About the Humane Society of Mason County

Mission Statement | Plan | Our Team | Our Story | FAQs | Newsletter

MISSION

The Humane Society of Mason County is a non-profit organization providing assistance and care to displaced or abused animals including control of pet and feral population.  Additionally, the organization is working to provide an animal shelter for unwanted companion animals. 

PLAN

The ​Humane Society of Mason County (HSMC) is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves the Mason County area of Washington State.
​
Our organization adheres to a philosophy of a no-kill shelter and animal rescue. We believe in providing second chances for companion animals whether they are abandoned, abused, neglected or homeless. We believe that all animals deserve the chance to live, thrive and be loved in "forever homes!"
​It is our sincere desire to provide aid when needed and to create opportunities for these needy animals to have a second chance at life.

OUR TEAM

Our Board of Directors

​Our Board is all-volunteer and meets the first Wednesday of each month.  We welcome volunteers and animal lovers to join us.
Katherine Johnson
executive director
Katherine Johnson, her husband and two young children own a small farm in Belfair. Always busy fostering, trapping feral cats, transporting and educating the public. Katherine has always been a full time animal advocate. She has been on the board of several non-profit rescue groups for a variety of different animal species. Though Katherine has helped many animals large and small, her biggest passion is spay and neuter. She has spent thousands of hours over the course of 10 plus years providing trap, neuter and return services everywhere in Kitsap and Mason county. Though many of Katherine’s days are spent helping cats, her children, dogs and horses are where she spends most of her time at home.  Katherine joined the HSMC board in November 2020. 
Scott Gordon
Vice PResident
​Scott Gordon has lived in Mason County most of his life. Prior to moving here full time in the early 1980's, he vacationed here on Hood Canal with his family. He graduated from North Mason High School and Olympic College. Scott is currently retired from the Washington State Patrol where he was a Sergeant. During his career he spent 8 years as an Explosive Detection K-9 Handler where he trained and worked 2 separate dogs. Prior to his State Patrol career, he spent 2 years as a Reserve Deputy with the Mason County Sheriff's Department and also worked as an Animal Control Officer with the Kitsap County Humane Society. There he worked in the kennels, enforced county as well as municipal laws related to animals, and completed animal cruelty investigations.  Scott currently works for himself in real estate development. He resides in Twanoh Falls Beach Club where he is currently the board President and manages the water system. He has always had dogs as pets throughout his life and sees the need for an organized Humane Society in Mason County.
Tina Whittemore
Board Member
Tina Whittemore has lived in Washington most of her life. She grew up on a family farm in Orting and moved to the Key Peninsula in 1994. Tina worked for a medical lab as a Financial Analyst for 25 years, while raising two wonderful children. She then opened a dog boarding facility, which has been operating since 2012. She has always been an advocate for animals and has extensive volunteer history with several rescues locally. Tina is the Surrender Coordinator for Woof Project Rescue (Belgian Malinois), and assists with reuniting lost and found animals in Kitsap, Mason, and Pierce counties. Tina has trapped countless dogs, assisting with reunification, and or rehoming. Tina once drove a dog 400 miles to reunite the pup with her family!  In Tina's spare time you may find her, her husband and dogs hiking in the woods, or heading down the trail on horseback.  Tina joined the board for the Humane Society because Mason County has little to offer for animal services and she believes through education and community involvement we can work together to make a better place for displaced and animals in need.
Valerie Cole
Board Member
Valerie Cole, 
Gayle Enochs
Secretary
Gayle Enochs I graduated from North Mason high school in 1973 and returned to the area 45 years later. I live on Stretch Island, which happens to be the 6th island I have lived on in my life. 
I have 3 adult sons and 2 grandsons, and I share my home with my 7 year old cat Oscar and my 4 year old cat Ace, who was a 6 week old feral kitten dropped in my yard by a predator.
I started volunteering at the HSMC in 2022 and in July 2023 started as Office Manager, overseeing the daily workings of the office and assisting in  event planning of our local fundraising events.
I am also Secretary on the Board of Directors. 
Felice Dominguez
Board member
Felice Dominguez has recently returned home to Mason County and lives in Tahuya, near her family and just down the street from where she grew up.  A graduate of North Mason High School and Arizona State University, she has volunteered with county and private non-profit animal rescue organizations for almost 15 years, everywhere she has lived from the Midwest, East Coast and back again to the PNW.  Her family has always had pets of all kinds- but she has a soft spot for the hound dogs and currently has two of her own + a rotation of fosters.  Felice currently works for Starbucks in Public Affairs, focused on internal communications and data & analytics and has been a volunteer foster parent with the Humane Society of Mason County.  She is looking forward to becoming more involved with the organization as it continues to grow and brings forth the new facilities, providing even more needed services in our community.  
Ingrid Harstock
Board member

OUR STORY

Past | Present | Future

History

The Humane Society of Mason County was founded in 1986 by a group of dedicated volunteers, many animals have been fostered over the years.
Starting in December 2004, in response to community need and spearheaded by a local veterinarian, efforts to revitalize the organization began. We have many local supporters, a volunteer network and a strong plan for the future of the Humane Society of Mason County.​

Today

We manage a small facility in Belfair, offering low cost veterinary services and preforming over 75 spay and neuter surgeries WEEKLY! Our facility also offers a pet food pantry and resource center for pet owners and community members. HSMC also has an extensive foster program housing over 100 animals in care at any given time, dedicated to providing medical care and finding forever homes. 

Tomorrow

We are building in stages, as building a shelter that will benefit the community for years to come is expensive.  Stage one and two have been completed with the installation of a well, clearing and fencing of the property.  Our next stage is to start construction on the building.  For the most up to date information, please visit our shelter page, click here. 
We are excited to finally get this undertaking started. It has been many years in the making and we welcome any volunteers interested in helping us raise funds or contribute building expertise toward this goal.
Contact us for more information at 360-275-9310, via email at [email protected]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who is The Humane Society of Mason County? Where is your shelter?
The Humane Society of Mason County was founded in 1986 by a small group of caring citizen who banded together to assist animals in need and thus founded a non-profit organization they called The Humane Society of Mason County. This small grassroots group centered its work on fostering homeless pets and finding them appropriate "forever" homes. For many years, The Humane Society had donated its time and energy to helping many animals in need, and in 2004 it was determined that a proper "Brick and Mortar" shelter was considered necessary to continue their work. The plan was created and put into action to build a no-kill shelter to care for the many homeless, neglected and abused animals with little or no place to go. Currently our county's small shelters and rescue groups are overwhelmed and sadly, many of these adoptable pets end up in facilities which have limited space and do not subscribe to a "no-kill" philosophy.
Today the Humane Society is moving ever closer to realizing its dream. This animal shelter will be centrally located in Mason County and will be designed to offer not only a safe haven for needy animals, but also serve as a location for adoptions, low cost spay and neuter assistance, and provide other needed services to our community.
What is your role in helping animals in Mason County?
The Humane Society of Mason County has been working hard for many years to establish a large "no-kill" shelter facility. As we continue moving forward with our goal of building our shelter we have a small facility in Belfair offering a pet food pantry, low cost spay and neuter surgeries, vaccines, adoptions and a home for displaced animals. 

Where does the money I give the HSMC go?
A portion of all money donated to the HSMC goes into our Capital Building Campaign Fund. All other money is goes towards supporting our community programs and facility in Belfair. . 
Is the Humane Society of Mason County affiliated with any other Humane Society?
No. The Humane Society of Mason County is a private 501 C 3 Non-Profit Organization which relies entirely on generous donations, contributions, in-kind gifts, small grants and friends to support our many efforts. The HSMC is not affiliated with any other Humane Society. It is important to understand that, although you may already contribute to The Humane Society of the United States, this organization is not affiliated with any other independent Humane Society in our country and, thus, we do not receive any funding from this organization.
What do I do if I have to re-home my Cat or Dog?
Because the Humane Society does not have a shelter location we are limited to foster homes. Please submit a surrender application under services and  We can educate you on alternative solutions and refer you to comprehensive network of other foster homes, rescue groups and neighboring shelters, including Kitsap Humane Society,  and Kitten Rescue and Adopt A Pet of Shelton.
What do I do if I find a lost Cat or Dog?
Check the resource page of our website for options. You are welcome to call our office at 360-275-9310 for more information. Our office is staffed by volunteers and is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 1pm. 
How do I SCHEDULE a spay or neuter appointment for my pet
Visit our appointment finder page under services and resources. 
What do I do if there is a vicious dog in my neighborhood?
In the event you have an encounter with a vicious or dangerous animal of any kind, DO NOT approach the animal, and contact animal control immediately! Mason County Animal Control can be reached at: (360) 275-4467 Ext.313 
Does the Humane society of mason county offer help with feral/stray cats? 
Yes, we do!  Because Mason County has many acres of rural countryside, it is a perfect haven for feral or stray cats. Feral cats tend to live in what is referred to as a "cat colony" which can number anywhere from 2 cats to 20+. Cat colonies are primarily made up of female cats with roaming male "toms" who visit occasionally to impregnate mature females; it is a situation that can easily get out of control.
Assistance is available through feral cat trap, neuter and release programs (TNR), including our own TNR program at HSMC. These programs do not take in feral cats, nor do they find homes for strays. They work in conjunction with you to humanely trap, offer spay and neuter assistance and then return them to be released. As a result, these cats can live out their rest of their lives without the burden of potential disease transition, starvation due to resource depletion, death by predation, or euthanasia at a shelter since this type of wild/feral cats is not suitable to be adopted as a family pet.
For more information about our Feral Cat Program, please contact our office at 360-275-9310 or email us at [email protected] and one of our volunteers will be happy to assist you and tell you more about our program. 
i need to spay or neutuer my pet, can humane society of mason county help?
The Humane Society of Mason County has a spay and neuter clinic in Belfair.  
"Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer."
Dean Koontz