Submitted by the Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor

There is good news. The Animal Shelter of Friday Harbor has achieved its fundraising goal for the construction of the new shelter. Last year the shelter board of directors, having raised 80 percent of the money to cover construction cost, awarded contracts to begin construction.

At the 2018 annual Doggone Good Dinner, the goal was reached. It is anticipated that the new shelter will be completed in August of this year and the transition to the new shelter will be in September after the grand opening of Sept. 8.

Once again Friday Harbor will add a major new facility for which the community can be proud. In keeping with shelter history and tradition, all the funds have been raised locally through local connections without public monies. Donations came from the heart as people remembered pets and loved ones.

Collections came from children and adults through a variety of fundraising efforts, including Pennies for Pets banks, capital campaign shelter donation banks (in locations in downtown Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor), Treasure Hounds, and WAGS just to mention a few.

Many of celebrity friends of the shelter, such as Ken and Linda Howard, Jane Lynch, Wendy Mallick, Neal McDonough and Loretta Swit, gave their time and support to help reach the goal. All events and efforts were dedicated to helping make the New Home – New Hope a reality.

Building the new shelter has once again shown how the island pulls together. Friday Harbor deserves a pat on the back along with many grateful ‘woofs and meows.’