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"Dogs will get out at least twice a day" ... . Nope!

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"Dogs will get out at least twice a day" ... . Nope!

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On May 23, 25 dogs were left in their kennels without an evening walk . . that means, these 25 dogs will sit in their kennels for over 24 hours without a break. The CEO is gone but this just proves how staff and the Board are less than devoted to animal care.

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CEO Fired: A Step in the Right Direction

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CEO Fired: A Step in the Right Direction

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For the past three years, this Board has been made aware of serious concerns regarding leadership, shelter operations, organizational culture, and deteriorating community trust. Those warnings did not come from a single disgruntled voice—they came from staff, volunteers, donors, and community members who cared enough to speak up. Yet despite repeated opportunities to intervene, this Board failed to take meaningful action.

Now, only after mounting public pressure and a tragic, highly visible incident in which a dog lost its life, action has finally been taken. While removing the CEO may be a necessary step, it should not be mistaken for exemplary governance. Acting only after a public crisis is not leadership—it is damage control.

The reality is this: the Board’s prolonged inaction enabled the very conditions that allowed these failures to continue. By ignoring repeated warnings, dismissing concerns, or failing to exercise proper oversight, this Board allowed ineffective leadership to remain in place while shelter conditions, volunteer relationships, staff morale, and public trust steadily eroded.

Accountability cannot begin and end with the CEO. Governance matters. Oversight matters. Stewardship matters. A Board’s responsibility is not simply to react when public outrage becomes impossible to ignore; it is to act when credible concerns first emerge.

The community deserves more than a symbolic leadership change. It deserves honest reflection from the Board about its own role in allowing this situation to persist, and a demonstrated commitment to rebuilding this organization with transparency, competence, and accountability at every level.

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The CEO WAS LET GO TODAY at HSTPC! This is very positive news for shelter animals, staff, volunteers, and the community. However, there remain numerous toxic individuals in leadership who must go. True change cannot occur with these individuals leading operations and implementing policy. It's as important as ever to keep the mission alive; to hold TPCHS accountable; and to be a true champion for animal welfare.

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TNT article says THS will change their ways . . . ..unfortunately, they still insist on deflection and "0" accountability

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TNT article says THS will change their ways . . . ..unfortunately, they still insist on deflection and "0" accountability

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For all the good work that happens at THS, the public deserves to know this organization is failing the community and the animals in its care.

Negligent leadership has been allowed to operate without accountability, and repeated poor judgment has created a well-funded machine falling short where it matters most.

Dallas should never have been selected for that event. He had recently been returned, needed time to decompress, and had spent two days in a kennel before being taken to a chaotic public event. He had done well on a walk on property that morning, but dogs often behave very differently under stress. A crowded, noisy marathon finish line was not an appropriate setting.

Volunteers have logged thousands of successful offsite experiences, providing enrichment and behavioral insight. To now suggest this tragedy was simply due to “insufficient training” is deflection. What THS has not shared, despite claims of transparency, is that this volunteer may not have been appropriately matched for this dog and situation. That is not a training failure. That is a leadership failure.

A properly managed volunteer program requires understanding volunteer capabilities and making responsible placements. Had that happened here, this tragedy may have been avoided.

True transparency would sound like this: We placed a stressed dog into an inappropriate high-stimulation environment with a handler unable to safely manage the situation. Our decisions contributed to a catastrophic outcome.

Instead, Tacoma Humane appears to follow a familiar pattern: control the narrative, minimize responsibility, and shift blame outward. Their message is always, “We are sorry this happened.” What the public has yet to hear is: “Our failures in judgment and leadership allowed this to happen.”

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Humane Society announces safeguards after beloved pet killed at Tacoma marathon

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The nonprofit says it's improving protocols for shelter dogs attending off-site events - a practice it paused following a deadly attack this month.

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This tragedy was entirely avoidable. The shelter failed both the animal and the people entrusted with its care. A highly stressed dog was placed into an environment it was not prepared to navigate, under the supervision of a handler who lacked the experience and support necessary to safely manage the situation.

Had shelter leadership truly prioritized animal welfare and truly valued  volunteers who spend countless hours caring for these animals, this incident likely never would have occurred. Instead, repeated warnings, concerns, and dissenting voices have too often been dismissed or ignored.

The deeper issue is a longstanding failure of accountability. Leadership decisions continue to produce chaos, preventable harm, and heartbreak, yet meaningful oversight has been absent. The board’s failure to fully exercise its duty to the community has only enabled a culture where poor judgment is repeated without consequence.

Every day, animals enter the shelter during the most vulnerable and stressful moments of their lives. They deserve thoughtful rehabilitation, individualized care, patience, and advocacy. Instead, what has emerged is an increasingly industrialized approach to animal management — one where efficiency and control appear to outweigh compassion, collaboration, and humane care. Animals are treated as though they should simply endure trauma quietly, without regard for their emotional and behavioral needs.

Tacoma deserves better. More importantly, the animals deserve better. These are sentient beings that rely entirely on humans for protection, healing, and responsible stewardship. A humane society should embody those values — not repeatedly fall short of them.

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I had two incidences that I feel should be of note. I was 18 and a volunteer, and was put in with a frightened female in a smaller space, she was marked at safe to enrich and was scheduled for enrichment that day. She was scared so I gave her space, but the area was upfront which is the smaller kennels so there wasn’t much. I tried to let her sniff my hand and she snapped at me, and I got out. She seemed sweet, just very overwhelmed and scared and I didn’t help. Second time I was put with an adopted dog and he was sweet, but he escaped his kennel (also in the front) , when he squeezed through my closed legs as I was leaving. I grabbed his collar which almost immediately slipped off and he immediately saw another putty who was going on walk and started grabbing him (no blood drawn but with teeth). The poor putty tried to run away but was in a leash, so the escaped pit pulled at his legs and eventually went for the dogs genitals, which finally caused the dog to bite one single time, unfortunately, his walker tried to separate them with her hand right as he did and she needed stitches. It was really sad as the pitty who was known for being very gentle and only defended himself a single time, was put on bite quarantine. It was so sad seeing people show interest in him only to walk away when they saw the sign.

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As a veterinarian, and honestly as any reasonable person, I can say this is not acceptable or safe living conditions. It’s even more concerning knowing these dogs are never let out.

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As a veterinarian, and honestly as any reasonable person, I can say this is not acceptable or safe living conditions. It’s even more concerning knowing these dogs are never let out.

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Imagine living in a box surrounded by your own feces and never getting out. Surrounding you are screaming humans. That's Tacoma Humane Society for you. People are BLATANTLY unaware of the HORRIBLE conditions these animals suffer through because they belong to the wrong county.

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Please see the post "Kitties Frozen to Death." This is the video mentioned.

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I can't believe THS can still get funding...

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A dog will be euthanized for behavior reasons but the medications that money is being spent on is often not taken. Money is being wasted on medications that literally get washed down the drain under the current leadership and board of directors. So money (your money, my money, our money), is being wasted AND an animal can be killed for being too fearful, too anxious, too stressed, too unable to adapt to the shelter environment. But the medications that were prescribed for those reasons aren’t being ensured they are taken. This is negligence. This is inhumane treatment at the inhumane society. This should be unacceptable to more of us.

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 Inexperienced volunteer given untested dog to take to huge event, resulting in another dog being killed

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 Inexperienced volunteer given untested dog to take to huge event, resulting in another dog being killed

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During the new adoption checkout process, adopters are directed to complete payment on their phones. What many may not realize is that an additional donation appears to be automatically selected unless manually unchecked.

Supporting animal welfare should always be transparent and voluntary — never buried in the checkout process.

A shady way to get donations. What else might be shady? Keep reading.

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Animal Welfare Requires More Than Business Experience

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Animal Welfare Requires More Than Business Experience

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Professional expertise matters on a nonprofit board, but in animal welfare, compassion for animals and connection to the mission should be more than optional — it should be evident. Unfortunately, that passion and urgency for animal welfare does not appear to be reflected in the actions of the current board, which seems far more focused on protecting current leadership than meaningful advocacy for the animals themselves.

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Your donations are now being used to pay staff overtime to walk dogs. Is this really the best use of donor dollars?

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Your donations are now being used to pay staff overtime to walk dogs. Is this really the best use of donor dollars?

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There was a time when Tacoma Humane had a thriving, highly skilled volunteer dog-walking program. Volunteers provided thousands of successful off-site outings, organized playgroups, and spent countless hours exercising and enriching the lives of shelter dogs—all at no cost to the organization.

Today, that volunteer corps has been dramatically reduced. Many experienced volunteers have left after expressing concerns about leadership, policies, and the volunteer environment. As a result, the organization is now relying on paid staff working overtime to provide services that were once performed by dedicated volunteers.

This raises two important questions:

1. Why isn't dog care, including walking and enrichment, a routine part of every animal care employee's day? Many people choose careers in animal welfare because they want to work directly with animals. Shouldn't regular interaction with the dogs be a core responsibility rather than an overtime assignment?

2. Is paying overtime the best use of donor funds? Or would rebuilding a strong, well-supported volunteer program provide better care for the animals while using charitable resources more effectively?

A healthy volunteer program benefits everyone. Dogs receive more exercise, enrichment, and socialization. Staff can focus on specialized responsibilities. Donor dollars stretch further. Most importantly, the animals receive the consistent care they deserve.

If an organization has lost the trust and support of the very volunteers who once donated thousands of hours of their time, that isn't simply a staffing issue—it's a leadership issue that deserves thoughtful attention.

So the obvious question is: Why isn't Tacoma Humane focused on rebuilding its volunteer program?

From my perspective, the answer is deeply concerning. After watching so many experienced volunteers leave, it appears there is little interest in welcoming them back. I believe one reason may be that a smaller volunteer presence means fewer independent witnesses to daily operations and fewer people able to speak publicly about practices they believe fall short of the level of care the community expects.

Whether or not others share that conclusion, the result is clear: fewer volunteers, fewer eyes on animal care, higher staffing costs, and ultimately fewer resources directed to the animals themselves.

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I called over 2 weeks ago to discuss surrendering a dog. I could not get a live person on the phone so I left a message. 5 days later I called again and left another message. Never a reply. I'm not sure if it is very poor customer service or if it is, as I keep hearing, they are not taking dogs from their community and turning people away.

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Serious question, would you hire someone who had no experience? Leslie Dalzall’s previous work experience is in housing management. In Honolulu. Would you hire a plumber from New Orleans to fix your car?

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Poor customer service, increasingly poor reputation

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Poor customer service, increasingly poor reputation

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Volunteers have knowledge of poor customer service and reputational decline, including: community members experience long wait times and impersonal interactions in the adoption process; calls are not answered and messages are not returned; and the Humane Society is turning animals away when community members do not know what else to do with a stray dog that they have found.

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What You Should Know Before Using Their Euthanasia Services 

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What You Should Know Before Using Their Euthanasia Services 

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Know that your pet will be looking for you. This is true of anywhere you drop off your pet for euthanasia. At Tacoma Humane, your pet will be taken to a room located at one of the busiest, noisiest areas of the building, where dog walkers and animal control officers are yelling "corner!" or "dog!" constantly, excited dogs are barking as they go by, and conversations are happening just outside the door. In the room next door are dogs awaiting intake, so it's usually full with scared dogs barking and whining. If the euthanasia tech is busy, your large dog will be put in one of those kennels to wait, alone and confused. Your small dog or cat will likely be put in the euthanasia room in a crate to wait. There were many times while walking dogs, I heard little dogs barking or crying continuously every 15-20 minutes I'd walk past, for an hour or more before it would finally be quiet. And I'd think about how that animal, someone's beloved pet, spent its last moments alone and in fear.

If you can't afford a vet to euthanize your pet, Kitsap Humane Society in Silverdale will let you be with them, and their prices are comparable. If your pet is suffering, please take it to an emergency vet. Most of them will perform the procedure in better conditions and reduce their fees because they cannot in knowingly and willfully let an animal suffer.

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Seen on another page exposing the shelter

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Seen on another page exposing the shelter

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“The Humane Society listed my lost male cat as female, and the second time I went in looking, I asked to see the females too. There HE was. That day I lost my faith in their basic abilities.”

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A few weeks ago, leadership made a very public show of committing to regularly walking dogs. But consistent staff engagement in animal care shouldn’t be a one-time display—it should be standard practice. Instead, it appeared to be more about optics than sustained action.

Two weeks later, little has changed. The responsibility has largely fallen back on volunteers with limited staff involvement (mainly kennel aides and adoption services).

The result is predictable: dogs are not receiving adequate exercise or enrichment, volunteers have left in significant numbers due to ongoing treatment and policies, and the burden on remaining staff continues to grow.

It is increasingly common for dogs to spend nearly all day in their kennels, sometimes receiving only a single short walk. That is not a standard of care this community should accept.

As long as current leadership remains in place without accountability, these conditions will persist—and both the animals and the community will continue to be underserved.

These concerns have also been raised with the Board. To date, there has been no meaningful or visible response.

If leadership won’t show up for the animals, they shouldn’t be leading.

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One big lesson as a volunteer dog walker was to make sure the collar fit properly before we took dogs out of their kennels.

We have always been told to check fit of collar before leaving the kennel because we had dogs get out of their collars and run away and get hit by cars.

Tacoma Humane gave no information about how to check fit of collar since there is no safe way to do that now.

The new policy they gave us (with a day of notice and no training) is to never go into kennels. Now volunteers have to slip dogs while holding kennel closed from outside the kennel and then keep the slip tight until they get down the hallway and then reach around the high-energy dog while it’s frantic to get outside BUT HOLD ONTO THE SLIP and then clip the leash to their collar which might not even fit well. Ans volunteers do all this while in a busy and loud area.

I don’t volunteer there anymore and I wonder how many dogs are getting loose because of this policy.

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This is another dog who slipped a collar and lost his life on I-5.

We’re being told safety protocols were put in place—but where are they in practice? A properly fitted collar should not slip. That’s basic handling, not a complicated fix.

Saying changes have been made doesn’t mean they’re actually happening. If collar checks are required, why are dogs still leaving with loose, unsafe fits?

This isn’t unpredictable. This is preventable. And these dogs depend entirely on people to get it right—every single time.

At what point do policies stop being statements and start being enforced?

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Tacoma Humane posted about a “lost dog,” saying it slipped out of its collar.

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Tacoma Humane posted about a “lost dog,” saying it slipped out of its collar.

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That doesn’t add up. They use martingale collars—designed specifically to prevent dogs from backing out when properly fitted.

If a dog slipped one, something failed: the fit, the handling, or the training.

This isn’t about blame—it’s about safety. Dogs don’t just “slip out” of properly used equipment.

What’s being done to make sure this doesn’t keep happening?

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New dramatic policy: no collaboration, no training, no response

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New dramatic policy: no collaboration, no training, no response

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THS recently made a dramatic change in how dog walkers get dogs out of their kennels. They sent this policy out in an email at 6:55 PM on a Sunday night, March 22 and said it was effective immediately. The only directions given were to slip lead the dog to exit and return and clip somewhere in between. The only training provided was an admin available the first day to show walkers how to use a slip lead on a stuffed animal. To present, April 27th, there has been no training for this new directive. MANY volunteers sent emails expressing their concerns about safety, no systemic roll out, no training and the fear this policy would lead to more euthanasias. NOT ONE VOLUNTEER got a response to their email regarding these concerns from leadership. In an email in 2024 the CEO acknowledged the lack of involvement of volunteers, who do the actual work,in shelter decisions. Here we are in 2026 where the same admin made a unilateral decision without any input from volunteers, before the decision was made or after by responding to emails. This policy has caused confusion, loose dogs, safety issues, and a loss of valuable dog walkimg volunteers. This is why we are calling for new leadership. They never learn. They never change. And they hurt staff, volunteers, and animals in the process.

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Can't do your job? Hire a consultant and let the taxpayer foot the bill!

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Can't do your job? Hire a consultant and let the taxpayer foot the bill!

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Leadership staff seem to be unqualified to deal with the many challenges of running the shelter so they hire consultants to do their high paying job using taxpayer and donor dollars. The Board and city/council officials should audit the number of consultants the shelter has been using. Can't figure out how to run operations? Bring in a consultant from Univ of Wisconsin. The board struggling? Hire a board consultant. Poor volunteer relationship? Hire a PR consultant AND a mediator. Designing a new lobby? Hire a consultant. Need to design a really bad adoption process? Hire a volunteer (unpaid) to redesign it. Buy a SPOT van but don't plan ahead on how to use it? Hire a vet consultant to design the process. When you can't keep your vet department staffed? Bring in expensive traveling vets to get the job done.

This is not leadership. This is a waste of dollars generously provided by the community.

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Negligence is failure to take proper care in doing something

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Negligence is failure to take proper care in doing something

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Two photos of the back hallway at Tacoma Humane. This is the main hallway where volunteers and dogs come in and out of the building--when it rains, it's slippery. Volunteers have repeatedly asked for the Humane Society to lessen this risk. First, the long rugs by the door, which worked to soak up water, were taken away. Then these black friction strips were attached to the floor. The strips don't stick to the floor. The first photo was taken more than a month ago, with most, but not all of the black strips attached. The second photo is now, with more strips missing, and a floor that's even more slippery. Despite volunteer requests to make this hallway safer, this the Humane Society's response.

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Here's what shelter dogs at Tacoma Humane have to play with--don't the dogs deserve toys that aren't broken or falling apart?

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When Dogs Go Missing, Where Is the Response?

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When Dogs Go Missing, Where Is the Response?

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There have been repeated instances of dogs getting loose from the Tacoma Humane Society—during walks, handling, or from their kennels. These are critical moments where a fast, coordinated response can mean the difference between life and death.

What’s been observed instead is concerning.

In multiple cases, the response appears limited to internal notices and notifying animal control. What hasn’t been clearly visible is an active search effort—no coordinated teams, no broad public alerts, no immediate use of professional recovery services.

The outcomes speak for themselves. Some dogs have gone missing for extended periods. Others have been found injured or killed.

Accidents can happen in any shelter. But when they do, the response matters.

So the question is simple:
Why aren’t stronger recovery efforts standard practice?

At minimum, the community expects:

Immediate, organized search efforts

Public alerts that reach beyond the shelter

Consideration of professional tracking or trapping

Transparency about what’s being done

This isn’t about blame—it’s about accountability. When a dog goes missing, doing the bare minimum isn’t enough.

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At its core, this is about the animals—and the growing disconnect between those who care for them every day and those in leadership.

Volunteers are the ones consistently providing enrichment, comfort, and hands-on care. Yet leadership, rather than supporting these efforts, has increasingly tried to create the appearance of involvement that simply does not reflect reality. At the same time, there has been a shift toward “damage control,” with messaging that suggests unity—“we are one of you”—when the lived experience of volunteers tells a very different story.

The truth is, much of the essential, day-to-day work of animal welfare has been left to volunteers, while some in leadership positions appear unwilling to engage in the same tasks they expect others to perform. This is especially troubling in a field that should be rooted in compassion, humility, and a shared commitment to the well-being of animals.

Volunteers do this work not for recognition or compensation, but out of genuine care. They advocate for animals because those animals cannot advocate for themselves. Labeling that advocacy as “hateful” or dismissing concerned voices with harmful language is not only inaccurate—it creates an environment of intimidation that discourages transparency and accountability. The individuals losing sleep over these animals deserve respect, not dismissal.

Efforts to create change have not been absent. Volunteers have followed formal channels—serving on committees, submitting whistleblower reports, attending meetings, and even engaging with the Board. Despite this, meaningful change has not occurred. Instead, there is a growing perception that leadership’s focus has shifted toward controlling the narrative rather than addressing the underlying issues.

It’s important to be clear: this is not a condemnation of all staff. Many are deeply dedicated, hardworking, and appreciative of volunteer support. But that same commitment is not consistently reflected at the leadership level—and that is where the concern lies.

Volunteers collectively contribute tens of thousands of hours, along with financial support and essential supplies. They show up with one purpose: to improve the lives of the animals in their care. They are not looking for conflict or “gotcha” moments—they are trying to make a difficult environment more humane, more compassionate, and more effective.

When those efforts are dismissed or reframed as a problem, something is fundamentally wrong.

This is a call to listen—truly listen—to the people who are there every day. Not to brief appearances or curated messaging, but to the lived experiences of those who have devoted significant time and energy to this work.

The community deserves transparency.

The volunteers deserve respect. And most importantly, the animals deserve better.

Silence has not led to improvement. That is why these voices are being shared now.

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The more I learn about quality leadership within my own workplace, the more I question Leslie Dalzall’s education and capability to effectively lead The Humane Society. The high staff turnover and low staff morale point to a workplace culture that is obviously not effective. Every leader gets the culture they create and under the current leadership the culture is like Britney sings, TOXIC.

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These photos show two cats undergoing treatment for ringworm. Their protocol required a sulfur dip followed by air drying, with clear guidance that they be kept in a warm, draft-free environment during the drying process to prevent hypothermia, particularly in kittens. Instead, they were placed in metal kennels in a room without temperature control and provided no blankets or towels to help retain warmth. When staff returned the following day, the kittens were found severely hypothermic.

This was not an isolated incident. It raises serious concerns about standards of care, accountability, and transparency, and calls for a thorough review of practices and oversight.

This is not an agency to be trusted - they never admit mistakes and will never hold themselves accountable. In fact, once called on this type of horror they'll dodge, spin and rewrite the narrative as if any words could make this make sense.

These animals have no voice and as controversial as it is, we must be their voice!

**Know that there is a longer video that shows these poor cats suffering, but it could not be uploaded to the site.

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THS 2-day Owner Surrender Kills Another Dog at City Marathon

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THS 2-day Owner Surrender Kills Another Dog at City Marathon

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@alexisdrugge
@Tacoma Humane
♬ original sound - Alexis Drugge

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We need better leadership—leadership without ego. People who lead with compassion. People who care more about the animals than about being right, being loud, or being seen. We need people who are truly in the arena, doing the work for the right reasons—not for recognition, not for status, and not to project their own struggles onto others. When ego drives decisions, it doesn’t just create noise—it drives good people away.

Ego has no place in animal welfare. Love does. When an animal is suffering, the response should be extraordinary compassion, selflessness, and relentless effort. True dedication shows up in policies and practices designed to provide the highest level of care, regardless of the circumstances.

At Tacoma Humane Society, many caring people show up every day and do their best for the animals. Unfortunately, leadership does not reflect that same passion. Instead, truth is minimized, messengers are silenced, and policies are used to control rather than support care. Rather than expanding access to help, procedures too often limit it—and punish those trying to provide it.

Volunteers who simply want to serve their community and help vulnerable animals have been targeted, vilified, and misrepresented. Many who once gave countless hours of time and expertise are leaving because they can no longer endure the toxic environment. Talented employees are leaving as well.

This should be a place where the community comes together for animals in need—a place filled with purpose, trust, and shared commitment. The work will always include heartbreak, but it should never lack unity or compassion.

Leadership should build community and model the right values. Instead, the focus too often seems to be on being right rather than doing what is right—and that pattern continues to repeat.

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The Medical Communication Board

This is a textbook example of how things operate at HSTPC.

A committee was formed to solve a simple, persistent problem: volunteers had no reliable way to communicate dogs’ health concerns to veterinary staff. What existed before—word of mouth—was inconsistent and often ineffective. Concerns were raised, but it was rarely clear whether anything had been seen, noted, or addressed.

After months of meetings and multiple layers of staff approval, the committee introduced a straightforward solution: a medical communication board. Volunteers would log the date, dog’s name, kennel number, observed issue, and their initials. It was simple, transparent, and—most importantly—trackable.

Volunteers embraced it immediately.

For the first time, issues like diarrhea, coughing, sneezing, injuries, mobility problems, infections, and overgrown nails were consistently documented. Volunteers even photographed the board at the end of shifts to ensure continuity and awareness across teams. There was momentum, accountability, and a shared sense that dogs’ needs were finally being clearly communicated.

Three weeks later, it unraveled.

A lengthy directive was issued prohibiting volunteers from recording many of the most common and important observations—diarrhea, coughing, sneezing, long nails, and more. Instead, we were told to notify staff directly—the very system that had already proven unreliable. We were also barred from photographing the board, as entries were now considered “medical notes.”

With those changes, the board lost its purpose.

Once again, it became unclear whether concerns were being seen or acted upon. Volunteers were told a kennel tagging system would track issues, but there was no visibility into whether treatment followed. Repeatedly, dogs with ongoing conditions appeared to go untreated for days.

What began as a clear, practical solution was reduced to a fragmented and opaque process—one that ultimately weakened communication instead of improving it.

The result: a well-intentioned effort to help dogs turned into a system that obscures problems rather than solves them.

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After thousands of hours spent proudly volunteering at this shelter, I can’t stay silent any longer. That’s what this movement is about.

For a long time, we chose patience over protest. We trusted the system—raising concerns through committees, filing whistleblower reports, meeting with leadership, and reaching out directly to the Board. I believed that if the issues were clearly heard, meaningful change would follow. Instead, nothing improved. In many cases, things got worse: declining care, gaps in safety and services, no real protocols for animals in distress, strained partnerships, and a growing culture of toxicity.

And when concerns are raised, they aren’t addressed—they’re dismissed. The focus shifts to discrediting the messenger rather than confronting the problem. As someone aptly compared, it’s like a doctor diagnosing cancer, only to be blamed instead of the disease itself.

Right now, this organization is in crisis. Leadership decisions are making it harder—not easier—for dogs to experience enrichment, care, and dignity. What’s most frustrating is the absence of effort to build meaningful programs that could actually help.

Until very recently, volunteers carried nearly all of the enrichment work. We walked the dogs. We cleaned the equipment. We organized playgroups, outings, and off-site experiences. We gave these animals the attention and care they deserved. It raises a difficult question: why hasn’t staff been more involved in these vital interactions? Because when you truly know an animal—when you see their personality and potential—it becomes much harder to treat them as disposable.

We are the voice of these discarded and neglected animals—and we are asking for better.

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There has been a loss of experienced staff and volunteers, and this reduces care quality and institutional knowledge.

·       Significant turnover across dog services staff, veterinary staff, and experienced volunteers--resignation of dog services leadership; departure of veterinary staff and experienced kennel staff; multiple highly experienced volunteers and even board members stepping away due to concerns

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We are raising concerns about volunteer and staff safety, animal welfare, and operational practices at the Humane Society of Tacoma and Pierce County.  These concerns, which appear misaligned with established industry standards including those from the Association of Shelter Veterinarians, have been reported for years to executive leadership and the board.  They know the problems.  They have refused to act.

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In the liability waiver the Humane Society is making all volunteers sign, the Humane Society admits there are risks and dangers, that injuries could be compounded by Humane Society actions, and they admit to “ordinary negligence”.

“I am aware and understand that volunteering is a potentially dangerous activity and involves the risk of personal or

psychological injury, pain, suffering, temporary or permanent disability, death, property damage, and/or financial

loss. I acknowledge that any injuries that I sustain may result from or be compounded by the actions, omissions or

negligence of Tacoma Humane, Including negligent emergency response or rescue operation the Humane Society for

Tacoma & Pierce County. Not withstanding the risk, I acknowledge that I am knowingly and voluntarily participating in

the activity with an express understanding of the danger involved and hereby agree to accept and assume any and all

risks of injury, disability, death, and/or property damage arising from my participation in the activity, whether caused by the ordinary negligence of Tacoma Humane or otherwise.”

Here’s one idea: fix the problems, known about by the Humane Society for years and documented, so that volunteers and staff are safer.

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This is sweet Jerry. Jerry was not what you would call a dog's dog. He was selective with dogs but he LOVED humans. I can still feel his licks on my face. Jerry came to the shelter with his brother Ben. After some time at the shelter they went to foster. Eventually, Ben got adopted first. Jerry remained in foster. One day his foster decided to take him somewhere public off leash. Of course being off leash Jerry went after another dog. Jerry was returned to the shelter and killed on 10/24/25. Killed because of human error. We don't think the foster was ever informed that their actions killed him. And Tacoma Humane, from what I understand, does not reprimand their fosters, just drops them from being one. Why did Jerry have to die because of humans that should have known better?!?!?!?

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The board members at Tacoma Humane have the authority to hire and fire the CEO. They have been made fully aware of everything wrong and corrupt under the current leadership of Leslie Dalzell, and yet they do nothing. They ignore volunteer pleas and say we’re “too emotional”. They push out three of their own fellow board members for being volunteers and also being “too emotional”.

When will these folks be held accountable to bringing much needed change to the shelter and stop supporting a ceo that doesn’t truly support the animals? They continue turning a blind eye to the animals in need while putting a feather in their cap. It’s time these board members stand for something because they stand for nothing right now and it’s a shame.

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Unclaimed and non-microchipped dogs brought in as strays for having high prey drive and injuring or killing livestock, such as chickens, are being euthanized immediately once their stray hold expires. Many of these dogs are not listed on the shelter’s Pathway report, which is an internal document detailing why a dog is either kept alive or euthanized. The dogs are kept in their cages the entire time until their death. Maybe if they’re lucky a staff member will take them out once a day for a few mins. Volunteers are not allowed to take dogs out that are on stray hold.

I understand losing livestock is always hard and sad, but what I find even sadder is these dogs have no one advocating for them. They’re voiceless, failed by humans, and have zero second chances. And the public doesn’t even know they ever existed. They’re just another number. The few dedicated kennel aides that take them out have said the dogs are so loving and sweet.

The shelter says they don’t euthanize for space so I guess they gotta find other reasons.

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Ace - sweet boy that had a "moment" and had to die because of it

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There is growing concern that the threshold for labeling dogs as “behavior concerns” has become dangerously low. Dogs are being evaluated in moments of extreme stress—conditions that would challenge any animal—and those reactions can carry life-or-death consequences.

Consider the typical experience: a dog may have been roaming, hungry and exhausted, then captured by a stranger, transported in unfamiliar conditions, and placed into a loud, overstimulating shelter environment. Within a very short time, that dog is handled repeatedly by unfamiliar people, moved through crowded kennels, and expected to remain calm and compliant.

In that context, even a momentary reaction—a growl, a snap, or what is often described as a “hard stare”—can be interpreted as a behavioral failure.

The concern is that these are not necessarily indicators of an unadoptable dog, but rather normal stress responses to an overwhelming situation. When those responses are used to justify euthanasia, the line between assessment and outcome becomes deeply troubling.

Volunteers and observers question whether current practices adequately account for stress, decompression time, and the insights of those who spend the most time working directly with these animals.

At its core, this raises a fundamental question: Are we evaluating who these dogs truly are—or how they react in their worst, most fearful moments?

These patterns raise serious concerns about whether the individuals making these decisions truly understand canine behavior—especially in a high-stress shelter environment. Fear, confusion, and overstimulation are predictable responses under these conditions, yet they appear to be interpreted as definitive behavioral flaws. When decisions carry irreversible consequences, they must be grounded in demonstrated expertise and a thorough understanding of stress and decompression—not snap judgments based on isolated reactions. Without that level of knowledge and discipline, there is a real risk that dogs are being misread, misclassified, and ultimately lost for behaviors that are entirely situational—not indicative of who they are.

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More inaccurate optics to keep the community distracted 

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More inaccurate optics to keep the community distracted 

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This video post dated 4/12 is of a shelter dog receiving a bath for giardia on 3/27 by a volunteer. It’s the volunteers who kept track of when he needed the medicated bath and a volunteer who made sure it happened before this pup went to a foster home. This dog has been in foster for over two weeks. The Humane Society could share with the community how he is doing in foster to help aid in his chance at a forever home but no, not a chance under the current leadership of the executives and the board of directors.

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In 2025, Tacoma Pierce County Humane Society accepted grant funds from the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). These funds were awarded, as part of the ASPCA's Rescue Effect campaign, to help "clear the shelters," i.e., to offer waived fees for adopting or fostering out shelter pets and to reduce the length of stay for these animals. Shelters were required to market the event in order to make adoption events successful. The shelter took the money but DID NOT advertise to the community. Rather, it only posted the event on the ASPCA's national website which 99% of the community would never think to look. WHAT A SHAM! (Needless to say, these events were not very successful).

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Tacoma Humane needs more staff paid at liveable wages to keep up with the bare minimum of anima welfare 

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Leadership tells volunteers that “there’s enough staff” to perform kennel duties. Staff and photos tell a different story. If there were enough staff then workers wouldn’t be quitting or getting burnt out. If there were enough staff animals wouldn’t have to live in conditions like these photos.

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Lavinia was brought in to the shelter on 10/31/25. Her records showed skin issues on her initial exam: inflamed crusty ears, hair loss and scabs on her body. She was given medication for kennel cough on 11/9 and was only observed from her kennel on 11/10/25, 11/11/25, and 11/17/25. Her poor ears and skin WERE NOT thoroughly looked at until her spay surgery on 11/20/25. A whole 20 days of suffering before they looked at her ears that were found to have bacteria and yeast in it. And her skin had bacteria overgrowth on it too, white blood cells and cocci. They put a treatment into her ears, which did not work. After she got adopted on 12/19/25 she was found to still have raging ear infections and her skin allergies/infection WAS NEVER TREATED. When she was adopted no medication was given for anything but her kennel stress. Was Lavinia worth anyone's time?

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Last Summer (2025) an irresponsible Vet Tech took a dog into the vet play yard. I witnessed this whole event because I was in the upper play yard with a direct view of the vet play yard. I noticed this vet tech (I do know her name and can name her if need be) was sitting down scrolling on her phone not paying attention to the dog in her care. This dog was also injured as it had a bandage on one of its front paws. It was a large light tan pittie type dog with light colored eyes. I noticed the dog was sitting by the first gate in the vet play yard. In the vet play yard there are two gates and when someone takes a dog into that play yard you have to go past both gates and have them closed. So here comes the issue. The dog was sitting right in front of the first gate and that gate is in direct view and an inch away of the main pathway for the dog walkers to bring dogs through to get to the ACO door into the shelter. A dog walker was bringing a dog through there and his name is Pappas. The vet tech dog decided that he wanted a piece of Pappas. Somehow he opened that gate right up and a dog fight ensued. The dog fight traveled over to the parking area right next to the upper play yard. The vet tech finally took herself away from her phone and her and the dog walker were trying to break up the fight. Another vet staff was just watching as the fight was going on and I got out of the upper play yard to try and help. Eventually the large injured pittie slowed down because of his injury and they were able to be separated. A few days later I was clocking in for another volunteer shift and saw the vet tech involved. I asked her how that dog was doing and she said it was euthanized because of what happened. She also hurt herself in the chaos and had to file L&I, so this is on record I did not make this up for all the naysayers out there. Pappas, I think only had minor injuries. BUT if it was not for the negligence of this vet tech not going behind both gates and only paying attention to her phone this wouldn't have happened and the dog that died may be in a loving home.

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Volunteers have directly observed these unsafe conditions for volunteers and dogs:

·       Volunteers lack access to up-to-date and complete behavior reports, limiting their ability to safely handle dogs

·       The kennel communication system is frequently outdated or incomplete, which means volunteers are interacting with animals whose behavior may have changed, for better or worse

·       Dogs may go days without being walked due to tracking failures, increasing their stress

·       Medication uncertainty (pills on ground and not swallowed by dogs) creates additional handling risk

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Where did this donation of toys go? It definitely didn’t get to the dogs in the shelter. The current leadership and board of directors stole Christmas gifts that were for dogs. What “holiday magic” did the current management provide? I saw zero except for what the volunteers diy’d.

Pets over profit 🐯✊🏽🐶

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During the time I fostered my dog we rarely received support from THS in getting him adopted. They would constantly ask for updated photos and videos (at least once a week) but never used them. The Medical and Foster team were inconsistent on time frames for refilling prescriptions and it seemed every month they had a new rule on how much in advance we needed to notify he needed a refill leading him going off a pretty heavy duty drug cold turkey and dealing with him being "out of his mind" for 2 days and being told we didn't follow the protocol even though we did. When I raised concerns about my dog's health they asked me if I would prefer "to take a different, healthier dog instead." After adopting my foster dog due to being so frustrated with the lack of medical care he was receiving I was told by one of the staff, as if they though it was funny that they had considered taking him back because I "complained too much." We love our dog very much and he has come so far with his health and anxiety since leaving THS but we truly believe if we hadn't adopted him and returned him he would likely have been euthanized due to kennel stress.

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"the protection of animal health and welfare"?

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"the protection of animal health and welfare"?

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Volunteers have directly observed these medical concerns:

·       Medical issues left untreated prior to adoption

·       Dogs and cats kept in unsanitary conditions, including sitting in urine or feces

·       Animals fed in dirty kennels

·       Delayed or absent veterinary care, including serious conditions

·       Medication not being ingested, despite being logged as given (uneaten pills frequently found in kennels)

·       Nails left overgrown to the point of affecting mobility and handler safety

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In 2023’s Annual Report, the Humane Society’s Live Release Rate was reported to be 93.6%.

In 2024’s Annual Report, the Humane Society’s Live Release Rate was reported to be 92%.

The Humane Society never posted a 2025 Annual Report--which means it has not made its Live Release Rate public.  Don’t you wonder what the Live Release Rate is now?

Asilomar Live Release Rate is calculated by (total live outcomes) divided by (total outcomes minus owner requested euthanasia).

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The new volunteer handbook at Tacoma Humane doesn’t include the Whistleblower Policy--the old one did.  Why did they take it out? What don’t they want the volunteers to report?  Unethical conduct, illegal and/or improper practices, misuse of HSTPC resources, conflicts of interest, or negligent care or abuse of shelter animals?

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Volunteers have directly observed and experienced these facility hazards:

·       Wet floors without warning

·       Cluttered hallways and trip hazards

·       Removal of traction rugs and replacement with ineffective materials

·       Lack of signage to prevent unsafe public interactions with kenneled dogs

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Know of several cases where animals are marked as altered and then they impregnate, get pregnant or were already pregnant when adopted out.

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It’s been disheartening to watch the culture at Tacoma Humane Society shift in a negative direction.

First off, there’s no hands-on training provided by staff. Volunteers train each other and do an excellent job. In March 2026, THS implemented a sudden policy change requiring that volunteers no longer enter dog kennels, effective immediately. This change was made without prior notice or input from trainers (volunteers), who were unaware of the new protocol. The lack of communication and training around this decision created confusion, safety concerns, and frustration.

Volunteers are leaving. People I deeply respect, mentors and highly skilled dog handlers, have left or been fired after raising reasonable questions about policies and decisions. These individuals weren’t just volunteers, they were essential to the dogs’ lives. Their experience, patience, and commitment directly improved outcomes for the animals. When those voices are dismissed or pushed out, it impacts not only the volunteer community, but also the quality of care the dogs receive. Morale and animal welfare are suffering. Something needs to change.

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All dogs were required to be kenneled by 6:30, even those marked as “two-timers”—dogs known to be reliably house-trained and in need of regular bathroom breaks.

At the end of one shift, just before 6:30, I tried to quickly take one of these dogs out to relieve himself. I was stopped and told to put the dog back, despite knowing he would hold it and suffer overnight.

This wasn’t a one-time situation—it happened regularly.

Rigid rule enforcement should never come at the expense of an animal’s basic needs. Policies should support welfare, not override it.

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I repeatedly saw foster animals placed into homes without being fully evaluated for health issues. Conditions like Giardia, kennel cough, and other illnesses were often discovered by the foster parent—not addressed beforehand.

Accessing medical care was another challenge. For months, the only option was an app that didn’t function properly, making timely treatment difficult, if not impossible.

Fosters are stepping up to help, but they’re being set up to manage medical issues without the support they need. That’s not sustainable, and it’s not fair to the animals or the people trying to care for them.

Basic medical oversight and reliable access to care should be the standard—not an afterthought.

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I observed a pattern that’s hard to ignore. Dogs were adopted out and then quickly returned after preventable situations—like being taken to a dog park within days and getting into a fight.

In some cases, those dogs were euthanized.

Dogs need time to adjust to new environments. Throwing them into high-stress situations right away sets them up to fail. When that happens, the failure isn’t theirs.

Whether it’s better adopter education, stronger screening, or giving dogs a second chance—something needs to change.

Dogs should not lose their lives because of preventable human mistakes.

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They Deserve Water. They Deserve Clean Spaces.

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They Deserve Water. They Deserve Clean Spaces.

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I observed a consistent issue during my time there that raises serious concerns about basic animal care. At the end of multiple shifts, many dogs had empty water bowls. When I brought this up, I was told that the dogs would likely knock the bowls over anyway—implying it wasn’t worth refilling them.

A similar attitude was expressed regarding kennel cleanliness. In some cases, feces were left in kennels with the reasoning that the dogs would just soil the space again.

These situations reflect a broader problem with standards of care. Regardless of the challenges, access to water and a clean environment are fundamental needs. There is no justification for neglecting them.

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In the new volunteer handbook, if the Humane Society launches an investigation against a volunteer, the Humane Society has decided they don’t have to give volunteers the opportunity to state their side.  Why isn’t the Humane Society interested in fair treatment?

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Another Volunteer Lost - HSTPC has no understanding of the concept of "community"

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Another Volunteer Lost - HSTPC has no understanding of the concept of "community"

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Hi folks,

I’ve decided not to return to HSTP. The main reasons are the new Volunteer Guide and the recent changes.

I emailed the volunteer coordinator a short time ago. Too many red flags in that manual.

I’m a volunteer, not an employee.

I love the dogs and will greatly miss them. Oh yeah, I love all of you too!!! I’ve met a lot of wonderful dog walkers. Keep loving those dogs. You all know how many days I came in to help out. And always stayed extra hours to get them all out.

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Call for New Leadership at the Humane Society Tacoma Pierce County

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I have learned from trusted sources that three board members were essentially forced off the board at the beginning of this year. These board members were also dedicated and long term dog walking volunteers. They were viewed as troublemakers because they expressed concerns about so many things occurring at Tacoma Humane. The Board and shelter leadership are equally complicit in failing animals and the community. It's time to clean house!

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We love this shelter and we love the people who work there. That’s exactly why we’re speaking out.

Right now, animals, staff, volunteers, and our community are being failed by leadership. We are seeing rising preventable deaths, animals turned away, overspending, and a workplace culture where concerns are ignored.

We brought our concerns to leadership and to the Board.
When no meaningful change followed, we turned to the community.

We want this shelter to succeed.
We want staff supported.
We want volunteers welcomed.
And most of all, we want animals safe.

Change is how we get there.”

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Sasha’s pathway report—the very document used by Tacoma Humane to decide a dog's outcome—labeled her “fearful and avoidant with other dogs… barks and runs away from other dogs.”

It was one of the factors used to justify euthanizing her for behavior.

But this is the Sasha dog volunteers actually knew: social, playful, a true rockstar in doggy playgroup. In fact, she was so great she was used as a greeter dog to test new dogs. When a life-or-death decision is built on a label that doesn’t match reality, the cost is permanent and Sasha paid with her life.

How many more dogs are being misread? How well do Tacoma Humane staff know the dogs they are euthanizing?

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I LOVE volunteering at the Tacoma Humane Society. The dogs and other dedicated volunteers are what keep me coming in! The dog walkers are a passionate and dedicated group. They take dogs on offsite adventures to give them a break, they treat them to special events on holidays, they spend their own money on treats for picky eaters or to get dogs to actually take their meds, they dedicate hours and hours helping scared dogs, they take them to Zoom Room training, they run play groups for the dogs, and the list goes on and on! The sad thing is we feel helpless a lot of the time. Other dedicated volunteers have been "fired" or pushed out. They can't take the toxic atmosphere at the shelter. It really gets to you...

We should feel appreciated and we do not. We see dogs we love living in horrible conditions, scared, or euthanized just because they are stressed. We spend a lot of time with the dogs and we write behavior reports. They seem to focus on the negative and not the positive reports. The dogs are under a microscope 24/7. One little slip and they are done. It is heartbreaking.... I will say we do have some amazing staff who work hard and are dedicated to the animals. I work closely with the kennel aides and most of them are amazing! Leadership and community come from the top and this is the problem at this time. Please help!

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Several volunteers and I reported concerns about this dog. The Kennel Aid said: "Oh, they don't have time for that, I'm sure she'll be fine".

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Several volunteers and I reported concerns about this dog. The Kennel Aid said: "Oh, they don't have time for that, I'm sure she'll be fine".

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Lies about foster intake’s - bait and switch 

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Lies about foster intake’s - bait and switch 

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HSTPC's appalling ethics are wreaking havoc on both the Pierce County community and animal welfare. Coordinators contacted pedigree rescues to transfer cats, only to be told by another coordinator that the cats would be fostered by their own volunteers or staff. A shelter volunteer later revealed privately that HSTPC is charged exorbitant adoption fees for pedigree cats, yet failing to properly vet adopters who often have little to no knowledge how to properly care for those particular breeds.

This organization has no integrity left. They pay their CEO, Dalzell, nearly $200k annually, blow over six figures for their marketing director who misappropriated funds for a personal legal matter. HSTPC have been fleecing the public through their underused SPOT program bus, which sits idle paying rent to park at a grocer while the shelter continues to charge $400 owner surrender fees. Meanwhile, they deny any rise in pet abandonment, despite an undeniable increase in surrenders reported by countless surrounding rescues and other area shelters.

The level of greed, financial mismanagement and abuse of power is absolutely disgraceful. Now they’ve been terminating anyone they suspect is leaking their shady business secrets to the public.

Time to clean house! The city of Tacoma and Pierce County tax payers are being fleeced by this shady shelter.

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This sweet girl was brought in with her sister completely neglected. See how bad her nails are? As one might anticipate, she started to get into fights w her sister over food or toys. Being that neglected, she probably had to fight for every scrap of food or dignity she had. Bella was always wonderful with people. She deserved more than two weeks at the shelter. Many dogs are adopted out as only dogs. She should’ve gotten this chance, too.

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I saw a post online about Maui Humane looking for mainland transfer rescues. Asked around about whether Tacoma Humane would be willing. A 15+ year volunteer shared that they previously had a great relationship, but recent leadership has allowed that relationship to sour. Surprising? No.

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There is a lot wrong at the shelter, but time and time again there are staff who continue to do the right thing even when most people around them have become soulless.

There are a handful of kennel aides and adoption services representatives truly care about the animals. They spend time in kennels or give dogs kennel breaks at the end of the night and let them hang out in the lobby. Some of them save animals who are on the euthanasia lists or foster multiple bunnies or kittens regularly. Unfortunately, it's these sensitive folks who get overworked and overlooked time and time again. They are so grateful for volunteers providing enrichment to the pups, but vols are SO grateful to them for cleaning filthy kennels when we call, filling waters, giving pups clean blankets and toys. There are kennel aides who say they are too busy to help, but really they just walk around drinking soda and screaming at dogs and squawking orders their coworkers.

With the pay these kennel aides are given, folks have organized to give special christmas or birthday gifts to show appreciation. There's only so much unpaid volunteers can do to make these people feel valued though. Wish the shelter would pay them living wages at the very least.

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A cat was found living under the dumpsters at a building next to the Humane Society. Staff trapped the cat, posted it as “found,” and within just a few days, released it back to the same location.

It appears the only step taken was to confirm the cat wasn’t lost by a family—then return it to an industrial dumpster area.

That’s hard to understand.

Were there other options that could have been explored—medical evaluation, rescue placement, foster care, or relocation to a safer environment?

This isn’t about placing blame. It’s about asking whether more could have been done to help a vulnerable animal in a clearly unsafe situation.

Because animals deserve more than being returned to survive where they were found.

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There are some details that a certain feline reporter may not get entirely right, but much of the broader picture they describe aligns with ongoing concerns.

Volunteers have felt increasingly scrutinized as possible sources of information, even though most of what has been shared appears to come from internal access. Because volunteers are unpaid and highly visible, they often feel they become the easiest focus of that concern.

Volunteers have repeatedly tried to rebuild a positive working relationship with management, but many feel those conversations have led to limited progress and lingering frustration.

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What’s happening with volunteer treatment at Tacoma Humane?

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What’s happening with volunteer treatment at Tacoma Humane?

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Volunteers are the backbone of any Humane Society—they show up because they care and want to help the animals.

But there’s a growing concern that the environment feels less collaborative and more controlling. Instead of being supported and valued, some volunteers feel pressured, dismissed, or discouraged from speaking up.

That’s not sustainable—and it doesn’t just affect people, it affects the animals too.

This isn’t about blame. It’s about culture.

Are we creating a space where volunteers feel respected and empowered… or one where they feel they have to stay quiet to stay involved?

Because better collaboration leads to better outcomes—for everyone, especially the animals.

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Why is THS not partnering with rescues who can help?

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Why is THS not partnering with rescues who can help?

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There are many dogs in our local Humane Society—especially seniors—who could benefit from the support of experienced rescue organizations.

Across our community, there are rescues with the networks, resources, and expertise to step in and help relieve overcrowding and improve outcomes. Groups like Old Dog Haven, for example, specialize in placing senior dogs into loving homes and have a strong track record of doing so successfully.

So why aren’t more of these partnerships happening?

It’s honestly frustrating—and hard to understand—that more effort doesn’t seem to be made to reach out and collaborate. When capable, willing rescues exist but aren’t being engaged, it raises important questions. Is it a lack of outreach—or something else?

This isn’t about criticism for the sake of it. It’s about making sure every available resource is being used to help these animals.

At the end of the day, this should be about what’s best for the dogs—not who’s in control.

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I came across a lost dog running around in the street a few blocks away from the human society. I had my own dog in the car who is reactive so I wasn’t able to transport the dog to the humane society but I did drive down the street to their office. The man I spoke with at the front desk told me there was nothing they could do to help and when I asked if he was suggesting we let the dog get hurt or killed he said “yeah that’s sometimes the only thing we can do.” Awful and heartless.

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I found a lost dog with an ID# on his collar. I called to get the owner's address to return the dog, since the dog was clearly from within my neighborhood and was told that their policy is to not release owner info. Instead they required me to bring the dog to the Humane Society before they would contact the owners. After driving 30 minutes to the humane society to drop off the dog, they looked up the information and then decided to release the address, asking if I could just drive back and drop off the dog to the owner. I'm sure the shelter doesn't want to waste their time and limited space with their staffing, but what an absolute waste of my time for trying to do something good. They could have either given me an address or contacted the owners to provide my address, but refused to do anything that was more efficient.

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My disappointing experience with Tacoma

Inhumane Society:

I have a stray kitty that I am feeding and keeping warm and sheltered. I wanted to find him a home. I called Tacoma Human Society and was told "if the cat cannot be picked up or pet - we consider it

unadoptable. Therefore we will neuter him and drop him off back in the neighborhood he came from."

Now, I understand there is no way that all of Tacoma's stray cats could be housed at the humane society...however, I was not given other options I could potentially explore. The person I spoke to was extremely cold and rude. I also expressed concern with this health of this kitty. No advice was offered - even upon asking what else I could do. Very disappointing experience with this organization.

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After years of volunteering, I felt driven out by the COO at THS. Her policies have led to significantly more euthanasias and the growing toxicity toward volunteers. She does not see value in helping dogs become adoptable and is not willing to see the dog's experience in the shelter when it is positive. It is easier just to euthanize. In fact, the new handbook says volunteers can no longer question a euthanasia decision, even though it is the volunteers who have the hands on experience with the dogs. We write behavior reports on the dogs that are ignored. I was volunteering before she started and this was not the case. When you have to control every employee and every policy, you lose sight of animal care and the role of volunteers in the shelter. Every suggestion is looked at as a threat. Every suggestion brings a new and more rigid policy. She never looks to the root causes of shelter issues, but rather work arounds to make it even worse. When she receives emails from almost every dog walker against a new policy, she doesn't reply to even one of them and just keeps marching forward with the new policy. THS needs new leadership that is not based on ego and narcissism, but rather on humane animal care.

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"Relying on volunteers without giving them a voice isn’t good governance—it’s the exploitation of goodwill."

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This was Smalls. I'll never forget her. She was a cruelty case back in Oct '25. She had an old untreated leg fracture and needed an amputation, but because she liked to tug the leash and the vet let her "climb" it and touch her hand, the vet refused to treat her. So, instead of receiving the surgery she needed, she was put down. Saved from cruelty to die in prison.

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This was Smalls. I'll never forget her. She was a cruelty case back in Oct '25. She had an old untreated leg fracture and needed an amputation, but because she liked to tug the leash and the vet let her "climb" it and touch her hand, the vet refused to treat her. So, instead of receiving the surgery she needed, she was put down. Saved from cruelty to die in prison.

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The current director of veterinary services lives in another state! She is not hands on, she doesn't know the culture, she isn't there to observe the neglect, marginal operations, and horrific things that go on, and there is no direct supervision. This is just another example of the substandard management decisions that occur regularly.

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No Board or Leadership Accountability to The Mission

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No Board or Leadership Accountability to The Mission

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A dog that was in Tacoma Humane’s care for quite some time and who was very loved and adored by the dog walker volunteers, was adopted out to an unfit adopter and returned after just a couple of days. Due to the compromising position his adopter placed him in, he was secretly and quietly euthanized immediately upon return. The circumstances around this particular incident were very upsetting and troubling to myself and many of the other dog walker volunteers.

After this incident, I wrote a careful and thoughtful response about my concerns regarding euthanasia policies and the leadership making those decisions. As someone who does not often speak out, I felt it was necessary and important to voice my concerns on this matter. So, I sent this letter to someone who I knew could bring it before key members of the THS board, to which they gave no response. I was told they weren’t ready or willing to hear it and I was dismissed outright. THS has lost sight of its primary mission to provide the best possible care and outcomes for the animals placed in its care, and the board is not holding the leadership accountable to this.

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Volunteers Have Made Many Attempts at Change

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Volunteers Have Made Many Attempts at Change

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Volunteers have taken every reasonable step to improve the situation—holding numerous meetings with leadership, sending detailed emails, filing whistleblower reports, and writing letters to both leadership and the Board. None of these efforts have led to meaningful change. Instead, concerns are often dismissed as “whining,” “complaining,” or being overly emotional.

Dismissing the insight and dedication of accomplished people who freely give their time to strengthen this community is unacceptable—and so is continued inaction. It is time for change, and we hope you will lend your voice to this effort. Please sign the petition at the top of this page and write to your local leaders (template and contact information also available at the top of this page).

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Confiscates from a hoarders kennel to a shelter kennel

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Confiscates from a hoarders kennel to a shelter kennel

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Many may remember a news story about a large confiscate of Aussies. Well most of them that weren't lucky to get a foster were packed in kennels and unwalkable due to being deemed a flight risk. Picture is 3 in one kennel and 4th was getting added into this filthy hole in hell. Why add another, because the then incompetent Dog services lead told foster to add the 4th to that kennel, so foster added dogeven though they could see the condition of the kennel. 4 spent the night in there in their own filth. Are they better off at the shelter living in these conditions? Thats what $1600 in surrender fees gets them. This is what they do with your tax dollars.

Its time for a change in leadership and a new board that won't turn a blind eye to the lack of humane treatment at the shelter.

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What does it mean now that volunteers and staff are no longer allowed to enter dog kennels alone? A shelter can be a terrifying place for a dog, and many regress and retreat into themselves. I’ve often seen volunteers sit in kennels for extended periods—sometimes hours—with shy or frightened dogs, not forcing interaction but simply giving them time to feel safe and build trust.

Over time, those dogs begin to come out of their shells. They make steady progress, and it becomes easier to leash them and take them out to the play yards, and eventually on walks. Many even reach a point where they run up to the volunteers they’ve bonded with, excited for attention and time outside the kennel.

Once that initial barrier of fear is broken, these dogs often have a high success rate for adoption—often on the first try—all because a volunteer took the time to connect with them in their kennel. That opportunity has now been removed by shelter administration, despite being essential to helping these dogs successfully transition out of the shelter.

Without that in-kennel bonding time, many dogs will remain fearful of their environment and will ultimately be unnecessarily euthanized for “behavioral issues” they were never given a real chance to overcome.

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As much as I love the dogs and other volunteers, I can't go back. The toxic environment created by upper management especially the COO is unhealthy for staff and volunteers. She does not hide her hatred for volunteers. She has completely sucked the joy out of volunteering. To put into context, volunteering included cleaning the nastiest of kennels, picking of mounds of poop, getting pee'd on by nervous dogs, changing dirty blankets in kennels and walking multiple of dogs in down pour rain. We do these things for free because we care about the animals. To upper management we are a necessary evil caring for unwanted inventory. They want the $400 per pet surrender fee but they don't want to care animals. Lack of action speaks louder then their words.

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Performing surgeries on the wrong animal

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Performing surgeries on the wrong animal

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On one of my shifts, I ran into a staff member I knew and respected who was heading into the vet area, but before they went in, they told me what happened in vet area that day. Surgery was performed on the wrong cat and the vet was furious. Needless to say, they did not want to go back in the vet area. This happened under the poor management of one of the CEO's little pet projects involved in Catgate (See Catgate post).

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When I volunteered at the shelter, routinely I would see meds on the dog kennel floor. I repeatedly told staff about it but would be told they don't have time to make sure they eat it. So meds prescribed by the vet for kennel cough, surgery, Giarda, pain management or anxiety medication are documented as administered but there is no documentation that they actually ingested the medication. Myself and other volunteers would pick up these meds, spend a few minutes giving them love and use our treats to hide the pills so they would take them. Management is aware they don't get meds and have done nothing about it.

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No Touch Enrichment - A Part of the Formula but Not a Replacement

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No Touch Enrichment - A Part of the Formula but Not a Replacement

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For dogs living in a shelter, the greatest relief from stress comes from leaving the kennel—going for walks, spending time in play yards, taking field trips, and simply interacting with people. These moments provide movement, stimulation, and the human connection dogs need to feel safe and regulated.

As volunteers are pushed away, the shelter is relying more heavily on “no-touch enrichment.” While this can be helpful, it should never become the primary form of care. Tossing a treat from the hallway cannot replace the basic needs of a dog who needs to go outside, stretch, explore, and connect. Enrichment should help dogs cope between outings—not replace the time outside that they truly need.

It’s heartbreaking to see a coping tool become a substitute for meaningful care.

Dogs deserve more than survival in a kennel—they deserve moments that make them feel like dogs again.

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An Emotional Plea to Anyone Feeling  Hopeless about Working/Volunteering at THS

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An Emotional Plea to Anyone Feeling  Hopeless about Working/Volunteering at THS

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THS has given me such heartbreak, like beyond. I've been bullied by management. I've said goodbye to more animals than I ever have at any shelter. I've released the animals that made it out somehow, knowing they were labeled incorrectly and given no chance at success – medically or behaviorally. I've let staff know, and they all knew from before. And then I told management and was driven out of the organization. I did it all because of the animals, but eventually the people around me convinced me that the mental toll of this toxic, disturbingly unethical, and inhumane organization is taking a toll on me, so I WON'T be able to save more animals in the future. Yet, the thought of not being there for these poor, ignored, traumatized animals made me continue way too long. I eventually quit, and I hate myself every day for it. I see the faces, I see the feces and blood the kennel walls and cat crates, I feel the freezing cold rooms and I smell the wrenching smell of years of feces and neglect. To anyone who works or volunteers at Tacoma Humane and loses hope, who wants to stop doing this whole animal rescue thing at all because they're about to break: Take a breath, start somewhere else more reputable(they're closer than you think), and be proud of yourself for continuing. THS is absolutely not the standard, and you can feel good again being in a rescue. THS will too, at some point, but right now this place NEEDS a change from the top.

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They put in countless hours of unpaid time. They take dogs on offsite adventures. They help shy/fearful dogs come out of their shell. They take dogs to zoom room training. They highlight our dogs on social media. They plan events on holidays to give dogs special days and volunteers organize and pay for all of it and they show up to take part in it. At Thanksgiving, every dog had a Thanksgiving feast. At Christmas they met Santa and had pup cups and pupcakes. For the Super Bowl they celebrated the Seahawks in style. And so much more. Every volunteer loves the dogs, gives them compassionate care and advocates for them. And the shelter gets about $700,000 in unpaid labor. Wouldn't you think the senior admin would do whatever it takes to take care of their volunteers? Think again.

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CATGATE: Ethics Violations (I couldn't make this story up)

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CATGATE: Ethics Violations (I couldn't make this story up)

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A mother and daughter work in management at THS. While dog sitting the daughter's dog recently, the mother's cat was attacked and requires an amputation. Trying to get out of paying for an amputation they checked the cat into THS receiving as a stray. Then they immediately arranged for the mom to foster the cat (her own cat who is now being supported by the shelter). The daughter used an unsuspecting employee to call around to other shelters to see if anyone could do this amputation for a SHELTER STRAY cat. So the daughter used shelter paid time for these calls. Seattle Humane offered to do it for $200. But that wasn't good enough. They wanted THS to do it for free

The story gets better. The CEO is told by staff of this deception and instead of firing or demoting the two people involved she sends out the email above to other shelter CEO's. She is attempting to cover this up and write a policy after the fact to protect the two employees and allow them to get a free amputation. This is fraud, grift, unethical behavior to use your tax dollars and donations. Note: neither of the two women involved would qualify for low income as they make management wages. So this would be another fraud. THS needs new leadership.

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Playgroups were built by volunteers — and now it’s falling apart.

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Playgroups were built by volunteers — and now it’s falling apart.

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Leadership wants you to believe that this program is staff run, know that it’s almost 100% volunteers. Without volunteers there are no playgroups.

This program was started and primarily run by a dedicated group of volunteers, alongside one supportive staff member who has since left for another area shelter. From the beginning, volunteers carried the workload with little to no support from leadership or staff.

Since that staff member’s departure, the program has steadily declined. What was once offered six days a week is now down to just two. Fewer dogs are getting enrichment, socialization, and the opportunity to show who they really are outside of a kennel.

Even more concerning, the program now appears to be used as a determining factor for whether a dog is “dog social.” Dogs who don’t immediately show social behavior in this limited setting are being labeled — and in some cases, euthanized — based on those interactions.

A volunteer-driven program meant to provide enrichment and give dogs a chance is now being reduced, under-supported, and used in ways that raise serious concerns. These dogs deserve consistency, thoughtful evaluation, and a program that truly reflects their needs — not one that’s shrinking and being used against them.

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Dogs need medication for anxiety and medical conditions. Vet assistants are not trained to go in to kennels so they slide the med into the kennel but do not go in to make sure they take the medication. Volunteers see many dogs each shift who have not taken their meds. Volunteers would often spend time with the dog to make sure they took the meds. But now volunteers are no longer allowed in the kennels and vet is now just picking up the med if the animal doesn't eat it. That is a waste of taxpayer/donor money and inhumane animal care.

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When I woke up the other day, the first feeling I had was dread. Dread going in to the Tacoma Humane Society to face the hostility and toxic environment there. I love the dogs. Being with them brought me such joy. Providing them the care and compassion they deserved is what drove me. But now it's sadness, sleepless nights, and emotional pain. Over time our ability to provide that care and compassion has been stripped away from us bit by bit. Even though we often did not agreed with the decision, we were allowed to be with the dogs as the time came to euthanize. It allowed them to feel loved and cared for as they were dying. That privilege has been taken away. Now the dogs are pulled out of their kennels by some one they don't know and drug to a room where the last feeling they had as they were dying was fear.

One of the thigs I cherished most was being about to spend time in the dog's kennel providing comfort, care and enrichment before or after our walk. This has been taken away as well. Now we must open the kennel door a crack an attempt to get a leash on them. Any care or comfort must be done outside in the weather or in a populated hallway. Dogs who will not come to the door will not be walked unless a staff member has time.

The other day as I drove in, sick to my stomach at the thought of being in that oppressive environment and feeling the negativity, I wanted to see the dogs. During my shift I felt a deep sadness knowing that I couldn't be in such a hostile environment anymore. As I walked the last dog of my shift, I stopped, held him close, told him I loved him and told him good bye, because I knew I would not be back.