Jefferson County Humane Society: Former Staff Allege Animal Neglect, Toxic Management and Retaliation
Former staff corroborate an environment that routinely puts animal safety as their second priority.
News by Rachael Nutting
PORT TOWNSEND, WA – A major crisis is unfolding at the Humane Society of Jefferson County (HSJC), with multiple former staff and a volunteer providing detailed, firsthand accounts alleging severe animal neglect, managerial misconduct, and a retaliatory work environment under new executive leadership. These allegations, supported by photographic and video evidence, stand in stark contrast to public assurances from shelter management that operations are running smoothly.
A shelter in distress: allegations of systemic failure
The most serious allegations pertain directly to animal welfare. Jessica Conley, employed at HSJC from June 2023 until her termination in January 2026, described finding a dog kennel containing maggots and mold while the animal was still housed within it. She has provided photographic evidence of this incident.
Conley also reports that coworker Devon LeDenican, who had also recently been fired, told Conley that two kittens had been forgotten in a covered kennel for a week and were nearly starved. This allegedly occurred while the veterinary doctor was on vacation in August 2025, and, according to Conley, management denied the kittens care at an outside facility. Conley stated that animals were regularly admitted without standard intake procedures, vaccines, or basic care. Staff who raised concerns about these conditions were allegedly ignored or chastised for their "tone."
“Staff were not allowed to speak to the board. We were lined up and yelled at in meetings,” said Conley, describing a toxic management style implemented by Executive Director Jennifer "Jen" Dupree, who was hired in January 2024, “It was a complete culture shift from the community shelter I joined.”
Another former employee, Carter Kim-Jennifer Cain, who worked at the shelter under previous management but continued to unofficially volunteer at the shelter, corroborated the decline. “I’ve witnessed a slow change of administration and the new director making more and more decisions that just don’t suit the shelter. It seems like they’re pulling away from a community focus,” Cain said.
Retaliatory firings, nepotism, and a "hostile environment"
Conley’s account alleges a pattern of preferential treatment and unprofessional conduct sanctioned by Dupree. She states Dupree hired a personal friend, Kaitlyn Riley, as a manager without disclosing their friendship. Riley, who allegedly lacked formal animal behavior training, is accused of seriously injuring a feral kitten through improper handling—an incident witnessed by a member of the public. Despite this, Riley was not fired and was allowed to work remotely from home until she left for another job.
The toxic environment also led to the resignation of Volunteer Coordinator Heather Bell, who quit, explicitly citing Dupree's behavior, according to Conley.
Conley and Cain believe that Conley was terminated for speaking up. Conley stated she reported the neglect and conduct to upper management multiple times but “it was not taken seriously.” Conley was fired three days before a pre-approved vacation to visit a terminally ill aunt. Her 46 hours of accrued Paid Time Off (PTO) vanished from the payroll system immediately after her dismissal—timing she views as intentional to avoid payout. She also states she has not received her last paycheck, and hasn’t received pay stubs since September 2025.
“I want a solution for the shelter’s sake,” Conley said, “But I feel I was let go in an inhumane manner for a place that calls itself a Humane Society.”
She has filed a formal request for her complete personnel file, a right under Washington State law.
Another staff member, longtime veterinary technician Devon LeDenican, was allegedly demoted and offered lower pay after being involved in a serious car accident last year. LeDenican was also suddenly terminated on January 7, though she was preparing to give a two-week notice. LeDenican first began working at HSJC in 2014. It is estimated by former employees that 3 volunteers have left due to these rapid firings.
It wasn’t just employees who were fired after expressing safety concerns. Volunteer Pam Hicks had volunteered and fostered with HSJC since January 2024. Hicks described an interaction on Monday, January 12, with Dupree and Operations Manager Amanda McQuade that led to the termination of her volunteer role. Hicks was frustrated that the required leash-sanitizing solution was unavailable at the start of the volunteer shift. She interrupted a conversation between Dupree and McQuade to request it and was told it needed to be ordered. When Hicks challenged that statement, knowing a concentrate was on-site, she was told her tone was "inappropriate" and was asked to leave the property. She later received a letter of termination for “misconduct.”
Two days later, Hicks helped her neighbor return an aggressive dog to the shelter. She described law enforcement arriving shortly after parking, speaking with her, and going inside to get the staff. Hicks suspects they were preventing her from entering, though no restraining order exists. “She [Dupree] has everyone afraid,” Hicks continues, “The president of the board is impressed by this woman who is making money, but those guys [the board] have no idea what's going on day to day.”
Hicks shared an email that shows a decline in volunteer hours since 2024. Volunteer staff recorded 4,169 hours in 2025, a significant decrease from 5,478 hours in 2024. She also detailed several instances of purchasing, with her own money, supplies that Dr. Kraft needed, as she alleges management was failing to stock inventory. “Dr Kraft was completely unsupported by the existing administration.”
Dupree is the first paid Executive Director for the facility. According to ProPublica, their net income increased in 2024 by over 160%, receiving $1,342,287 in donations alone. It has been reported by multiple former staff that Dupree is excellent at fundraising, though most questioned where these funds are going. Cain said, “We did more with less before, so where is it going?”
Leadership response: "legal obligations" and interim care
The shelter’s public website lists Dupree as Executive Director and Dr. Kraft as Shelter Veterinarian, though Kraft has taken a leave of absence due to the recent firings. The site shows active recruiting for a Licensed Veterinary Technician and an Animal Care Assistant; the positions held by LeDenican and Conley were recently terminated. Dr. Kraft sent the following email to the volunteers explaining her decision. She has been unavailable for comment.
Dr. Johnson, a longtime and beloved veterinary doctor who has served the community for decades, is still performing spay and neuter surgeries at the shelter. When contacted, Dr. Johnson expressed that she is striving to remain neutral for the sake of the animals.
When visiting the facility, Carly Lech, the Animal Behavior & Enrichment Manager, was at the front desk and only said, “Everything is going smoothly, we have staff, the animals are taken care of.” She provided Dupree’s contact information, who was working remotely that day.
Dupree did not respond to a request for comment from the Beacon. She instead addressed the community in a Facebook post shortly after our request, stating HSJC “remains operational, is looking for new staff, and is providing veterinary care through interim arrangements with local vets.”
On social media, when directly asked by a community member why trained, long-term staff were let go, Dupree responded, “I hope you and all our supporters will respect HSJC's legal obligation to maintain confidentiality and privacy regarding personnel matters.”
Community crossroads
The conflicting narratives have placed the community at a crossroads. Former staff members Conley, Cain, and LeDenican do not want the shelter to close but are demanding accountability and a return to its community-focused mission. Their concern for the remaining staff, volunteers, and animals is apparent.
“The shelter must remain open, but change needs to happen for the shelter to actually function as such. I don’t want to discourage people from supporting the shelter,” Cain said, “Discouraging support will only harm the animals.”
An outside human resources firm has been hired to conduct an internal investigation, the scope of which remains unclear, indicating the board is proactively looking into matters.
