In this issue:

• Member Spotlight: Shelter to Home
• Free Lunch & Learn: May 29
• Listserv to the Rescue
• A Big Win: Canada Geese
• Job Opening: Canine Education Trainer
• YouTube Series: Scentwork for Dogs
• Welcome New Members
• June Member Events

Ideas are powerful. They can have significant impact. They can even be transformative, growing and spreading into something beautiful.

In animal welfare, successes are built on ideas, but only after those ideas are explored, nurtured and shared.

That’s what happened 18 years ago.

A few friends spent a cold afternoon walking the track at a local school when they spotted a mother cat and her kittens, fighting to survive, under the bleachers in the dead of winter. 

The friends had no rescue experience. The local shelters were full, but they couldn’t walk away. There they formed an idea that would transform the future for homeless pets in the area and grow into a life-saving mission. So they gathered supplies, asked family members to help, and paid for everything out of their own pockets.

Right then and there was the start of Shelter to Home in Wyandotte.

In 2007, Shelter to Home was officially formed with one clear goal: to save animals from being needlessly killed. Since then, the organization has rescued more than 6,000 animals, including very tough cruelty and neglect cases that required significant medical care.

Built in 1874, Shelter to Home resides at 266 Oak Street in Wyandotte

In 2011, Shelter to Home leased a historic Victorian house in Wyandotte as its pet adoption center, a warm, homey space that showcases adoptable animals in a real-world setting. In 2017, they purchased the property.

“Today, our rescued cats rule the roost, and they know it,” said Bawol. “We believe it's one of the most unique adoption centers in Michigan. It’s cozy, welcoming and full of second chances.”

Shelter to Home has engaged and embraced its community from the start, a vital component for success. The communities served by Shelter to Home face similar challenges burdening others across Michigan.

“Locally, we’re seeing more pet owners struggle with time, housing restrictions, costs and behavior issues. Many want to do the right thing, but hit roadblocks, especially as shelters hit capacity. We need more pet owners to become part of the solution. That means stepping up, not just when it’s convenient, but when it's hard. Responsible ownership saves lives.

“The demand for help is overwhelming. We’ve never seen this level of need for rescue placement, medical care, and financial aid,” said Bawol. “The costs for veterinary care, food and supplies keep rising. And like many rescues, we struggle to find and retain foster caregivers. Still, we push forward because every life matters.”

Despite life-threatening injuries and possible amputation, Joe beat the odds with intensive care and pure grit. He healed, kept four legs and was adopted.

Senior dog Frank arrived weary and worn. After a bit of medical care, lots of TLC and a soft, cozy bed, Frank got his spark back and a forever home to go with it.

Shelter to Home draws strength and resilience from collaborative efforts across Michigan. Animal welfare legislation and the need to end cruel practices, like declawing, are important goals for Shelter to Home's leadership, staff and volunteers.

“We’re proud to stand with organizations, like MPA, that are pushing for lasting, systemic change,” said Bawol. “The rise in animal abandonment and neglect over the last five years has been staggering. The road ahead is tough, but our resolve is stronger than ever.

“Cities must also play their part. Animal welfare shouldn’t be a low priority. It should reflect a community’s compassion. That means funding shelters, training staff and making sure no one’s told to ‘just let the animal go.’ The days of killing healthy animals, ignoring lost pets or treating animal care as an afterthought must end. We know better, and we must do better.”

Michigan Pet Alliance is proud of the hard work and life-saving initiatives of Shelter to Home, its staff and its volunteers. We appreciate their membership and look forward to celebrating their future accomplishments.

"We are proud to be one of Michigan Pet Alliance’s first rescue members. From day one, we’ve believed in collective action and high standards. MPA's commitment to best practices, ethical care and policy reform mirrors our own. Together, we’re working toward a safer, more humane future for Michigan’s animals."

-- Shelley Bawol, Shelter to Home president

Follow Shelter to Home and its life-saving initiatives at:

May 29 at noon: Gather your staff and volunteers for a free Lunch & Learn session that will help increase adoptions and reduce returns.

Join trainer Kelly Kendall, who is often consulted after an adoption because ... "the dog we adopted has changed.”

We all know that the shelter environment can have dramatic effects on dog behavior, but how well are we communicating that information to an adopter or potential adopter?

How are we managing their expectations? From the kennel attendants to the dog walkers, from adoption counselors to enrichment volunteers, everyone can share information that can encourage adoptions and discourage a premature return.

Spend your lunch hour with others learning simple tips and tricks that you can do and information you can share to help manage the expectations of adopters.

A pillar of Michigan Pet Alliance is collaboration, partnering and speaking with one voice. We save more lives when we work together.

That's why MPA created the shelter listserv, so that every licensed shelter in Michigan had a quick and easy way to communicate, to ask for help, to offer help and to share resources.

To encourage more collaboration, we want to share success stories with you. And if you have a success story, please hit reply and share it with us.

One Email, 30 Minutes, 43 Animals Rescued

This past March, Northern Michigan was hit with an unprecedented ice storm, leaving more than 44,000 energy customers without power. Little Traverse Bay Humane Society (LTBHS) was one of them.

The storm affected the entire campus, leaving the facility without heat, electricity and running water with no restoration date in sight. The storm also cut the power to the homes of every LTBHS employee, some even trapped inside by fallen trees, downed wires or structural damage. 

The shelter was prepared to operate for a few days without power, then it became time to activate a contingency plan to keep the animals and staff safe. Using Michigan Pet Alliance's shelter listserv, LTBHS sent a request for assistance.

The call for help went out at 12:27 p.m. on Monday, March 31. By 1:03 p.m., the shelter was overwhelmed with offers to assist. Within only a few short hours, 43 animals were transferred safely to other shelters across the state.

"This resource allows shelters like us to respond to others in need and, in this case, to ask for help ourselves," said Sarah Schertel, senior director of operations, LTBHS. "In mere moments, solutions are found on a daily basis. There is no judgment, only One Voice for the animals. The support we received on this occasion ensured safety for so many lives and allowed us to refocus our immediate efforts to providing resources to our community pets. It gave us an opportunity to form new partnerships, make new friends and, most importantly, SAVE LIVES."

On May 9, animal welfare advocates and wildlife conservationists across Michigan celebrated a big win. And, you played a big role.

Thanks to zealous advocacy, outreach and communication, the DNR announced it would indefinitely pause its vicious lethal gassing program to exterminate Canada geese and their goslings.

The department plans to research "alternative options for managing human-goose conflicts and health and safety concerns for areas with overabundant Canada goose populations," according to a letter from M. Scott Bowen, DNR director.

Thank you for speaking with One Voice on behalf of those who cannot.

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.

Give your enrichment program a boost. Scentwork helps reduce anxiety, calm overstimulated dogs, burn energy in hyperactive dogs, and build confidence in shy and fearful dogs.

In this video, Laurie Horn, certified trainer and author of "Scent 4 Shelter Dogs", shows you how to start a scent enrichment program that will transform the lives of the dogs in your care. And it’s not just for dogs … all animals with a nose can benefit from scentwork. Small budget, large budget, no budget? You can do this!

Want to receive in-person scentwork training? Apply for an MPA Better Together grant by June 30.

Subscribe to MPA's channel to stay up to snuff ... or sniff. And, please add our videos to your playlists, too.

Lenawee Humane Society

Marcie Cornell

Linda Dionne

Shelby Krohn

Rae Lipkowski

Maria Vandenboom

Kjerstin Wallgren

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:

• June 7: Golf Outing, Humane Society of Bay County, Pinconning
• June 8: TNR Training, All About Animals, Warren
• June 12: Summer Birthday Bash, Fig and Friends Pet Rescue, Grand Rapids
• June 13: Pets and Pajamas, Humane Society of Huron Valley, Ann Arbor
• June 16: Bingo Night Every Monday, Charlevoix Area Humane Society, Boyne City
• June 16-18: 2025 Summer Camp, Capital Area Humane Society, Lansing
• June 18: Bingo Night Every Wednesday, Noah Project, Muskegon
• June 19: Putts Fore Paws, Little Traverse Bay Humane Society, Harbor Springs
• June 20: Charity Golf Scramble, Ingham County Animal Control & Shelter, Webberville
• June 22: Eats in the Street, Greater Hillsdale Humane Society, North Adams
• June 22: Virtual TNR Training, All About Animals
• June 28: Nail Trim Day, Lenawee Humane Society, Adrian



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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