, the people, and of course the animals are worthy of the community’s support — and we will continue working our fingers to the bone to earn that support.”
For more information, visit kitsap-humane.org.
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