SILVERDALE — Kitsap Humane Society adopted out more than 200 animals during its “Mega Match-a-thon” event at the Silverdale shelter Oct. 23-25. Adopters came from all over the state to offer loving homes to 213 cats and dogs of all ages, breeds and sizes during the three-day event sponsored by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

KHS Animal Welfare Director Natalie Smith said shelter staff and volunteers couldn’t be happier that the event exceeded the shelter’s goal of adopting out 150 pets.

“Our success was due to the community coming together to spread the word far and wide,” she said.

Smith said counseling sessions designed to match the right pet with the right adopter ran smoothly, primarily because of the hard work of over 30 staff members and 61 volunteers, who contributed nearly 400 unpaid hours to the effort.

About half to two-thirds of the animals made available for adoption came from the local community. The rest were transferred from overcrowded shelters in Washington, California, Texas and Hawaii by KHS’ life-saving Rescue Me program. The adoptions have freed up kennel space and KHS is now able to take in more needy and at-risk animals.

The ASPCA has provided grant funds to KHS and many other shelters across the country to support large-scale adoption events in an effort to save the lives of shelter animals.

Kitsap Humane Society is a private, nonprofit, charitable organization that has been caring for animals in need since 1908. KHS admits more than 5,000 animals per year and has one of the highest lives saved rates in the country. KHS’ vision is that every adoptable companion animal has a home. For more information, visit www.kitsap-humane.org.