Sometime in the night between July 24 and 25, a burglar or burglars broke into the Bark House, the Olympic Peninsula Humane Society’s dog facility on its main campus between Sequim and Port Angeles, making off with computers and keys as well as breaking a number of items.
The local nonprofit, no-kill shelter dedicated to finding homes for local animals saw a number of items taken, including three computers and a set of keys that unlock all of the campus’ buildings. The perpetrator(s) broke a fourth computer and some cups, and destroyed the router and cut network wires, possibly in an attempt to erase surveillance camera evidence, OPHS staff said.
“We believe they left when they found the surveillance cameras,” OPHS’s executive director Luanne Hinkle said.
The perpetrators reportedly used a large rock to smash the glass door that leads into the facility off Old Olympic Highway.
Hinkle said that the monetary damage from the burglary will add up to at least $2,000 and possibly more than $3,000 once they repair all the damage and replace the computers, operating system, router and more. She said the entire facility has already been “reconfigured and rekeyed” with commercial locks.
The dogs have their kennels near the entrance and staff members said they were probably very frightened but there was no sign the burglar/burglars interacted directly with them.
“No dogs were harmed,” said Patrick Glass, a deputy with the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.
Glass said the police took fingerprints and will review the backup of the video camera footage.
He said community tips would be appreciated if they saw a car parked in the vicinity or anything else suspicious that night between 7 p.m. on July 24 and 8 a.m. on July 25, when the staff discovered the damage. Tips can be sent to pglass@co.clallam.wa.us.
Fundraising efforts hurt
These unexpected expenses and the time that must be dedicated to them come as the OPHS is nearing the end of their campaign for Kitty City in Sequim, Hinkle said.
The organization earlier this year acquired a 7,200-square-foot facility near Carlsborg. Clallam County officials had set a requirement that three modular buildings that currently hold OPHS’s administration, veterinary services and felines to be removed by 2024.
Because the building — formerly Calvary Chapel Sequim and disc golf course in recent years — has been unused for quite some time, “it needs TLC for sure,” Hinkle said in a previous interview. That includes a new heating and cooling system (HVAC), some minor roof repairs, several interior and exterior repairs including paint, laundry machines, special ultraviolet lighting for controlling germs, and build-outs for cat roaming rooms.
The Kitty City fundraiser ends Sept. 1 and has so far reached 87 percent of the goal according to the OPHS website. Now the OPHS needs more monetary assistance because of the break-in, which can be done through the donate section on their website. However, Hinkle said, “If people don’t tell us what they are donating it for, we won’t know.”
When making a donation, there is a comment section where donors can specify what the donation is intended for, in addition to a special section for Kitty City specifically.
OPHS announced the burglary on Facebook, resulting in outraged comments and offers of loaner or donated computers.
Hinkle said that so far they haven’t received any computers that are appropriate for their situation; monetary donations would be more straightforward, she said.
For more about Olympic Peninsula Humane Society, see ophumanesociety.org.
For almost 75 years, the Olympic Peninsula Humane Society has maintained an active presence in the Sequim, Port Angeles and surrounding communities, sheltering and caring for domestic animals of all types. The private, nonprofit corporation is financed primarily by private donations and gifts and is not associated with any national organization. About 1,500 animals pass through OPHS’s doors each year.
