PORT ANGELES — The Olympic Peninsula Humane Society is undergoing a significant transition as it prepares to close its Bark House facility.
The shelter has seen an uptick in adoptions, is considering retaining ownership of the property and its executive director, Jason Stipp, resigned from his position as of July 24.
Forty-eight dogs have found homes since the closure was announced, said Marti Oldham, OPHS board president. Twelve still wait adoption, Oldham said.
The organization aims to place all remaining animals by Aug. 30, although Oldham said that timeline might be extended.
Despite the surge in adoptions, no dogs have been moved to OPHS’ Kitty City location, and renovations to accommodate dogs there have not yet begun.
While the organization plans to pause operations temporarily due to financial constraints, it hopes to reopen the Bark House in the future, Oldham said, citing discussions with community members, major donors and the board.
Oldham also clarified misunderstandings arising from the 990 form for 2023.
“The ‘Animal Care’ expenses line on the 990 form is specifically for animal food,” Oldham said. “All other expenses go towards facilitating care for the animals, including administrative costs that support timely, life-saving care and adoption facilitation. Unfortunately, the line item for food was termed animal care and not specifically food.”
The closure of Bark House has prompted a reassessment of OPHS’ financial situation.
“The average cost per animal is $3,000,” Oldham said. “This includes everything from medication, veterinary care, grooming, any necessary training, staff costs for taking care of the animals and working to get them adopted.”
Recent scrutiny also highlighted a significant increase in executive director compensation.
“The total figure for the year ($141,933) includes payment for an executive director hired to replace Luanne Hinkle when she retired,” Oldham said. “They worked in tandem for three weeks while this person was training. Unfortunately, this person wasn’t a good fit and was only with the non-profit for a few weeks.”
The total is the gross amount, which includes taxes paid by OPHS, not the net received by the executive director, Oldham said.
“In 2023, Luanne Hinkle’s compensation included her 2022 bonus, paid in 2023, as well as the board-approved bonus for 2023. The total figure also includes retro pay from Jan. 1; increased annual wage to $105,000 in 2023 from $96,000 in 2022.”
Oldham said all donations are meticulously managed and that OPHS adheres to strict accounting standards and regular audits to ensure transparency.
Staff adjustments also are part of the transition as operations at Bark House wind down. Although some are inevitable, Oldham praised the dedicated team for their commitment to animal welfare.
“Our staff are tremendous advocates for animal welfare and skilled animal caretakers,” Oldham said. “We have been so fortunate to have such an amazing team that works with animals in need, every day. This has been one of the most difficult components of the decision about the closure of the Bark House.”
Stipp’s departure, though amicable, was motivated by a desire to reallocate funds previously earmarked for his salary toward animal care and the potential reopening of the Bark House, Oldham said.
Oldham expressed gratitude for Stipp’s dedication and described his decision as a testament to his commitment to the organization’s mission.
“We are deeply grateful for his dedication and selflessness, which exemplify the core values of our organization,” Oldham said. “We are currently assembling a robust advisory board consisting of key donors, a financial advisor, a veterinarian and a dog behaviorist to assist on the next steps for leadership and operations for OPHS. We plan to hire an operations manager and an outreach and development lead.”
While the future of the Bark House property remains uncertain, the organization is dedicated to exploring all options to preserve its role in animal welfare, Oldham said. The board of directors will continue to oversee both the future of Bark House and the operations at Kitty City.
“The Olympic Peninsula Humane Society team remains steadfast in our work to ensure the highest level of compassion for the animals entrusted to our care,” Oldham said.
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Reporting intern Christopher Urquia is a student at Peninsula College. He can be reached by email at christopher.urquia@peninsuladailynews.com.
