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KitsapDailyNews.com
Friday, December 22, 2017 - Port Orchard Independent
Bryan Petro’s friend recalls ‘a gentle soul’ By BOB SMITH
Kitsap News Group
PORT ORCHARD — However you want to define Bryan Petro, he never was a shy, retiring kind of guy. Petro, who died Dec. 14 of an apparent heart attack, left a legacy of civic involvement in South Kitsap and Port Orchard, punctuated by passion and enthusiasm. For his grieving friends, Petro was anything but boring company. Don Manning of Port Orchard, a fellow real estate agent who knew Petro for at least 30 years, said his friend with the unmistakable personality will be missed. “Bryan was a hell of a guy and I’m going to miss him,” he said. “He had that unmistakable laugh, I guess you could call it the Petro guffaw.” The pair became friends during their early days working in the auto sales business. They also shared a love of the arts. Petro had an interest in acting and appearing on stage — he headlined a number of local stage productions years ago. If a man was created for the stage, it was Petro. “I wrote a script for a film short that we made in Port
Orchard a couple of years ago,” Manning recalled. “Bryan played a bartender in the first few minutes of the thing and was having the time of his life. (Acting) was right up his alley. I’m glad I was able to do that with him.” Not surprisingly, Manning said he and his friend shared a love of nostalgia and memorabilia. Somewhere in eastern Washington, he believes, Petro has a collection of neon signs stored away. Some years ago, when Manning heard about an auto dealership in Bremerton that was getting rid of its neon sign, Bryan’s interest percolated. “He said, ‘What are they going to do with it?’ I said they were going to take it down in a day or two, and it was probably going to the scrap yard. Then Bryan replied, ‘I’ve got to have that.’” Manning told his friend that it would take a flatbed truck and a forklift to carry the sign away. Assuming he dropped his plans, Manning was shocked to see his friend with a flatbed carrying away the sign. “It must have weighed half a ton and was about the size of
Leslie Kelly | Kitsap News Group 2015
Bryan Petro was active in just about every Port Orchard civic activity. Here Petro, right, and Christine Stansbery look through copies of old Port Orchard Independent newspapers in preparation for the 125th-anniversary exhibit in 2015. a Volkswagen. Bryan said he was going to restore it. I suspect it’s somewhere in a warehouse in eastern Washington,” Manning said. A shared experience one night in Pioneer Square many years ago sparked an amused laugh from Manning, who
said it demonstrated the character Petro possessed: “At that time, Pioneer Square was a place you could go to listen to all kinds of music. We ended up at Larry’s Greenfront and ended up crashing a party of some gals. One of the women, who said
her name was Peaches, got Bryan out on the dance floor. In between dances, Bryan, of course, entertained the table. “He was a big old boy with rosy cheeks and had worked up a sweat. After another round of dancing, Peaches told Bryan that, ‘You’re fixing to
PETRO
member Clancy Donlin said he worked with Petro on many civic events, but mostly remembers his friend’s deep interest in the city’s historic past. “Bryan Petro was historic Port Orchard personified,” Donlin said. “His orations of how it used to be growing up in a sleepy Northwest town on the water echoed through so many public and private events.” Donlin said Petro was “a
man of the theater.” He said that “his vocal flair found its way to a few City Council meetings.” McGee said Petro’s legacy will be his dedication, positivity and devotion to the betterment of Port Orchard and South Kitsap. “When you think of community here in Port Orchard, he’s the first name that pops up,” he said. “Always positive, always involved and (he) loved the
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alongside Petro. “I was sad to hear about Bryan,” Putaansuu said. “Bryan has been a member of my Rotary club for a number of years. He’s going to be missed, that’s for certain. He had a very vivacious personality.” Port Orchard City Council
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blow up!’ So, we had this running gag that, every time I’d see him, I’d say, ‘Peaches called, and she wants to go dancing.’” The last time the friends spoke was this summer at the waterfront. Bryan, who had battled the weight scales all his life, had recently dropped some pounds. “He had looked good. But this time, he just didn’t look healthy,” Manning said. “He usually had those rosy cheeks like Santa Claus, but he wasn’t his upbeat self.” Petro earlier confided that he had seen a doctor for pulmonary issues, and Manning suspects it may have been related to his passing. “I had been out of town for two months and was on a layover in L.A.,” Manning noted. “That’s when I got word that he’d died ,,,” The friend’s voice trailed off, caught in emotion. “God, I’m going to miss him. Bryan was a hell of a good guy. That’s just the guy he was. He was a gentle soul.” Bob Smith is editor of the Port Orchard Independent. He can be reached at rsmith@ soundpublishing.com. fact that he was a South Kitsap High alum. He was a big supporter of the school bond. He’d show up at the bond meetings singing the South Kitsap fight song. “He was bigger than life, with an infectious laugh. He was just a positive dude who was all about the community. I don’t think anyone else could stand out in supporting South Kitsap like he did. If there was a community event, the man was involved somehow.” Petro had been living with his mother, who has been ill, at the time of his death. Petro’s family, which also includes his sister Janel Johnson of Baltimore, has scheduled a summer memorial service July 7 at First Lutheran Community Church in Port Orchard.
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We view recent news events with great regret, as they underline the simple fact that our world is a dangerous and unpredictable place. We recommend you exercise your rights and procure dependable defensive firearms you can learn and plan to use at home and away to keep yourself and your We view recent news events with great regret, as they underline the simple fact that our loved ones from harm. Demand that your world is a dangerous and unpredictable place. We recommend you exercise your rights and procure dependable defensive firearms can learn and plan to use at home and lawmakers respect theyouConstitution and away to keep yourself and your loved ones safe from harm. Demand that your lawmakers protect your respectfreedom the Constitution and today. protect your freedom today.
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Friday, October 13, 2017 - Port Orchard Independent
‘Scrubbies lady’ at Farmers Market feted with special day Young to end her Saturdays at the market — she has terminal cancer, which has made it difPORT ORCHARD — ficult for her to keep up with Linda Young quietly ended crocheting and embroidery her 39-year tenure in June work. as a crafts vendor at the Port “It got too hard for me. To Orchard Farmers Market. be honest, I’ve been going But on Oct. 7, fellow vendors, friends and community mem- downhill pretty fast, but hope to get a second wind here bers made sure she was given soon.” a noteworthy “Linda Young Young is using an oxygen Day” farewell celebration at unit to help her breathe. Still, the weekly Saturday event. she has plenty of support from The affable Young is a longtime customers — she familiar figure at the Saturday considers them dear friends — market on the waterfront, and family who help in other who until recently was at her familiar vendor’s booth selling ways. Finding friends, after all, specialty crochet and hand was her initial reason for embroidery items. becoming a vendor at the While she’s known for her farmer’s market. tea towels, refrigerator tow“I did it because I needed els and embroidered pieces, to get out of Young is just house and as likely to be “Most of my friends are the meet people,” identified by from the market,”Young Young, also a customers as longtime Port “the scrubbies noted. “The market is a Orchard resilady” — one of big, happy family. We’re a dent, said. “My her signature items is a cloth very close group. My sons’ boys were a or two old scrubber used friends will come down year when I started, to clean pots with their own families. so I was then and pans. able to get away While the That’s been fun to see.” on Saturdays.” longtime venJust a handdor is celebratful of vendors were with the ed for her handcrafted items, market at its start, she said. her greatest legacy, according Young pointed out that Davis to friends and customers, is Farm of Belfair still is a venher sweet nature and friendly, dor, albeit with a succeeding caring attitude. generation in charge. That’s why Young was the Being a 39-year vendor at guest of honor at the market, a silver crown atop her head and the market allowed her to pick up plenty of repeat customers a wooden sign given to her over the years — including commemorating her dedicathose customers’ children and tion and contributions to the grandchildren. Farmers Market. “Most of my friends are Young said she was told in advance about her special day, from the market,” Young noted. “The market is a big, but it still was surprising. happy family. We’re a very “I had no idea it was going close group. My sons’ friends to be like that. They went to a will come down with their lot of Pay trouble to do that, ” she yourself more and Uncle Sam less. own families. That’s been fun said of the balloons, streamto see.” ers and chocolate cake at her Did you know that prior to April 30, 2007, most Americans There’ littleAccording doubt thisto table.were actually working for Uncle Sam? It’sstrue. crafty vendor misses her Sadly, ill health has forced the Tax Foundation, it took on average almost four months By BOB SMITH
Kitsap News Group
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Bob Smith | Independent
Longtime vendor Linda Young speaks with well-wishers during “Linda Young Day” at the Port Orchard Public Market on Oct. 7. Saturday routine. “I miss it every Saturday,” she said. “I still look at the weather on Saturdays to see what it’s going to be like outside.” While her illness has kept Young from making regular visits to the market this summer, she was able to stop by a few weeks ago with the help of family members prior to the celebration. With husband Ray at her side, Linda Young spent those few hours at her celebration basking in the reflection earned from the years she shared her warmth, kindness
Port Orchard Public Market vendors presented Linda Young with a plaque commemorating her many years as a vendor at the market.
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and friendship with others. But in spite of that, she’s still a bit surprised at the outpouring of love on her special day. “That was the best time ever,” the market’s veteran vendor said afterward. “I really couldn’t believe it. This place is like my second home.” — Bob Smith is regional editor of Kitsap News Group. He can be reached at rsmith@ soundpublishing.com.
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Safety concerns force pool closure
A NIMITZ HOMECOMING
Families rejoice as Nimitz returns home By BOB SMITH
Kitsap News Group
BREMERTON — Standing alongside her new in-laws and supported by her good friend, Holly Carlson has a look of contained excitement with a backdrop of tension. At just after noon, the newlywed is anxiously waiting for the arrival of USS Nimitz to its Bremerton home-
port Dec. 10. Aboard the massive aircraft carrier is special cargo for Carlson, an Army nurse assigned to Madigan Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma. She is awaiting the return of her husband of three months, Nicolai Carlson, a combat systems officer,
SKSD searching for solution to pay for repairs
NIMITZ, SEE A5
By BOB SMITH
Kitsap News Group
Left: Family members await liberty call for sailors following USS Nimitz’s arrival Dec. 10 in Bremerton. Right: The celebration begins between father and daughter as crew members disembark from the aircraft carrier.
Bob Smith | Independent
Guess what’s back? Flu season is here PORT ORCHARD — The first flu-related death this influenza season has reached Kitsap County. “Our thoughts are with the family that lost their loved one,” said Dr. Susan Turner, health officer for Kitsap Public Health. Influenza in the county has been at low levels this fall, but Turner reported that a number of lab-con-
firmed influenza cases have been recorded so far. Several Kitsap County long-term care facilities have reported seasonal influenza outbreaks. The health officer said that based on data trends from previous flu seasons, the public health district expects to see continuing increases in influenza activity in the coming weeks.
People at risk for developing complications from the flu include adults ages 65 and older, pregnant women, children under 5 (especially those under 2 years), people living in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities and those with certain medical conditions, such as asthma, chronic lung disease, heart disease, weakened immune systems due to
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medications or disease and diabetes. The public health district recommends people do the following to protect themselves and their families from the flu: • Get the flu shot. • Wash hands often, especially after coughing or tissue. • Cover coughs and sneezes with elbow or tissue. • Stay at home if sick. If asked, wear a mask.
PORT ORCHARD — The popular community pool at South Kitsap High School has been temporarily closed by the school district while administrators figure out how to pay for extensive renovation work so it can reopen. According to South Kitsap School District officials, the pool, which is heavily used by high school students, athletic teams, clubs and the public, is in need of a permanent remedy to fix its badly outdated and inadequate mechanical systems. School district spokeswoman Amy Miller said a mechanical system renovation will encompass repairs to the floating cross-pool wall, filtration system, improving water visibility and fixes to the adjustable pool floor. She also said lighting above and surrounding the pool is inadequate for proper visibility and user safety. Staff and lifeguards are finding it difficult to see swimmers in the water. Compounding the district’s dilemma is that students at the high school use the pool daily for physical education classes. “Our facilities and operations staff, along with the pool staff, have done a commendable job over the years keeping district buildings POOL, SEE A2
Friday, December 15, 2017 - Port Orchard Independent
NIMITZ CONTINUED FROM A1
aboard the Nimitz during its six-month deployment as part of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group. Carlson and his fellow shipmates have sailed more than 78,000 miles during the deployment — a distance equal to about five times around the globe — while seeing duty in the Arabian Gulf and the IndoAsia-Pacific region. The strike group seemingly visited every port in the world — except until now, Bremerton, the one that counted most for Holly. The couple has been together for four and a half years but married only since September. When her husband debarks from the aircraft carrier, Carlson says they will finally be together for the first time as a married couple. “I’m excited but nervous,” Carlson says. She’s comforted by the Navy’s efforts to welcome the Nimitz families to the homecoming. “I think it’s so great what they’ve done down here for the families,” she adds. “It’s been such a great experience in a wonderful environment. It’s been so exciting.” At Holly’s side and lending moral support is Isabella Rossi, one of her best friends who is a medical officer at Madigan. Rossi by now knows the vagaries of military life. Her husband also is an active duty Army officer, but, she says with a sense of relief, “Fortunately, he’s not
deployed.” Holly’s new father-in-law, Gary Carlson, says his son Nicolai is the third generation of the family to serve in the military. Gary was a SeaBee — part of the Navy’s military construction arm — and also served aboard a ship during his years as a seaman.
Dad, meet your son Corina Morris, also a young Navy wife, and twoand-a-half-month-old Callan also wait just off the pier for the Nimitz to pull into port. Callan, wearing a snuggly outfit that gives him the appearance of a little teddy bear, is in the arms of Devin Rodriguez, a cousin of onboard sailor Jordon Morris, who’ll soon be the object of joyful attention from his wife and new son. Rodriguez himself is a seaman assigned to the USS Stennis. He says he considers Morris to be like his own brother, not surprisingly, since the two grew up together in their hometown of Quanah, Texas. “We’ve been running around together since we were kids,” Rodriguez says. “While Carran is really my cousin, I call him my little nephew.” Just like other Navy wives and husbands separated by deployment, Corina says their time apart has been difficult. “But that time (when we’re back together) is coming.” “Being by yourself is hard, especially when there’s another person who just can’t be there,” she says. Morris’s baby was born while her husband was at sea. So while an in-person visit wasn’t possible, Corina says
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Holly Carlson (far left) is joined by good friend Isabella Rossi and her in-laws as they wait to enter the pier and welcome Holly’s husband, Nicolai. she’s made do in the intervening six months by communicating to Jordon via email and Skype.
The reunion Even with sunny skies and crisp, but tolerable, temperatures enveloping Bremerton, the hour-long wait for their loved ones to walk down the gangway was inexorable. Holly Carlson and her friend Isabella scan the Nimitz’s decks, where sailors in their Navy whites have lined the railings. Finally, after what seems to be a long wait for a line of Naval seamen to disembark, Carlson’s eyes brighten and the tension vanish. She spots the young lieutenant — her husband Nicolai — making his way down the gangway onto the pier. Attempting in vain to hold her emotions in check, Holly quickly scurries up to her new husband with tears in her eyes. The couple embrace. Walking down the pier hand in hand, the Carlsons — no longer separated by thousands of miles — finally have begun life as a married couple, side by side..
Below: The hour-long wait to welcome home husband Nicolai adds to Holly Carlson’s heightened anticipation. Bottom: They finally spot Nicolai as he prepares to disembark.
The long wait is over for newlywed Holly Carlson as she and her husband Nicolai embrace. Below: Sailor Devin Rodriguez holds his “little nephew” Callan while awaiting the arrival of Callan’s dad, Jordon Morris.
A Nimitz family spots their loved one heading down the gangway.
Photos by Bob Smith | Independent
It takes a community to feed a Homecoming gathering BREMERTON — There’s no doubt that when it comes time for an aircraft carrier homecoming in Bremerton, Naval Base Kitsap puts on a great show for the families who come to greet their loved ones.
At USS Nimitz’s Dec. 10 homecoming, the Navy and a number of generous area companies and organizations pooled efforts to fete the many hundreds of people who showed up for the grand welcoming.
Here’s a rundown of just a part of what was provided to feed and entertain folks as they waited for the Nimitz’s arrival: Safeway donated 400 sugar cookies plus frosting, decorations and extras. Domino’s Pizza brought
over 50 large pizzas. Jimmy John’s donated 100 half sandwiches, 350 bags of chips and 300 cookies. Starbucks kicked in four Cambros Starbucks coffee, six cases of gingerbread loaves, six cases of Starbucks Whooppee
Pies and 216 cake pops (72 each of chocolate, snowman and peppermint). Clear Creek RV brought in a large RV for new moms to use for feeding and changing their infants in a private, comfortable setting.
Costco donated Christmas cookies, plus funds for entertainment. Other entertainment sponsors were WAVE Broadband, Acupuncture & Wellness Center, Kitsap Credit Union and U.S. Family Health. USO Northwest donated flavored water, hot dogs, chips and candy. — Reported by Bob Smith
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Seagull Splat 5K is Saturday. A2 VFW hall has grand opening. A3 Van Amen is SK Male Athlete of Year. A7 St. Vincent building nears completion. A8
FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 2017 ✮ VOL. 126, NO. 16 ✮ KITSAPDAILYNEWS.COM ✮ 50¢
Winning Scarsella bid comes in under estimate for Tremont project Scarsella’s bid significantly under engineer’s estimate to complete the long-awaited project By BOB SMITH
Kitsap News Group
PORT ORCHARD — Kent-based Scarsella Brothers Inc. was the low bidder among seven construction companies competing to win the contract to build Port Orchard’s Tremont Street road widening project. Bids were opened June 6 at Port Orchard City Hall’s council chambers and announced to a gathering of City Council members, Mayor Rob Putaansuu, city officials and representatives from the bidding construction companies. Scarsella’s bid of $11,472,645 was significantly under the engineer’s estimate of $12.9 million to complete the long-awaited project. The next-lowest bid, from construction company ACI, came in at $12,779,179. Third
in line RV Associates’ bid was $12,866,110. The lower than expected bids were welcome news to a jubilant Putaansuu and Mark Dorsey, the city’s Public Works director. “We’re very excited,” Putaansuu said. “We got a quality bid that we can work with. The lower bid allows us to free up cash flow so that we can get started on other needed transportation projects like the Bethel Avenue corridor. We have so many transportation needs in this community.” The mayor said the city was prepared to borrow $8 million to cap the project funding, but a boost from the state Legislature earlier this spring — and the lower than expected winning bid — means the city now will need to borrow $6 million or less. Putaansuu credited state Sen. Jan Angel with being a critical conduit for the city to get the last-minute financial buffer from the state. “I knew when the first bid was opened ($15,706455 submitted by Tucci & Sons) that we were within shooting distance with the $2 million we got from the state, thanks to Jan Angel. “I can’t sing her praises enough,” TREMONT, SEE A2
Robert Zollna | Independent
The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (with image captured overhead by a drone) departs Naval Base KitsapBremerton June 1 to join other Navy squadrons on a regularly scheduled six-month deployment.
USS Nimitz leaves port with 3,000 aboard NAVAL BASE KITSAP BREMERTON — The U.S. Navy’s stalwart aircraft carrier, the USS Nimitz, deployed June 1 with a crew that amounts to the size of a small town — about 3,000 sailors. According to a Navy news
release sent as the Nimitz left port in Bremerton, the deployment was routine and “not in response to any specific incident or regional event.” It’s the first deployment for the Nimitz since 2013, which has been undergoing extensive maintenance
in port over the past four years. The Navy’s oldest destroyer glided through the waters of Sinclair Inlet on its way to connect with two other destroyers based in Everett: the USS Kidd and USS Shoup. The three destroyers headed to San Diego, where they then departed to global hotspots in Asia and perhaps the Middle East. The Nimitz is serving as the flagship of the squadron.
SK students are witnesses, up close and personal
The sobering consequences of a drunk-driving ‘accident’ By BOB SMITH
Kitsap News Group
PORT ORCHARD — The English literature class was in full swing at South Kitsap High when the students, in the midst of an oral lit
presentation, were shocked to be told some horrible news: their classmate, Logan, had been killed by a distracted driver the evening before. Port Orchard chaplain Gail Porter matter-of-factly read Logan’s obituary
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to his classmates moments after his death was announced. “Logan, 18, was killed by a distracted driver on May 25,” the chaplain read. “Logan was born Jan. 8, 1999, to Douglas and Sheila, in
Bremerton. He was excited to graduate from South Kitsap High School …” The classmates of the late student and his teacher reacted to the news with stunned silence.
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Fortunately for everyone concerned, this emotional jolt was just an exercise to demonstrate to students the shock, grief and pain that a young
A MESSAGE FROM
DUI, SEE A9
Friday, June 9, 2017 - Port Orchard Independent
DUI CONTINUED FROM A1
person’s death caused by either a drunk or distracted driver can engender. As part of the exercise, Logan was escorted from his classroom chair, placed on a gurney and wheeled out by a pair of paramedics. Twentyfour other students also were wheeled from their South Kitsap classrooms and, in the exercise, never to return. These “victims” were part of a group of 32 seniors who met every other Thursday morning before class to talk about the consequences of drunk and impaired driving, and learn strategies to share with their fellow students about the deadly consequences. On the morning of the demonstration, some of the student team members donned ghostly outfits and wore black and white grease paint to cast a death-like pall on their faces, signifying that they were DUI accident victims. One of the senior students said she joined the group because her life has been affected by people who drank and drove. “My dad has numerous DUIs, so he’s been to jail a lot. It’s a serious thing.” Another senior said: “I think (the program) definitely emphasizes how easy it is to take innocent lives. I don’t think it was until I got to high school and started driving that I began to take it seriously.” The most pointed impact to South Kitsap students of this
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portrayal of drinking, driving and deadly consequences, said Officer Dave Humphrey, the school’s resource officer, is the permanence of death — something that “immortal” teenagers fail to comprehend. During the two-day DUI demonstration at the school, Humphrey said law enforcement and firefighters speak to classes and give their personal testimony about their experiences with DUI accidents. “They talk about their experiences going to a family’s house to give the bad news. The kids hearing that sit there in complete silence,” he said. This year, the seniors are sharing their messages about distracted driving, as well. “These kids know better than anybody about being in cars with friends who are texting and just about got into collisions,” the school resource officer said. “The kids know that it’s inevitable that kids are going to go to prom parties or endof-year parties and drink,” Humphrey said. “They look at it as, ‘Kids are going to drink. But if you’re going to drink, don’t be the driver of a car or get into a car with someone who’s drunk.” Marsha Masters, a retired PE teacher from Olympic High School, became active in the Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD, several years ago after a family friend — a former student — was killed in an alcohol-fueled auto accident. Later, when the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office advertised for someone to run the department’s traffic safety program, Masters applied and got the job.
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“The kids know that it’s inevitable that kids are going to go to prom parties or end-of-year parties and drink,” Humphrey said.
The 32 students who participated in the DUI awareness group were confronted with the raw-nerve aspects of drunk driving during their regular meetings.
Bob Smith | Independent
The Grim Reaper, played by J.D. Miller, follows a paramedic and Chaplain Gail Porter as they escort the “body” of a victim from a distracted-driver accident.
Bob Smith | Independent
South Kitsap students, part of a DUI awareness group, apply ghoulish makeup to demonstrate the image of death to their classmates. Carly Tsuruda, Cole Mason, Rachel Dunger and Kelly Crebs participated in the demonstration. She has worked with this year’s South Kitsap High student group since November. “I get to work in different schools, worth with law enforcement, the military and give presentations,” Masters
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said. “This is our third year here.” The 32 students who partic-
ipated in the DUI awareness group were confronted with the raw-nerve aspects of
drunk driving during their regular meetings. They met with paramedics and police officers who regularly face the ugly part of DUI accidents, got a bitter taste of how a needless death can shatter the victim’s family members, and even sat down to write their own obituaries. Their experiences and the knowledge the students gained over the school year was shared in the two-day demonstration on the South Kitsap school grounds. On the second morning, a mock crash scene was set up in front of the school. Members of the student group acted the part of prom attendees who were returning from a night of drinking, only to find themselves involved in a violent crash in which one of the passengers was sent through the windshield to his death. The hundreds of underclass DUI, SEE A10
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Harley’s redemption: finding a loving home for abused dog By BOB SMITH
Kitsap News Group
SILVERDALE — Harley, a pit bull-boxer mix dog, has a tale that only he could describe. In a sense, it’s a blessing he can’t verbalize the abuse he has suffered most of his life. But the Kitsap Humane Society, with the help of the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, has been able to piece together the sad facts that make up his story. On Jan. 24, sheriff’s office deputies checked on an abandoned, derelict trailer home in Port Orchard and discovered deplorable conditions inside. They also found Harley inside, who by that time was clearly in distress. Kitsap Animal Control was called in to assist rescuing the dog. Rescuers had to don gas masks before setting foot inside the structure. Inside, the home was filled with feces and garbage, which emitted a high level of ammonia, according to Chase Connolly, a Kitsap Animal Control field manager. “It is always a shock to find cases of neglect like this in our own community,” Connolly said. “This poor dog had suffered through cruel conditions, but was still so happy and excited to meet the deputies and officers that came to his rescue.” It was apparent to investigators that the dwelling’s owner had moved away months before and stopped coming to check on the property — and to feed Harley. The dog’s neglect showed in his haggard appearance. Harley was severely underweight, his ribs were clearly visible and his eyes were infected. Harley was impounded
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Harley, a pit bull-boxer mix, was found emaciated and living in a filthy, abandoned trailer home in Port Orchard. by Humane Society staffers and examined by the agency’s lead veterinarian, Dr. Jennifer Stonequist. She determined that the dog was likely 8 to 10 years old and suffering from emaciation. He clearly hadn’t received veterinary care for his chronic conditions. To get Harley on the road to recovery, Stonequist placed him on a refeeding diet to safely help the dog gain weight. He received blood work and was given much-needed medication. In the 11 weeks he has been in the caring hands of the Humane Society, Harley has made a startling recovery. When originally rescued, the dog weighed just 35 pounds. Now, he’s added 15 pounds to his once-gaunt frame. His eyes, once sealed shut with green discharge, are now clear thanks to daily eye drops. Denise Caruso of Kitsap Humane Society said Harley has been transformed into a healthier being who shows clear signs that he feels better. She said volunteers and staff members report that he loves
to play ball, chew on toys and cuddle. “He is such a staff favorite that he spends his days up at the customer service desk ‘assisting’ staff and greeting customers,” Caruso said. She added that he can often be found lounging on his big dog bed behind the desk — usually on his back with his feet in the air, snoring away. Harley does have some lameness in one of his hind legs, Caruso said, due to an old injury and arthritis, but it doesn’t appear to slow him down. Despite his limp, she said Harley loves to head out on short walks in the woods surrounding the shelter. Caruso said the dog’s big reward for having survived his deplorable ordeal would be to find a loving home. “Thanks to a generous donor, Harley’s adoption fee has been sponsored,” she said. For more information on Harley and what home would best suit him, visit the Humane Society’s website at www.kitsap-humane.org.
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Harley has recovered his health and spirit, thanks to the care and love given to him by the Kitsap Humane Society staff. He is now available for adoption.
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