(I hope this is ok to post about here! I’ve written and rewritten it and taken parts from the Happy Tails, Happy Homes listing about him too so it might be repetitive. Ty for your patience. It’s not easy 😅🥲)

If you’re looking for a smart, loyal, goofy adventure buddy and you understand the needs of a working-breed dog, I present to you this gold-star boy: Kevin.

Kevin is my dog. He’s flippin’ fantastic in just about every way. I have busted my buns (as have the lovely people at Tails a Waggin) for almost a year and a half training him, socializing him, desensitizing him to just about everything under the sun. In that time, I’ve also been training my kids to respect his boundaries. I assure you, he learns faster than they do 😅.

But a few things over time, and their steady progression toward more concerning, has left us with the difficult decision to find him a home that’s more suitable for him: adult owners who can meet the needs of a working breed of dog.

We took a risk when we adopted Kevin. He was projected to be “up to 40 lbs” and seemed like some kind of retriever / corgi mix. People always think he’s a retriever of some sort. We thought he’d be mediumish.

But he’s not! He’s a bunch of breeds I wouldn’t have opted for, given my lifestyle and having two small kids: namely, husky, shepherd, and cattle dog. We have a modest back yard, and he grew up into a 60-65 lb darling who we love dearly but who really is not fond of children. He tolerates mine, but injures the smallest one often with his play (just gave her some serious bruises and maybe a mild concussion yesterday by bowling her over like Charlie Brown at like 30 mph); when other kids come over to visit or if I take him on walks and he’s approached by other kids, it’s a toss up as to whether he’s visibly aggravated by them. (Whale eye, raising his lip, nervous whining, yawning, pacing.)

I’ve been pretty nervous a few times at his body language around kids. He’s snapped (without biting) at my youngest a few times and just made it clear: “I do not feel good about having you near me.” So we are making the painful and difficult choice to pair him up with a more appropriate home before anything serious happens — where he can enjoy the company of his family, and hopefully have a bigger yard than ours is 😅

He’s a gorgeous, smart, loyal 1.5-year-old, Pit Bull / Cattle Dog / Husky / Australian Shepherd mix. He’s looking for an adult-only home with someone who appreciates the quirks and intelligence of a working-breed dog. He:

- Is fully housebroken and crate-trained
- Knows (most of) his manners: rarely barks, doesn’t counter surf, has good recall and obedience skills, stays off furniture unless he’s invited. (Sometimes he does jump up in excitement still.)
- is smart, eager to learn, and loves having a job to do
- loves other dogs at daycare, dog parks, and Paws for a Beer (shout out to any of you who have met him already; he’s a popular guy)
- Enjoys hiking, exploring, and splashing around in rivers and lakes and kiddie pools
- Sleeps hard at home and enjoys a good nap
- is learning to be comfortable in a muzzle (working on it)

Kevin is a pretty cool mix of goofy and stoic. He isn’t super snuggly, but he will follow you from room to room to just hang out together. He is loyal, dependable, and a wonderful companion for the right person. He’s the type of dog who will happily hang out with company, join you on adventures, and make you laugh with his silly personality.

Kevin would do best with an experienced adult-only home that understands herding and working breeds. A few things his future family should know:

- Kevin has a moderate prey drive when he spots other non-dog critters, but usually responds well to “leave it!” That said, I’d still suggest that…
- A home without cats is best — he has not shown that he can safely live with them
- He would love a home with a little room to get a good run in. Rn we have to take him to the dog park or such to really get him space to haul a** like he wants to haha.

Kevin is very healthy, up to date on vet care, and takes Simparica Trio for routine heartworm, flea, and parasite prevention. He comes with extensive vet records and medical history. He is currently being fostered by the family who adopted him as a puppy, while we search for the perfect forever home where he won’t try to herd small children 😅

💙 Bonus!!:

Once Kevin finds his amazing forever home where he can truly thrive, his current family would love to pet sit if you need a day away, take him off your hands for occasional adventures to places like Paws for a Beer, and continue cheering him on as he lives his best life by staying in touch if you’re cool with it. (Free dog sitter, seriously.)

His current owners will send him off with all of his supplies - dog beds, toys, food he is currently eating, etc.

If this seems like a good fit for you, head over to Happy Tails Happy Homes and fill out an application!
Feel free to comment with any questions; I’m happy to answer them 🙂

https://www.happytailshappyhomes.org/adoptable-dogs#sl\_embed&page=shelterluv\_wrap\_1728078734800%2Fembed%2Fanimal%2FHTHH-A-10384

Hello, I am a Washingtonian web page maker who made https://whatcompublichospital.org/ drawing on works done locally with several volunteers

I hope its useful for anyone working on documenting Public Hospitals particularly from Whatcom County. This overlaps and supports working with the Washington Health Trust in the longer term future.

Come out for a day of exploring forests and riversides with a Salish Sea Naturalist this fall -
If you want to learn how to find the best mushrooming spots, learn how to identify mushrooms, or just wanna have a whimsical time in the woods this season, sign up for a course with Northwest Natura!

All courses except the seminar are for adults and mature teens aged 16+.

Tiered pricing is available for those who are watching their financials closely.

More info posted online at
Www.northwestnatura.com

See you out there!

I do inside and outside work.

Recent jobs:

• Yard work.
• Removed a section of old gas pipe to make room for an electric stove.
• Reseated paving stones in a patio.
• Reseated a toilet.
• Planed a couple of doors.
• Cleaned gutters.
• Added a door sweep.
• Repaired a door bell circuit.
• Installed a new thermostat and repaired the wiring.

Licensed & bonded.

License #: DAVESHS732JG

https://daveshandyservice.work/

Whatcom County is taking the next step to reduce child care costs for Whatcom County families. Last night, the County Council approved a contract with AidKit to run the new Whatcom Kids First Child Care Subsidy Program, which will serve income-eligible families. The contract runs through 2028 and totals $7.05 million.

The new program is funded by the voter-approved Healthy Children’s Fund. The program is expected to help pay child care costs for at least 1,400 children in the program’s first full year. Families who make up to 75% of the State Median Income will qualify.

“This is an exciting milestone for the Healthy Children’s Fund! A central purpose for the creation of the fund was to make quality child care more affordable and more accessible, and Kids First will achieve that for more than a thousand families every year. I am very pleased to see this program move forward,” said Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu. 

The new Kids First Subsidy Program is the largest commitment to child care affordability in Whatcom County’s history. 

“Child care is one of the largest expenses many parents face. Families will directly feel the benefits in their monthly budget," said Sarah Simpson, Child and Family Programs Supervisor with Whatcom County Health and Community Services. “This contract provides relief for local families. It took an incredible amount of effort from our entire team and local stakeholders, and I am deeply grateful for the dedication of everyone involved."

What Happens Next

With the contract in place, AidKit will start building the program immediately. The company has a strong track record and national experience providing aid infrastructure for governments and nonprofits. 

• What’s Happening Now: AidKit is setting up application forms, online tools, payments, and other critical backbone systems. 
• Program start date: We don’t have a specific date yet for when subsidy payments will start. We expect those to begin in February or March 2027. 
• Application Information: Information on how families and child care providers can apply will be shared in late 2026.

"Our goal is to make getting financial help as simple and stress-free as possible for Whatcom County’s families and the child care providers they depend on," said Brittany Christenson, CEO at AidKit. "We’re proud to partner with the County on a system that gets funds where they’re needed most, with strong fraud controls that protect the program’s integrity and maximize its impact."

How the Subsidy Program Will Work

The Whatcom Kids First Child Care Subsidy builds on Washington State's Working Connections Child Care Subsidy Program. 

• Who Qualifies: Whatcom families with kids age five or younger, earning up to 75% of the State Median Income, currently up to approximately $104,484 annually for a family of four. 
• How Payments Work: Funding will go directly to the child’s licensed care provider to reduce monthly bills for families. 
• Help with Paperwork and Signing Up: AidKit will also help local families sign up for existing state subsidy programs so local families don’t miss out on existing resources.

“Nearly three thousand Whatcom County kids under the age of five qualify for the state Working Connections subsidy, but their families are not enrolled with the state program,” Simpson said. “AidKit will develop a comprehensive outreach and enrollment plan with local partners to get interested and qualified families enrolled.”

Support for Child Care Providers

In addition to helping families, this program will provide extra payments to providers serving low-income families on the State’s Working Connections program. The state subsidy doesn’t cover the true cost of care, so these bridge payments will cover real operating costs, strengthen the financial sustainability of child care businesses, incentivize providers to provide care to low-income children, and keep high-quality care in our community.

Competitive Bidding and Selection Process

AidKit was selected through a competitive process based on its national experience designing and administering large-scale direct assistance programs and its proven ability to navigate complex public benefit systems. Working in partnership with Whatcom County Health and Community Services, AidKit will oversee the application process, eligibility verification, payment distribution, and ongoing program administration while coordinating with local partners to maximize participation.

About the Healthy Children’s Fund

The Healthy Children’s Fund is a voter-approved fund to support children and parents in our community. The fund is administered by the Whatcom County Health and Community Services Department. 

The Whatcom Kids First Child Care Subsidy Program advances Strategy 3 of the Healthy Children's Fund Implementation Plan, which focuses on increasing access to affordable, high-quality early learning through child care subsidies that reduce the financial burden on working families.

The subsidy program reflects Whatcom County's continued commitment to ensuring every child has access to safe, nurturing, and enriching early learning opportunities regardless of family income.

Additional information about eligibility, enrollment, and program launch dates will be announced in the coming months.

This is in Ferndale, but I hope it's okay to share. Local professional artist Clarissa Callisen has spent years making her home into a work of art itself.

Description in the comments.