New this year: MPFA joins forces with Best Friends Animals Society, who will be holding their Midwest Regional Leadership Summit. Sessions conducted by Best Friends staff are open to all registered attendees.
Also new this year, both starting at 9 a.m. Thursday 9/27 with limited space, are:
Shelter/City Tour of SPCA of Southwest Michigan and Kalamazoo highlights via transportation provided at the conference venue
About the session: The dog in front of you starts to choke on a treat that you have just given them. What do you do? Is there a Heimlich maneuver for cats and dogs? D
Matt Elvin, TipTopTails Dog Training
o you administer it like you would a human? In this Animal CPR and First Aid lite two-hour hands-on class, you will learn how to make a temporary muzzle, administer CPR and rescue breathing, and how to assess an emergency situation with a cat or dog so you know what actions need to be taken. About the presenter: Matt Elvin became an instructor with PetTech in April 2016, and teaches both its 5 hour Pet First Aid & CPR class, and its 8 hour PetSaver course. Before becoming a dog trainer, Matt practiced law for 14 years.
Full conference information including schedule, speakers, sessions, sponsors and accommodations can be found
here.
Early registration runs through August 7, but the
Shelter/City Tour and Animal CPR & First Aid sessions are filling fast!
The "Petland Bills": Action Needed
ALERT! "The Petland Bills" passed out of committee on Wednesday May 16.
Chairman Tom Barrett (EatonCounty) pushed them through the House Agriculture Committee even though not all of the Republicans were supporting the bills. Rep. Gary Howell (LapeerCounty) voted yes, but he plans to vote no on the floor. Thank you Rep. Howell! All the Democrats voted no today, except Rep. Phil Phelps (Flushing,MountMorrisand Swartz Creek, and part of the city ofFlint) who passed. Anyone living in his district should give him a call.
HB5916 and HB5917 will now move to the house floor for readings and a vote before going to the Senate side. It is even more important now that everyone call their representative to oppose the bills. They could move quickly. Find your representative here.
If your representative has not taken a position yet, ask for a meeting inLansing
or visit them during district hours. They need to know that this is not an animal welfare bill. ViewHouse Bill 5916/5917: Bad for animals and consumers Fact Sheethere.
More information about Michiganpet stores and their connections to puppy mills is here.
If your organization is opposed to these bills, please contact Pam Sordyl at pmamichinfo@yahoo.com to be added to the media advisories.
Help Arenac County director win Unsung Heroes award
The Standish, MI shelter received MPFA's Most Improved Open Admission Small Shelterfor 2016, due in many ways to Ms. Lemunyon's hard work and dedication to all animals who cross her path.
Read the full story of the Director Lemunyon's path to the 'Unsung Heroes' award here.
View the video and vote through Friday, May 25 at
www.petcofoundation.org/unsung-heroes/. Select the lower left video for Arenac County.
Don't miss the porcupine story; that alone will convince you that Director Lemunyon is truly deserving of this award.
About Michigan Pet Fund Alliance
The single mission of Michigan Pet Fund Alliance is to stop the killing of healthy and treatable homeless cats and dogs in Michigan shelters.
MPFA is an all-volunteer organization collaborating with shelter and rescue organizations to achieve No Kill through training, technical assistance,
