OMG you guys… it’s only a few months into 2026 and things at RISE have already been full throttle. Our team has basically been burning the candle at both ends, but there’s also been a lot of good happening and we wanted to share a quick update with you.

2026 so far by the numbers

Since January we’ve welcomed 32 dogs into care, with 8 puppies born right here at RISE. Our waitlist for help is now over 25 dogs deep, and we have another litter arriving soon.

We’re also seeing more stray dogs, more surrender requests, and more calls from law enforcement than ever before.

The honest truth? We are over capacity. And the hardest part lately has been having to say no when we simply don’t have the space.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your support matters… this is exactly where it does. Every kennel, vet visit, and foster placement happens because of this community.

Happy endings (because these keep us going)

Some of our favorite recent wins include Mama Ethel and all of her puppies (Sprout, Twig, Bean, and Sprig) finding their forever homes, along with Fig and Fae heading off to amazing families. Just look at Fae (now Suki), blissfully napping on the sofa in her new home.

And then there’s Otis… now Winston.

Otis came to RISE from a loving family who knew his behavior challenges needed more structure and support than they could provide. When he arrived, he worked with our trainers to build skills and confidence.

We placed him once and realized it wasn’t quite the right fit. So we reset, used everything we learned from his training, and tried again.

This time we found a cattle-dog-experienced family who understood exactly what he needed. And the updates since adoption? Pure magic.

Otis—now Winston—is going on morning runs, heeling beautifully on leash, and thriving in the structure of his new home.

Sometimes the right fit just takes a little time.

Puppy season is here… and it’s a lot

If you’ve been following along, you know we’ve been caring for a fragile litter of puppies that arrived needing significant medical support. Our team and volunteers have been providing round-the-clock care, and we are incredibly grateful to our veterinary partners at Diamond B Veterinary and Blue Mountain Animal Clinic for helping guide their treatment.

On top of that, we also welcomed a litter of puppies born right here at RISE, which means late-night check-ins, keeping a close eye on mom and babies, and a whole lot of puppy snuggles mixed in with the chaos.

At the same time, we’ve been contacted about more puppies than we can possibly take in right now. Litter after litter, call after call.

This is exactly why spay and neuter is so important. Preventing even one accidental litter helps reduce the pressure on rescues and shelters throughout the community.

Puppies may be adorable… but behind the scenes they require intensive care, medical support, and resources.

Our Community Outreach Program

One of the things we’re most proud of this year is expanding our support for pets and their people right here in Clallam County.

For many community members facing housing instability or financial hardship, pets are family, protection, and emotional support. Our goal is simple: help keep those pets safe, healthy, and with the people who love them.

Recently we were able to distribute over 3,500 pounds of pet food and a truckload of supplies to community members who needed it.

A major part of that effort was a 2,200-pound donation of high-quality pet food from Pet Food Experts, coordinated by one of our volunteers and made possible through an incredible group of partners and helpers.

A special thank you to...

• Hope Williams for coordinating the donation
• Cynthia Linden, owner of Best Friend Nutrition: Natural Pet Market in Sequim
• Jay Mechem, Territory Sales Manager at Pet Food Experts
• Pet Food Experts for donating a full pallet of high quality food
• Jim Williams and Brianna Johnson for helping move the massive load
• Lurri Vanmeter for coordinating distribution
• Animal Control Deputy Ed Bauck, for helping distribute supplies

A special thank you as well to our other partners who helped support the program: Greater Good Charities for donating several pallets of food, and Kitsap Humane Society and Bremerton Foodline for coordinating getting it to us. And thank you to everyone in the community who donated supplies and food to help make this possible.

Because of these partnerships, hundreds of pets in our community are able to stay fed and stay home with the families who love them.

What’s ahead this spring

We’ve got some fun opportunities coming up to connect with the community:

March 18 – Worthy Wednesday at Mighty Pine Brewing (Port Angeles)
15% of the entire day’s sales will support RISE. Our team (and doggos!) will be there 4–9pm.

April 21 – Pups on the Patio at Barhop Brewing (Sequim)
Meet adoptable dogs and enjoy a pint with the pups 4–6pm.

May 2 – Do Good with Chipotle (Port Angeles)
25% of sales from 4–8pm will be donated to RISE.

Want to help?

With the number of dogs coming through our doors right now, we are ramping up our volunteer program.

We host a free online volunteer orientation on the second Tuesday of every month for anyone curious about helping with RISE or just wanting to learn more about what we do. Sign up to volunteer here.

And if you’re in a position to help financially, donations truly make this work possible. They allow us to say yes to more dogs, provide medical care for fragile puppies, and continue outreach work in the community. Click here to support our work.

Every little bit helps.

Every rescue, every adoption, every bag of food shared in the community happens because of this incredible village around RISE.

We’re so grateful you’re part of it. 🐾