Eleven volunteers at the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County say shelter leadership ignored years of safety warnings. The allegations, as first reported by The News Tribune, are backed by several dozen pages of internal documents and accounts from current and former volunteers.
The concerns land as the nonprofit operates under five-year contracts with the City of Tacoma and Pierce County worth nearly $7 million each. In 2025, the organization reported $7.2 million in contributions and grants out of $13 million in total revenue, according to a tax filing cited by The News Tribune.
Four letters outlining volunteer concerns were sent to the board in the past 12 months, each written on behalf of more than 30 unnamed volunteers. The most recent, dated June 30, stated that concerns had gone unaddressed for several years.
New handbook targets euthanasia criticism
In 2026, Tacoma Humane's volunteer handbook added a clause allowing discipline or termination for questioning euthanasia decisions. The handbook classified such criticism as potential intimidation or bullying.
The shelter also barred volunteers from being present during euthanasia in 2026, citing animal-shelter standards.
None of four nearby shelters surveyed by The News Tribune formally prohibit volunteers from criticizing them. Cameron Satterfield, a spokesperson for Regional Animal Services of King County, said the government entity cannot restrict a volunteer's right to free speech.
Board departures and pushback
Four board members departed in 2026.
Former board secretary Valerie Petrie resigned in February, citing frustrations with fellow members. "The fact that the board wouldn't give it any air time was really distressing for me," Petrie told The News Tribune.
Shannon Bell-Peterson, a former board member, said she was fired in February over what she described as lies. The accusations included claims that she altered a board document and acted as an informant for an animal-welfare advocate who criticizes the nonprofit on social media. Both Petrie and Bell-Peterson said they were part of a vocal minority that failed to get volunteer concerns placed on any board agenda.
Board Chair Merrill Kelley, Vice Chair Dave Lamkin and former board President Dr. James Caillouette did not return messages from The News Tribune.
Marathon fallout and volunteer exodus
The turmoil follows a May 3 incident at the Tacoma City Marathon, where a pit bull mix under Tacoma Humane's care fatally attacked a toy poodle named Brownie. The attacking dog had been returned to the shelter two days before. Off-site events were paused afterward and had not resumed as of September.
Former CEO Leslie Dalzell departed before the end of May. Dr. Chelsea Farnsworth was announced as the new executive director on Sept. 18 after a four-month search. In a statement that day, Farnsworth said her priority was building trust, accountability and empowerment across the organization.
More than 20 experienced dog walkers quit over concerns about animal care and what a June 30 volunteer letter called hostile communications from staff. Former volunteer Ed Petersen said he left in April over what he described as "a war on the dog walkers." By June, volunteers reported some dogs were locked in kennels for 24 hours because there were not enough people to walk them twice daily.
Shelter responds with statement
Tacoma Humane declined to make officials available for interviews and did not respond to written questions from The News Tribune. In a Sept. 16 statement, a spokesperson said the health, safety and well-being of pets was the nonprofit's highest priority and that the organization values its volunteers.
Tacoma City Council member John Hines said he has heard from volunteers dating back to approximately 2023. He said the shelter was meeting its contract obligations but acknowledged the nonprofit cannot function without its volunteer base.
Farnsworth's start date and any timeline for resuming off-site dog visits have not been announced.
