Noah's Animal Rescue Klub

In 1988, the non-profit Northwest Organization for Animal Help (N.O.A.H.) opened its doors at the original animal shelter location. Over the next 10 years, N.O.A.H. staff and volunteers worked diligently to help animals in the community. At the height of the program in 1998, adoptions reached 452 (326 dogs and 126 cats) for the year. Adopted animals over the age of six months, were spayed or neutered by a local veterinarian. There were no in-house spay/neuter facilities, limiting the overall impact on pet overpopulation.

In late 1998, when the septic system failed the decision was made to close N.O.A.H. and begin fundraising for a new facility that N.O.A.H. would own. The Board of Directors purchased 17 acres on Interstate-5 for $120,000.

The efforts of N.O.A.H. caught the attention of local philanthropists who cared deeply about animals and wanted to help a worthy group in advancing their efforts. The couple joined the N.O.A.H. Board, pledged to fund the construction, and began researching best shelter practices around the country and Canada. They toured facilities and met with numerous Executive Directors. Lists of Do's and Don'ts emerged and ideas on how to best help the animals materialized. From those experiences the new N.O.A.H. was formed.

A new approach would be sought rather than duplicating the "owner surrender/adoption" services of the other six shelters in Snohomish County. The Board of Directors decided to take an innovative approach by responding to the prevailing question, "What about the animals at the shelters that have run out of time?". In response to this question, a decision was made to restrict our intake to shelter transfers, giving the healthy and adoptable animals from other shelters the time they needed.

Over the next year while the new facility was under construction, partnerships and working relationships were established with the local shelters. The shelters that euthanized the most animals were the ones we would focus on helping the most. We put no geographic boundaries on our services other than targeting our own county and our three neighboring counties of Skagit, Whatcom, and Island. Our goal: Stop the euthanasia of healthy adoptable animals in Northwestern Washington by "Building a Bond for Life" between pets and their families.

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