In this issue:

• Chair's Note
• Show Your Support: Ban BSL Statewide
• 2023 Better Together Award Winners
• Welcome New Members
• Member Events in October

On Sept. 19, I attended the Grosse Pointe Shores city council meeting and publicly commented on an item of business the council had taken up.

In response to an incident that took place in town when a large dog attacked a small dog, the council began considering extreme amendments to its vicious dog ordinance, including the institution of a breed ban and mandating the killing of all puppies born to a dog who looks a certain way.

Earlier this month, MPA sent a letter to the Grosse Pointe Shores (GPS) council members, offering to assist them in creating a progressive dangerous dog ordinance, a preventative approach focused on safety rather than a reactive approach that has no chance of doing any good. We also provided a science-based PowerPoint presentation that showed why breed restrictions are ineffective and repeatedly fail to improve community safety. 

It’s discouraging that, by a 4-3 vote, the council approved an incredibly archaic, punitive ordinance with a breed ban that does nothing to protect GPS residents against dangerous dogs.

However, there are several encouraging outcomes surrounding this issue. 

To put things in context, GPS is a very small, very wealthy community with a population of just over 2,600. So, when, a resident presented council members with a petition in opposition to a breed ban signed by more than 300 residents that’s an impressive show of how residents feel about the issue.

Out of approximately 30 people providing public comment at the meeting I attended on Sept. 19, only four people supported a ban; all of those in support of the ban quoted well-known myths and severely flawed data. That’s roughly one person for every eight speaking against the ban. It was also encouraging to see that the vast majority of public comment was given by either current or recent GPS residents.

It was evident, but unspoken, that the four councilmen who voted in favor of the breed ban did so for reasons other than keeping residents safe from vicious dogs. Michigan Humane may have identified the unspoken issue when it announced a decision to remove the annual Mutt March from GPS and to look for a “more inclusive community” to host the event.

Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society announced at the city council meeting that should the city move forward with enacting a breed ban, the organization would be forced to end its contract with GPS.

The breed ban issue is far from over in Grosse Pointe Shores. GPS residents are seeking legal remedies against their council’s actions. State Reps. Aragona, Paiz and Tsernoglou recently introduced House Bills 5039-5041, which will prevent cities, villages, townships and counties from enacting and enforcing breed bans statewide.

Here's an extra round of applause for Rep. Paiz, whose district includes GPS.

You’ll find more information on how you can help in the article below.

- Deborah Schutt, chair of Michigan Pet Alliance

Grosse Pointe Shores makes news:

WXYZ: Michigan Humane moving Mutt March out of Grosse Pointe Shores after pit bull ban

CBS Detroit: Attorney speaks on Grosse Pointe Shores banning pit bulls

WDIV: City council passes pit bull ban in Grosse Pointe Shores

FOX 2: Pit bulls banned in Grosse Pointe Shores after dog attack

On Sept. 27, House Bills 5039-5041 were introduced by Reps. Aragona, Paiz and Tsernoglou. This package of bills will prevent cities, villages, townships and counties from enacting and enforcing breed bans statewide. 

If your organization wants to show its support for ending breed specific legislation (BSL) once and for all in Michigan, please send your organization name and logo to admin@michiganpet.org.

Your voice will be added to the sign-on letter of support being presented to the Michigan legislature.

We are also collecting individual letters of support from local elected officials, veterinarians and law enforcement. Please send those individual letters of support for HB 5039-5041 to admin@michiganpet.org.

In this year's awards program, with the theme of Better Together, Michigan animal welfare organizations were challenged to submit competitive award and grant applications demonstrating successful, collaborative programs. 

On-site training grants were awarded for canine and feline caregiver certification, as well as canine scentwork. MPA received 35 applications, which were judged blindly and anonymously by a five-member awards committee, using a point system and review criteria for creativity, effectiveness, transferability, lifesaving and community engagement.

Our thanks to MPA members Roberta Angelo, Reva Laituri, Carrie McGowan, Iris Parlangeli and Namiko Ota-Noveskey for serving on the awards committee. 

Michigan Pet Alliance proudly presents 2023 Better Together awards and grants to the following organizations:

CSNIP, Grand Rapids

Better Together Community Outreach Award, $3,000 cash award

Bark Nation

Better Together Creative Programs Award, $2,000 cash award

Humane Society of Bay County

Better Together Fundraising Award, $2,000 cash award

Constellation Cat Café, East Lansing

On-site Cat Training Grant ($1,000 grant value)

Paws for Life Rescue, Troy

On-site Dog Training Grant ($1,000 grant value)

Little Traverse Bay Humane Society, Harbor Springs 

Scentwork in a Shelter or Foster Home ($400 grant value)

Learn more about theses ongoing training opportunities for rescues and shelters.

CSNIP earned the Better Together Community Outreach Award and $3,000 cash grant for building bridges for more access to vet care.

CSNIP is a high-volume, low-cost spay/neuter clinic in Grand Rapids that began to restructure its outreach program in 2018 with "better together" at its core.

The organization felt that it wasn't meeting the needs of all pet owners, particularly those living in marginalized, underserved or high-poverty areas of greater Grand Rapids. Pet owners who were most in need weren't contacting CSNIP, and many were not aware of the organization and its services.

CSNIP determined that it needed to go beyond hosting booths at community events. It needed to make a concerted effort to reach marginalized populations. 

Namiko Ota-Noveskey, MPA board member (right), presents Sharon Caldwell-Newton, CSNIP executive director (left), and Natalia Schnarrs, CSNIP bilingual special programs coordinator (center) with the Creative Community Outreach award.

CSNIP also recognized the importance of partnering with allies, those who are trusted by underserved communities to serve as a "bridge" to provide spay/neuter and wellness services to at-risk pets.

CSNIP reached out to frontline human service organizations that were already located in and serving target neighborhoods. Over the course of a year, relationships were established with several local community hubs offering food pantries, employment services, after-school and summer programs for kids, and housing assistance.

CSNIP built a network of 10 community partners that became neighborhood ambassadors, sharing information about CSNIP services, making introductions and referring pet-owning clients to CSNIP.

In 2022, CSNIP served 399 pets and people with outreach services, including 142 spay/neuter surgeries, 215 pets vaccinated, 55 dental procedures and one eye enucleation. In the first four months of 2023, CSNIP performed 43 spay/neuter surgeries, 69 vaccinations and five dentals through outreach services.

Thanks to its partnerships, CSNIP was able to help some of the most underserved pet owners in the Grand Rapids area with access to veterinary care their pets needed, helping to keep pets healthy, happy and with the families who love them.

Jenna Hudy, Bark Nation shelter manager (left), and Claire McCarthy, Pitness Protection volunteer (right), celebrate earning the Creative Programs Award with canine Peggy.

Bark Nation earned the Creative Programs Award and $2,000 cash grant for its Pitness Protection program, an initiative to serve local, state and federal law enforcement with the seizure, sheltering and placement of dogs involved in cruelty and/or blood-sport legal cases.

Bark Nation assists law enforcement with the housing of these seized dogs, alleviating pressure and expenses from local shelters being required to hold court case animals for extended periods of time, which takes up valuable kennel space for adoptable dogs.

In the first half of 2023, Bark Nation assisted local law enforcement with the intake of 163 dogs who would've otherwise entered the local sheltering system. The average length of stay for dogs in the program is five months, but some hold times can extend upwards of two years.

Bark Nation has big plans for the funds it earned from this award. It plans to build three additional pods in the shelter, creating quieter and more enriching kennel spaces. Pods will consist of adding walls, enclosing a smaller amount of kennels into their own rooms. T

he pods reduce the risk of disease transmission throughout the shelter, create sound boundaries for quieter areas, and increase the adoptability for dogs once their holds are up by providing a more enriching and mentally stable housing area during their extended stays. Bark Nation is proud of its 94.6% live release rate through its adoption program.

Humane Society of Bay County earned the Creative Fundraising Award and $2,000 cash grant for building community partnerships to raise funds for veterinary costs.

In 2022, the Humane Society of Bay County (HSBC) placed 956 cats and 110 dogs in forever homes and provided TNR for 337 community cats. These efforts cost $164,500 in veterinary care. Fundraising was critical and the organization needed to think creatively.

So, HSBC decided to reach out to multiple business partners, including three local bars, a golf course and an annual community art festival, to collaborate on new and established events. Using creativity and relationship-building skills, HSBC was able to meet and exceed its fundraising goals.

Deborah Schutt, MPA chair, presents the Creative Fundraising Award to Humane Society of Bay County (HSBC). From left: HSBC Board Member Dani Munsch, Schutt, HSBC Assistant Director Karma Postema and HSBC Director Donna Billow.

Working with local photographers, HSBC hosted a pet portrait fundraising event. The city invited HSBC to host an event near the water, where all proceeds will be gifted as a donation to the organization. And, HSBC produces an annual gala that is open to the entire community.

HSBC understands that it's through building relationships and collaborating with the community that it will be most successful. The more fundraising events held, the more resources it will have to help pets in need.

Honorable Mentions, 2023 Better Together Awards

So many organizations across Michigan are accomplishing great things by working together. Michigan Pet Alliance recognizes the following award submissions with honorable mentions:

Community Outreach:

• Little Traverse Bay Humane Society for its lost pet reunification program
• Tyson’s Place Animal Rescue for its intake diversion program to keep families and their animals together
• Humane Society of West Michigan for its resource distribution program, working with human service agencies

Creative Programs:

• Little Traverse Bay Humane Society for its animal transfer program
• Pleasant Hearts Pet Food Pantry for its resource distribution program
• Tyson’s Place Animal Rescue for its pet assistance program that for pets whose elderly or ill owners can no longer care for their pets

Fundraising:

• Animal Aid of Branch County (AABC) for its annual golf outing

Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 MPA Better Together Awards. You earned it and we're proud of your successes!

Alissa Sullivan

Alyssa Ezyk

AnimalKeepers by McNeil & Co. 

CSNIP, Grand Rapids

Danielle Mullaney

Homeward Bound Animal Shelter 

Jeff Adams, DVM, CSNIP

Jennifer Clark, CSNIP

Kaitlyn Olson, Homeward Bound Animal Shelter 

Kathryn Nacke

Maggie Latta, CSNIP

Rachel Heller

Rachel Jenson, CSNIP

Ryan Morgan, AnimalKeepers by McNeil & Co.

Sharon Caldwell-Newton, CSNIP

Theresa Zeh, Homeward Bound Animal Shelter

Michigan Pet Alliance is looking for volunteers. Check out a few of the opportunities currently available:

Tabling Coordinator - develop a program for tabling at businesses and events to recruit members and volunteers, collect donations and build awareness

Online Research - on a monthly basis, search websites of member organizations and record the event name, date, location and website address

If you have an event in November that you’d like featured in next month's edition of “One Voice,” please email the details to courtney@michiganpet.org by October 12.

Please remember to update your contact information in your online MPA account to keep receiving all membership benefits and our latest news. 

Add info@michiganpet.org and membership@michiganpet.org to your contact list or address book so our communications land in your inbox, not in your junk/spam folder.

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.