SILVERDALE – Almeda (Harris) Wilson was responsible for saving the lives of thousands of animals by establishing Kitsap Humane Society in the early 1960s. And although she passed away at age 101 on Sept. 5, her legacy lives on in the current efforts of KHS to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome animals throughout Kitsap County and beyond.

KHS traces its beginnings back to 1908 when a group of visionary individuals formed the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. But it was Wilson’s endeavors roughly 50 years later that paved the way for Kitsap Humane Society to become the progressive shelter it is today.

As the county’s population exploded during World War II due to the war industries located here, the pet population increased proportionally. Often, pets were abandoned when owners relocated. Volunteers rescued some homeless animals, but too many were exterminated by law enforcement officials. By the 1950s, the problem with stray animals had become critical. After a stray found by one of her neighbors was shot by police, Wilson became determined to create a safe place for homeless animals.

In 1962, she succeeded. She and other concerned individuals convened and, after research and planning, presented a proposal to various county and city officials. Ordinances were written and accepted. The shelter building was nowhere near adequate, but Kitsap Humane Society was in operation. Wilson ran the shelter for the next 20 years, until she retired in 1982.

While the founding director stepped away from the shelter’s daily operations, she continued to support KHS in many ways, including financially. In February 2013, at the age of 99, she attended a dedication of the Humane Society’s new, modern cattery (dedicated to her, and one of the founding board members, William Mahan). At that event, she spoke eloquently about the Humane Society’s history with more than 40 supporters.

In 2014, Wilson made a significant donation to enhance the organization’s life-saving capacity and care for the animals. Her gift funded the large transport van used in the KHS Rescue Me program to transfer in animals (more than 1,000 last year) from other crowded shelters, a new animal control vehicle, and the Society’s first ever X-ray machine to improve life-saving treatment provided by its veterinary staff.

According to Eric Stevens, KHS Executive Director, “No single person has done more for animal welfare in Kitsap County than Almeda (Harris) Wilson. She not only cared deeply for animals, she brought a keen business and political savvy to running and expanding the shelter. Her tenacity and determination enabled her to recruit a strong board and rally community support behind animal welfare issues. She and her board were responsible for finding and securing the current Silverdale location prior to her retirement, a few years before the current shelter on Dickey Road in Silverdale was completed and opened in June, 1989.”

So while she may be gone, Wilson’s love for animals and her passionate commitment to their welfare continues to fuel the hard work of staff and volunteers to save more animal lives than ever before – more than 5,000 last year.

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 US. KHS’ vision is that every adoptable companion animal has a home. For more information, visit kitsap-humane.org.