Placing an Animal at Olympic Animal Sanctuary

Please Read Before Contacting Us:

We receive many requests each week to take in animals in need; since we are frequently asked the same questions about our program and our facility, we've created this page to address those questions, and to give you a better idea of what we do and how we do it. This page will be updated as we expand and upgrade our facility and programs.

At this time Olympic Animal Sanctuary is only accepting non-adoptable dogs and aquatic turtles for permanent placement in our facility. To place any other animal, please contact the American Sanctuary Association or The Association Of Sanctuaries.

We ask that you make every effort possible to find responsible, ethical placement for your dog outside of our facility; we would prefer to see most dogs placed in a more traditional home with knowledgeable, understanding caretakers. Olympic Animal Sanctuary is a wonderful home for dogs, but in order to keep space and resources available, we prefer to be considered a last resort when a dog's life is truly at stake.

We do not conduct adoptions, and we do not rehabilitate dogs for placement with other organizations. We do not accept adoptable dogs, with the occasional exception of pit bull terriers and similar breeds that are over-represented in animal shelters and have an extremely low chance of survival in the system. We do not buy, sell, trade, breed, or show dogs, ever, under any circumstances, period. We occasionally provide temporary housing for adoptable dogs en route to other facilities, on a case by case basis.

Consulting: Because we'd rather you kept your dog, we're willing to help you in any way we can. We offer consultant services to help you deal with your dog's unique issues in your own home, instead of having to place the animal in a sanctuary, or worse, have the dog put down. Consulting fees are $200/day plus travel and lodging. Contact us for more details.

If keeping your dog is simply not an option, we can provide a permanent home for non-adoptable dogs with financial sponsorship.

A non-adoptable dog fits one or more of the following descriptions:

Fighting dogs: Pit bulls and occasional other breeds that have been trained, tortured, and made to fight and/or kill other dogs, or dogs descended from fighting bloodlines with a strong inclination to fight
Attack dogs: Dogs that have been trained to attack human beings for home protection, law enforcement, etc.
Feral/pariah dogs: Wild dogs with no history of socialization with human beings -- often coyote hybrids
Street dogs: Stray dogs that live in populated areas, are accustomed to interacting with humans, but may bite people, fight, or kill other animals
At-risk dogs: Dogs that have bitten people or injured or killed other animals and are therefore at risk of being put to death; including dogs legally declared dangerous, vicious, etc.
Psychologically unsound dogs: Dogs that are unreliable and potentially dangerous due to mental defect or psychological trauma; includes highly dominant or fearful dogs, and many other possible symptoms
Wolf-dogs: Wolf/dog hybrids, regardless of temperament or history (We do not accept pure wolves at this time.)
Banned breeds: Dogs banned from a given jurisdiction on the basis of their breed; these are our lowest priority and therefore we encourage you to seek placement elsewhere for adoptable, banned breed dogs.

We do not turn dogs away due to health problems, however we do not accept dogs solely on the basis of health issues that make them difficult to place. Other organizations that specialize in the care of older dogs, dogs with health issues, and hospice care should be contacted.

We may accept a non-adoptable dog if the following requirements are met:

Minimum financial sponsorship of $50 per month, per dog, for one year
$200 per dog to go toward ongoing facility construction/improvement
Payment of all expenses incurred in transporting the dog to the Sanctuary
Provision of health insurance for the dog for one year from the date of placement
A signed contract transferring custody of the dog and waiving any future claim of ownership
The dog must be current on all vaccinations, free of parasites or undergoing treatment, and the dog must be spayed/neutered

We ask for financial support because we do not have the deep donor base of older, more established organizations, and find it necessary to keep our emergency reserves intact and to keep from operating too close to our bottom line. As our organization grows and develops, these financial requirements may be decreased or eliminated.

We can best help you if you are honest about your dog's temperament and circumstances. Please do not invent horror stories to convince us your dog is not adoptable and increase the chance of us taking him/her, and likewise, please do not tell us a dog has no behavioral issues when he/she clearly does -- we do not turn dogs away for being ill-mannered, and if the dog is adoptable, you should have many more options at your disposal outside of our program.

If we agree to take your dog, we will begin by assessing his/her unique issues and needs. We observe the dog's behavior and determine what issues need to be addressed, and in what order. We decide what form of conditioning to use, and we set reasonable goals for the changes we want to see take place. We try to be flexible, and re-think our goals if necessary. The common goals we have for every dog is that they are able to benefit from socialization with other dogs and human beings, that they feel safe and secure, and that they are able to be handled enough to receive veterinary treatment and be regularly inspected for any physical health issues that may arise, such as tumors, cysts, infections, and minor injuries that might otherwise go unnoticed. Most dogs at Olympic Animal Sanctuary are able to walk on a lead, be approached and touched by people, and be medicated when necessary; some dogs aren't there yet.

We use humane conditioning methods within the classical and operant conditioning frameworks, and we seek lasting results, not quick fixes. We do not believe in hitting, choking, screaming, or exercising dogs to the point of exhaustion to get the behavior we want. We do not believe in forceful dominance or intimidation. Our approach to the care of special needs dogs is relational, which means it isn't neatly packaged and it doesn't always produce immediate results, but we have many, happy, well-adjusted dogs that suggest the efficacy of our methods, especially given their histories.

All dogs are socialized with other dogs, and only in the most extreme cases are dogs ever isolated. Some dogs can only spend time with other dogs under supervision, but most dogs have at least a few friends that they get to be with all day and night. We believe in the influence and culture of the pack as a tool for rehabilitation, and we use it to the greatest extent possible. We do not have a kennel environment where dogs spend most of their time in isolation; dogs here spend most of their time with other dogs, and in most cases they are only separated when they go into their crates for feeding.

Our facility is an old logging truck shop that has been converted into a home for animals. The property is undergoing significant improvements, which is evident in its appearance and the presence of construction-related debris in the parking lot. We are a work in progress; do not expect a polished, beautiful-looking facility. Our facility is functional and clean; the beauty will come later.

Approximately one half acre of outdoor space is set aside for the dogs; this space can be divided into two, separate yards by closing a pair of fourteen-foot rolling gates. The dogs spend several hours outside each day, in compatible play groups. They have plenty of room to run, and over time, our landscaping will provide them with increasing points of interest. We dug a pond last summer for the dogs to swim in; it will take time for sediment to seal it enough to keep the water level high, but even with the low water level we currently have, the dogs can swim. Some of them even enjoy going all the way under the water, while others prefer to stay dry. In addition to the outdoor space, we have an indoor area for the dogs to play in on rainy days, which is around 3,000 square feet. Incompatible dogs are socialized under supervision, and we have had great success in the desensitization of incompatible dogs to each other's presence using these short, supervised, socialization sessions.

The dogs sleep in groups of three to five compatible animals in specially designed bedrooms. The rooms measure about ten feet by twelve feet and contain a large water dish and elevated beds. The beds were designed to allow us to wash the floors without having to remove them, and the floors do not have to be completely dry before the dogs can be put in for the night. In some of our dog bedrooms, we use wood shavings instead of the elevated beds, however this makes for more labor-intensive cleaning, so we prefer the beds. Each room has a floor drain to facilitate easy cleaning.

The rooms were originally designed to house smaller animals, like reptiles and birds, and for this reason most of them have sliding glass doors to allow us to see the entire room without going inside. While this is ideal for the smaller animals, it is not necessary for the dogs. When we have completed more construction, the dogs will be moved to new rooms on the second floor, with a French drain system to allow even faster and easier cleaning. The indoor play area will be moved upstairs as well; both the rooms and the play area will have immediate access from the Executive Director's apartment.

Dogs at Olympic Animal Sanctuary are fed an all-natural diet of raw meat and bones, eggs, whole milk, fruits and vegetables, and nutritional supplements. Dogs that initially refuse to eat our raw diet are given a high quality, grain-free dry food and weaned onto our diet gradually. We believe this is the best possible diet for dogs of all ages and breeds, and have seen excellent results in the form of improved health, energy levels, and lower waste volume. Waste is also less toxic and breaks down faster in the environment; we compost dog waste, wood shavings, and other organic materials for a period of one year before using the compost in our garden.

We spare no expense when it comes to veterinary care, whether curative or preventative. We have an excellent veterinary clinic that we use, and we are willing to drive 70 miles each way to provide our animals with what we consider the best care available. We also seek the assistance of specialists when necessary, which often means traveling a greater distance; for example, we are currently addressing a cancer situation with one of our dogs that requires us to travel across three counties -- she's worth it.

Our facility is closed to the public and we make no guarantee that visitors will have access to any part of the property. On the surface, it would appear that we are hiding something, but the truth is that we deal with very sensitive animals for whom visitors result in a great deal of stress. The presence of a stranger can result in days of disrupted routine, as some dogs remain extremely tense and nervous, making them more prone to getting into fights or reverting to the old behaviors that we work so hard to eliminate. Visits are possible, but we make no promises, and in the majority of cases there will be areas of the facility that visitors will not see, as our most sensitive dogs will be using those areas. In most cases visitors will have no contact with any animals while on the property.

We are covered by a half million dollar liability insurance policy; this policy covers our entire operation, on and off-site, whether we're dealing with our own animals, someone else's animals, strays, or wildlife. Even though we have excellent coverage, we make every attempt to ensure we will never need it. What this insurance policy does afford us, however, is the ability to house dogs legally declared dangerous, something many rescue organizations are unable to do because of state or local laws, or a lack of suitable insurance. Many organizations pay by the animal, however our policy is structured differently to provide us with better coverage, particularly in the field.

We are able to capture or humanely trap free roaming dogs in addition to taking them via a transfer of custody. If you would like to place a dog, but the dog has to be caught, let us know; we have several options available, and specialize in the safe, gentle capture of animals that don't want to be caught.

We believe in accreditation for animal sanctuaries, and will be applying in the near future. In the meantime, references can be provided on request. Please allow us time to contact our references before you do, as some of them will not answer your questions unless we give them permission.

Forks is on the West End of Washington's Olympic Peninsula, in the coastal rain forest belt. We enjoy cool summers and mild winters, but we do receive quite a bit of rain. This keeps the trees green all year, and the dogs don't seem to mind it. We have very little snow, but when it does fall, it is a treat for all of us. Because we live in such a beautiful area, we try to take full advantage of our surroundings, and many of our dogs get to take long hikes in Olympic National Forest or go for walks on the beach.

Cross-Country and International Transport: We prefer to transport animals ourselves, in our own vehicle; this tends to be costly, but for the animals' safety it is our preferred practice. You are welcome to transport a dog to us yourself, but be aware that we take no responsibility for any mishaps along the way, including incidents that might take place at highway rest areas, or damage to your vehicle that can be incurred while on the road. When we transport animals ourselves, the expense to you may be higher, but we assume all the risks relating to travel and the care of the dog while on the road.

Dogs can be transported by air, but keep in mind that a number of variables make this method less preferable. Dogs are moved around the airport and loaded onto the planes by baggage handlers, not animal handlers; it is not at all unheard of for dogs to escape. Air travel can be traumatic for dogs, and it may pose health risks due to long periods of confinement and exposure to extreme temperatures; while the dogs travel in a pressurized and climate controlled compartment, prior to being loaded onto the plane they may be exposed to intense heat or cold. To prevent this from being a problem, most airlines will not transport a dog unless the temperature at the airport is within a certain range, and the projected temperatures at the destination airport and any connecting airports are also within that range. Brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds will be allowed to fly in an even narrower temperature range; the dog's designation as brachycephalic is dependent solely on its breed, not its actual anatomy, and conversely, mixed breed dogs that may be brachycephalic will not be prohibited from flying on hot days and may suffer the consequences to their health. Some airlines have breed bans, and most airlines have a weight limit. Most airlines limit the number of animals that can travel on the same plane, and space is first come, first served; dogs may spend days in the cargo terminal, depending on their origin and destination, and how many ticketed passengers are flying with their pets. That said, air transport is less expensive, and for international transport it may be the only option, as we can only transport animals overland if they are located within North America.

The math: (It's boring, but important.) To determine the total cost of transporting your dog, multiply the distance from Forks, Washington to your location by $1.25. For example, if you live in Portland, Oregon, multiply 250 miles by $1.25 to get $312.50. If you live in Portland, Maine, multiply 3,300 miles by $1.25 for a total of $4,125. $1.25 per mile covers fuel, hotels, and vehicle maintenance. We will provide receipts and refund you the difference if we spend less; longer trips will generally average less than $1.25 per mile, and the number of nights spent in hotels, as well as the expense of the hotels, will impact the total. We are willing to work with you to lower the price whenever possible. In addition, if we are transporting more than one animal, sponsors may share the expense, for instance, if sponsor A lives in Denver and sponsor B lives in Miami, the transport charges would be calculated as follows: distance from Forks to sponsor A: 1,500 miles; distance from Forks to sponsor B: 3,485 miles. Total travel expense to the longer of the two distances: $4,356.25. Calculate each sponsor's percentage of the total by adding distance A and distance B, then dividing each distance by the total -- distance A plus distance B: 4,985; sponsor A's share is 30% and sponsor B's is 70%. Multiply the total travel expense by each percentage; sponsor A is responsible for $1,306.88 and sponsor B is responsible for $3,049.38. If we transport more dogs, the totals go down more. Construction expense, monthly sponsorship, and health insurance are not included in these totals.

Photos:

The facelift is underway; visible in this photo is the way our building will look when the renovation is complete, as well as a portion of the older, uglier wall.