Animal Shelter Operations
Dear Editor: Friends of Sitka Animal Shelter is deeply concerned about recent changes in the operations of the Sitka Animal Shelter under the Sitka Police Department and the impact on the welfare of the animals.
For over 30 years, volunteers have played a key role in the shelter’s success, working alongside the animal control officer to provide care and support until the animals found loving homes. Unfortunately, since July 2024, FOSAS and 25-plus volunteers have been barred from the shelter. Despite multiple requests, we’ve received no information about the fate of at least 10 cats and four dogs that were in the shelter’s care since then.
Earlier this year, SPD discontinued providing essential services like vaccinations and spay/neuter prior to adopting animals into homes. This poses a public health risk and worsens the problem of overpopulation. We are now seeking the public’s support in addressing these concerns, as well as the future of the shelter.
This Tuesday, Oct. 8, the city Assembly will meet to discuss the future of SAS. Substantial change is needed and we appreciate the city administrator’s focus on this issue. Our priority is ensuring that Sitka’s most vulnerable animals – whether stray, abandoned, or surrendered – are cared for in accordance with national shelter standards of care and are given a fair chance at finding permanent homes, with euthanasia as the last resort. We believe this is achievable through collaboration with the city and with community input and support.
FOSAS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2021 to support Sitka’s city-owned and operated shelter. Our mission is to provide quality care to animals in need while offering resources, services, and education to the community. Since 2022, we have:
–Coordinated 25+ volunteers who helped with daily animal care, providing over 2,600 hours of service to the shelter.
–Conducted outreach and education by hosting events like “Coffee with Cats” to raise awareness for the shelter and by providing “Welcome Home” adoption kits to new adopters.
–Funded medical care that exceeded the basic provisions covered by the city budget.
–Arranged and funded the transfer of shelter dogs to the Shelter Pet Obedience Training program at the State Penitentiary in Seward, which pairs dogs with behavioral issues with inmates for training until they become adoptable.
–Secured grants and raised funds for shelter improvements, making the facility more suitable for Sitka’s lost and stray animals and more welcoming to the public.
Through these and other efforts, we have raised and contributed over $36,000 to the Sitka Animal Shelter since 2022.
If you share our concerns for the shelter’s animals and future of the shelter, we encourage you to please email Assembly members today, attend the Assembly meeting on Tuesday to show your support, and help us advocate for Sitka’s animals.
For more information, please get in touch with us at sitkaanimalfriends@gmail.com. We are thankful for all of you who have supported us and the shelter animals, and we appreciate your support now more than ever.
Friends of the Sitka Animal Shelter
Board of Directors and Sitka Animal Shelter Volunteers
Kristina Tirman, Rhea Ehresmann
Dusty Kidd, Susan Jones
Evanne Kegley, Claire Turner
Chris Kowalczewski, Trish Durham
Karen Royce, Kate Johnson
Isabel Johnson, Amara Johnson
Meichen Plumhoff, Grace Brooks
Alicia Haseltine, Sarah Tobey
Traci Gale, Hannah Blanke
Shaleena Bott, Petra Lechner
Carin Adickes
