In this issue:

• Member Spotlight: Attorneys for Animals
• 2025 Better Together Awards & Grants
• Fall 2025 Workshops: Earn Free Registrations
• Shop to Support Animal Welfare
• Legislative Update: Action Needed
• Job Openings: Canine Education Trainers
• Adoption Retention Lunch & Learn Recording
• July Member Events

Advocacy is a core mission for every animal welfare organization, including Michigan Pet Alliance. We speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. We fight for laws and ordinances to protect them. We advocate for their needs and resources.

One member organization that lives and breathes this ethos is Attorneys for Animals, and they’ve been meeting this mission for 35 years. 

In 1990, a core group of about 20 attorneys, who believe that the law can be used to improve the lives of animals, founded Attorneys for Animals (AFA). Never wavering from its core principle, the organization welcomes all people, not just attorneys and law students, with a goal to “connect animal advocates with animal law.” 

“We operate on the belief that animals possess inherent value and deserve recognition and protection as sentient beings,” said Bee Friedlander, president, board of directors, Attorneys for Animals. “We take on all animal issues and do not ‘specialize’ in one area. This is challenging for a small volunteer group, and externally, it is especially difficult to advocate for animals in today’s environment.”

Bee Friedlander receives the Animal Advocate Award from MH President Matt Pepper

Focusing on legal advocacy, litigation, legislative initiatives, education and enforcement of existing laws, AFA has a foot in two communities: animal advocacy and animal law. With regard to the former, our country is in a period of deep cuts to governmental services, which has a negative impact on animals. With regard to the latter, our country is in a period of challenges to higher education and of skepticism to the value of knowledge and expertise.

Attorneys for Animals has set significant goals for 2025, working hand in hand with animal welfare organizations across the state to support a series of animal welfare bills:

• Michigan Pet Alliance Spay/Neuter License Plate, SB 106
• Queenies Law, SB 127 and HB 4254, to prohibit research on cats or dogs that causes pain or distress
• Pet Cemeteries regulations, SB 157
• Teddy’s Law, SB 223, to strengthen reporting requirements for research facilities experimenting on dogs and cats, to provide transparency to a program that requires facilities to cooperate with shelters to provide these animals a second chance at life
• Courtroom Animal Advocate Program, HB 4300, to allow judges to appoint a pro bono lawyer or law student advocate to represent the interests of the animal in a case involving animal cruelty
• Animal Crimes Sentencing Guidelines revisions, HB 4645 through 4651, to ensure that the sentence reflects the severity of the crime 

AFA’s accomplishments over the past three decades are too many to name, but one of the organization’s proudest moments came in 1995 when the Animal Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan was created. Michigan’s Animal Law Section is the first statewide organization of its kind in the country.

“In 2015, we co-sponsored a humane education workshop, the first in Michigan, developed by the American Bar Association, to cultivate compassion and empathy all over the country by training legal professionals, law students and advocates to teach humane education,” said Friedlander. “This year, in 2025, we took the leadership role in a coalition that resulted in the decision by the Department of Natural Resources to halt the Canada Goose gassing program.”

AFA engages its communities around the clock, offering its Legislative Tracker and Lunch & Legislation series, to enable animal advocates to realize, one, the importance of laws, and two, that they can play a role in the process that doesn’t impede their day-to-day, hands-on work caring for animals.  

Filing amicus briefs, hosting screenings for animal welfare documentaries, launching programs with international, national and statewide partners, testifying before legislatures in support or opposition to bills and presenting educational talks with judges and experts, AFA is leading the charge to change and to shine a light on the plight and welfare of animals everywhere. 

Attorneys for Animals continues to grow, welcoming those who want to contribute to the welfare of animals through advocacy. Michigan Pet Alliance appreciates and values AFA’s membership and its contributions to the MPA policy and advocacy committee.  

“We have always supported and worked with Michigan Pet Alliance. It’s difficult for nonprofits to respond to changing conditions and revise their structure. MPA has done this and filled an unmet need. MPA understands the need for lobbying and advocacy, and we want to be a part of that effort.” 

-- Bee Friedlander, president, board of directors, Attorneys for Animals

Follow Attorneys for Animals and its life-saving initiatives at:

The 2025 Better Together Awards and Grants program closes June 30.

Every year, Michigan Pet Alliance awards organizations that partner and collaborate to save lives and to improve quality of care with $10,000 in grants and training. 

We invite you to apply for a 2025 grant award. In fact, you can apply for all of them, just please apply for them one at a time.

We want to hear about your successful partnerships, and we want to reward you for them.

DEADLINE: June 30, 2025

The Better Together Awards and Grants program recognizes those who can demonstrate their ability to accomplish more and how their programs and operations are Better Together in the following categories:

• Better Together Removing Barriers Award ($3,000 grant)
• Better Together Creative Programs Award ($2,000 grant)
• Better Together Saving and Raising Funds Award ($2,000 grant)
• On-site Cat Training Grant ($1,000 grant value)
• On-site Dog Training Grant ($1,000 grant value)
• On-site Scentwork for Dogs Training Grant ($400 grant value)
• Animal Control Officer of the Year ($500 cash) 
• Joel Penny Volunteer of the Year Award ($100 cash)

Eligibility

• Animal shelters must be licensed with MDARD
• Home-based rescue and community outreach organizations must be based in Michigan, designated 501(c)3 nonprofits and registered with the Michigan Attorney General’s Charitable Trust Section
• ACOs must serve in the state of Michigan and have a current certification

Additional details are in the application. Apply by June 30, 2025.

This fall, we're coming to you. Nine workshops in eight counties, tackling the topics that these communities want most.

Save the dates and watch your email or follow the MPA Facebook page for more details.

Your organization can win two free tickets to a workshop of your choice.

The next three organizations that become members of Michigan Pet Alliance choose which workshop they want to attend.

If you're already an MPA member, no worries, we have something special in store for you too. See you at a workshop this fall.

Shop to support Michigan Pet Alliance and animal welfare programs in our state. Every design in the nine MPA Collections includes hundreds of products, from shirts and hats to coffee mugs and decals.

All proceeds benefit the programs of Michigan Pet Alliance.

Shop for yourself or for loved ones. Shirts for dogs available, too.

Last week was an eventful one for animals in our state, and it's all good news.

Michigan Pet Alliance testified before two legislative committees, one in support of SB 106, the pet license plate bill, and the other, a package of telehealth bills to increase access to veterinary care. We also showed our support in a hearing for this session's version of Teddy's Law, which will reinstate the reporting requirements for research facilities.

Telehealth Bills – HB 4220, 4221 / SB 193, 194

Removes the requirement that a veterinarian-patient relationship be established in person prior to a telehealth appointment, reverting back to the same practice that worked well during the pandemic. This change is necessary to reduce barriers and to increase access to much needed vet care for families and animal shelters.

MPA Animal Welfare License Plate – SB 106

Senate Bill 106, which will create Michigan's first pet license plate to help fund spay/neuter initiatives and training programs for animal shelters across the state, passed out of committee with only two votes against. Senator McBroom, representing most of the upper peninsula, and Senator Bellino, representing Monroe, Lenawee and Hillsdale counties, voted against SB 106.

The bill was then considered under general orders in the senate and moved on to a third reading without amendment. This procedural move put SB 106 up for a final senate vote as early as next week.

Now, we need your voice, the animals need your voice. Please immediately contact your state senator and ask them to vote YES on SB 106 when it comes before them. You can send an email, then follow up with a phone call. Don't feel intimidated, you will most likely leave a message or speak with a staffer.

Remind your senator that the privately raised funds from the license plate will support spay/neuter programs and that taxpayer funds are NOT being used in any way. 

Find your state senator now and please reach out to us if you have any questions.

Once SB 106 passes through the full senate, it is then on to the house for a battle we are determined to win by the end of the fall session.

Teddy's Law – SB 223

Last session, a watered-down version of Teddy's Law passed. Reporting requirements, which held research facilities accountable and provided a degree of transparency, were removed from the bill.

However, MPA is not done fighting for the real Teddy's Law. SB 223 will reinstate the reporting requirements, and it passed out of its assigned senate committee last week along party lines with four votes in favor and three votes against.

Watch your email and follow MPA's Facebook page for action alerts and updates. Lend your voice to help us pass this important life-saving, life-changing legislation. Become an MPA member today.

Michigan Pet Alliance is seeking independent contractors to educate and train shelter and rescue staff and volunteers, on-site and online, in understanding canine body language, behavior and welfare. 

Please review the job description and requirements. Key requirements include topic understanding, plus good presentation and interpersonal skills.

The application will remain open until all positions are filled. MPA would like to contract with several trainers to cover various regions in the state. Please submit a letter of interest and resume/CV.

Apply today: Canine Education Trainer

In case you couldn't catch us live, you can catch us on replay. Last month's MPA Lunch & Learn, "When their personality shines! Increasing adoptions and reducing returns," is now available.

This session stressed the importance of referring adopters to trainers to assist in adoption success. At MPA, we support ethical, humane, stress-free approaches to animal training that reduce fear and promote positive reinforcement. Not all trainers practice this philosophy. 

If your organization does not work with or have access to a trainer with these qualifications, we recommend visiting Humane Training Alliance. The objective of the Humane Training Alliance is to assist the public in finding qualified professionals who prioritize modern, ethical approaches to animal training. It offers a searchable web directory to identify trainers with those practices. 

Please subscribe to the Michigan Pet Alliance YouTube channel, where you'll find training tips, roundtables, webinars, DIY projects and more, then share our videos far and wide!

A benefit of MPA membership is free promotion for the upcoming events and fundraisers of member organizations. Here are a few opportunities to support animal welfare organizations next month:

• July 2025: Pampered Chef Party, virtual, Great Lakes Boxer Rescue
• July 9: Bingo Night Every Wednesday, Muskegon, Noah Project
• July 12: Open House, Belleville, Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue
• July 13: TNR Training, Warren, All About Animals
• July 14: Bingo Night Every Monday, Boyne City, Charlevoix Area Humane Society
• July 14-18: Rescue Rangers Day Camp, Adrian, Lenawee Humane Society
• July 17: Ales for Tails, Holland, Harbor Humane Society
• July 17: Tee Up for Tails Golf Event, Marquette, UPAWS
• July 18: Comedy to the Rescue, Mt Pleasant, Karma Kat Cafe & Rescue
• July 19: Sip and Support at Blu Dot Vineyards, Charlevoix, Little Traverse Bay Humane Society
• July 19-20: Flyball 2025, Escanaba, Eva Burrell Animal Shelter
• July 20: Microchip/Vaccine Clinic, Grand Rapids, Pleasant Hearts Pet Food Pantry
• July 23: Paws & Claws Night, Midland, Saginaw County Animal Care & Control
• July 24: Volunteer Orientation, Mason, Ingham County Animal Control & Shelter
• July 25: Cats and Kids, Ann Arbor, Humane Society of Huron Valley
• July 26: 5th Birthday Bash, Lansing, Happy Feet Pet Rescue
• July 26: Pet Food Distribution, Lowell, Grand Rapids Pit Bull Alliance
• July 27: Adoptions Meet & Greet, Grand Rapids, Fig and Friends Pet Rescue

Lend your voice and enjoy the benefits of being a member of Michigan Pet Alliance. Become a member today!

MPA Vision:

To achieve the best quality of life for Michigan’s companion animals. 

MPA Mission:

To work in collaboration and speak with a single voice to eliminate abuse and neglect of Michigan’s companion animals and to save all healthy and treatable homeless companion animals through training, technical assistance, education, and advocacy.

313-731-2244

info@michiganpet.org

 michiganpet.org 

Michigan Pet Alliance is a 501(c)3 charitable organization as defined by the IRS

(EIN 20-0399162) and is a GuideStar Exchange Platinum Participant.

Contributions are tax deductible.

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