 HSMC Rescues 81 Cats in a Home in Mason County from Heartbreaking Hoarding CaseOver the past three weeks, the Humane Society of Mason County (HSMC) has worked closely with the Mason County Sheriff’s Office to remove 81 cats from a local home. For years, this home was known for giving away free, sickly kittens throughout the community. We reached out numerous times to offer support but were turned down each and every time. The cats were living in filthy, overcrowded conditions, left to breed unchecked, without ever receiving veterinary care. With shelters across the region already at or over capacity, finding space for this many animals felt nearly impossible. Still, we moved forward, knowing that we needed to act NOW. Over multiple trips, HSMC staff and Sheriff’s deputies spent more than 21 hours on site, carefully locating and safely removing cats from every corner of the overcrowded home.  Partnerships make it possibleThanks to the generosity and grit of several key rescue partners—Kitsap Humane Society, Center Valley Animal Rescue, Seattle Humane, and Pasado’s Safe Haven—we were able to transfer a large number of cats into care. These organizations cleared out medical holding areas just to make room, and we are incredibly grateful. HSMC still has cats in care from a spring hoarding case where we rescued 46 animals. Cats from overcrowded living situations generally come to us with illnesses or other medical issues that may require an extended stay before they are healthy and ready for adoption. Most of the cats from this recent case are adults/seniors who are scared and will need time, patience, and veterinary care to recover. Taking on this number of animals has filled every inch of our space, but we are proud to be here for the animals of Mason County when they need us most.  After a few days in foster, Patches has come out of hiding to enjoy pets from his foster mom. Watch this video with the sound up high to hear his beautifully croaky motor. Such a purring machine! Patches is one of the most social of the bunch. The Humane Society of Mason County is able to continue saving lives because of the support of our amazing community. THANK YOU to our donors, volunteers, and rescue partners for standing beside us as we work to create a safer, more humane world for animals.
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 One year ago, the Mason County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to a property in Grapeview for an animal cruelty investigation. Over 60 animals, mostly dogs, were discovered in deplorable conditions, some in need of urgent medical care.  The Humane Society of Mason County responded immediately, working closely with law enforcement on-site and stepping in to lead the animal care and coordination effort. Recognizing the scale of the situation, HSMC quickly activated our network of trusted rescue partners, calling on several organizations we work with for support in this large case. Thanks to those strong partnerships and the tireless efforts of our staff, volunteers, and veterinary team, every animal rescued from the property received the care they desperately needed. Many have since recovered and gone on to loving homes, including Murphy who was adopted by the family of one of the deputies on this case. Here’s their story.  The afternoon of April 14th my husband put on his uniform, threw some food in a lunch box, grabbed a charged battery for his radio and walked out the door for an overtime shift like normal. We had no idea at the time [that] this shift would end up adding a new family member to the mix. A couple hours later I get a phone call from the same husband who the day before had told me I can’t get any more animals, explaining that there is this “small fluffy white dog” that needs a home. In the case records, he was #55. His new family named him Murphy.  Twenty-four hours later when this puppy was placed in my arms, I was horrified that I could feel even the smallest details in his bones, his teeth chattered from how relentlessly he shook and the fear in his eyes was heartbreaking. Each day was a little better as our sweet boy learned to trust us and began to get his strength back. We watched him learn how to run, to play, learn what a TV was and how to get on the couch. Most importantly we watched him get healthy! He slowly gained weight and started to show his personality which consists mostly of barking and digging holes, but who can blame the guy!  He still has physical ailments that we manage, but due to the abuse he suffered before us he will never be as healthy as he could have been. However, he is loved! He goes on walks, he plays with toys, he loves his cats and his dog brother, he gets to go to dog daycare sometimes and play with other pups, he protects his girls and snuggles most with his dad! He is living his best life and we are so happy to be able to give it to him! Thank you to everyone who supported our efforts in this case. Murphy is living his best life now! His Happy Tail is just one of many. We’re so grateful to hear positive stories from these animals who experienced so much trauma before their rescue. If you adopted an animal from this cruelty case, we’d love to hear how your pet is doing! Please email us your story at [email protected].
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The Humane Society of Mason County
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Office Address
24070 State Route 3 Belfair, WA 98528 |
Office Hours
Monday through Friday 9am - 1pm Adoption by Appointment |
Mailing Address
PO Box 168 Belfair, WA 98528 |
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© 2025 The Humane Society of Mason County
Supporting all of Mason County, including Shelton, Belfair, Allyn, Grapeview, Hoodsport, and Matlock.
Supporting all of Mason County, including Shelton, Belfair, Allyn, Grapeview, Hoodsport, and Matlock.