nowcats: COVID-19 update from your Seattle Humane Family

Seattle Humane is more than an animal shelter.

It’s a family.

And in times of uncertainty, family is what matters most. We have taken measures to keep our family of staff, volunteers, and community members safe by monitoring this pandemic closely and following advice from public health officials.

While it feels impossible to absorb the ever-changing breaking news headlines, one certainty that remains is that vulnerable animals still need your help.

Pets like these 10 puppies who were scheduled for transport from Oklahoma before the coronavirus outbreak closure was announced. There was no other place for them to go. We’re happy to report that last week these puppies were adopted by loving families when we successfully piloted an adoption-by-appointment system while adhering to social distancing guidelines.

We are in an unprecedented time in our lives. How we respond now matters and will be remembered. We are doing what we can during this time to ensure that animal lives continue to be saved. Please join us in doing what we can.

As Seattle Humane’s response to the impacts of COVID-19 remains fluid, we urge you to read our updates through our social media channels or at seattlehumane.org. As always, thank you for your support and generosity. We couldn’t navigate this unprecedented time without you.

With gratitude,
Paula Littlewood
Interim CEO

Important Updates:

Shelter remains closed to the public
Seattle Humane will remain closed to the public until further notice. The health and well-being of the animals, our staff and volunteers, and the communities we serve are always our top priority.
Our annual Tuxes & Tails gala is postponed
As each day brings more news about the impact of the coronavirus outbreak in King County and beyond, we have rescheduled this critical fundraising event for Sept. 26, 2020. As much as we depend on this wonderful evening with you every year, where we can highlight our mission of saving lives and completing families in style, we have to prioritize the safety of our entire Seattle Humane community and do our part to flatten the curve. Please expect to hear more details about this date change soon.
The following services remain postponed:
In-person pet adoption, Humane Education events, public workshops, dog training, and veterinary appointments.
The shelter, while closed, continues to operate with a limited staff to care for onsite animals.
Our facilities department and custodial team are following the cleaning and social distancing protocols recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Our daily disinfectant agent is approved to combat the COVID-19 virus.
Coronavirus means a new neighbor for Seattle Humane.
We continue to track King County's construction of an isolation and recovery center in a public parking lot to the east of our shelter, which will be used to house people as they await testing for coronavirus or are receiving treatment for this viral infection. This temporary facility will also shelter people experiencing homelessness, who represent one of our most at-risk populations for contracting COVID-19. King County currently expects to have this isolation and recovery site open by the end of the weekend.

Seattle Humane is working with King County as a neighbor and community stakeholder to stay updated on the development and future operation of this emergency facility, including participating in a weekly status meeting.

Do you need help caring for your pet?

While individuals in our community are ill or preventatively self-isolating, we are here to help. Seattle Humane will remain closed to the general public until we receive information from public health officials and other sources that assures us it is safe to reopen to the public, but we are prepared to connect you with the resources you need until that time. Please contact us at pethelp@seattlehumane.org or by calling (425) 641-0080.

How you can help today:

Make a special gift to the Foster Care Fund

While our shelter continues to be closed to the public, more than 170 cats, dogs, and small animals are in the care of volunteer foster parents. You can provide continued veterinary care and specialty supplies like exercise pens for dogs, formula and scales for the tiniest kittens, and so much more. Give today »

Support our community outreach programs

Our shelter outreach programs connect people to resources so they can keep their pets. We are collecting Amazon and grocery store gift cards in all amounts that we can use to help pet owners experiencing hardship. See Amazon Wishlist »

Join our volunteer foster care network

Many of our shelter pets have been matched with existing foster families. The animals who remain on campus are pets who need medical procedures or they are dogs who require a child-free or pet-free home. If your home isn't the best match for the pets on campus now, we welcome you to sign up for foster care in the event that we receive additional pets who need a foster home. Learn more about fostering »