KINGSTON — Pets and pet lovers now have a helping hand in North Kitsap.

PAWS of Bainbridge Island and North Kitsap opened its new facility, at 26569 Lindvog Road in Kingston, April 19.

The local PAWS Animal Welfare Center will provide adoption of cats and kittens, as well as special one-day dog adoption events in partnership with other animal rescue groups.

The site also will provide better access for North Kitsap residents to a wide variety of pet-related community support programs offered through PAWS, such as low-cost spay/neuter and veterinary financial assistance for low-income pet owners.

Volunteers will help operate the group’s Pet Food Bank, serve as adoption counselors, and help the group’s small staff to operate the center.

“This is a huge step forward for us as an organization, as well as for the pet-loving communities of North Kitsap,” said Mark Hufford, executive director of PAWS of Bainbridge Island and North Kitsap. “It wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of Windermere Real Estate, as well as our business and community supporters and partners throughout the area.”

Windermere offered the group low-cost leases for the Kingston site and for an expanded site on Bainbridge Island.