Cats and Dogs, a Magazine Devoted to Companion Animals

cats and DOGS B

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A Magazine Devoted to Companion Animals

Jan Jacobs: Campaign Director at Pound Buddies Rescue – Page 12 Holly Guild New Executive Director at the Humane Society of West Michigan Page 26

Jayne Vonlinsowe and Duchess.

Bellwether Harbor’s Seniors for Seniors Foster Program Page 11

Crusier needs a home – Page 20

Winter 2019-2020

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2727 Orange Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 www.noahspetcemetery.com - 616-949-1390

CONTENTS Animals for Adoption Cannonsville Critters ...................................................

7

BestPals Animal Rescue ..................................................

9

Bellwether Harbor ..........................................................

10

Reuben’s Room Cat Rescue ............................................

15

Carol’s Ferals .......................................................................

17

Muskegon Humane Society .........................................

23

Crash’s landing .................................................................

31

Moving with Pets – Page 4

Almost Every Month Business Card Directory ..............................................

5

Willow’s World ..................................................................

6

Ask the Trainer ...................................................................

14

Cat Corner ............................................................................

19

Furry Philosophy ..............................................................

20

On the Wild Side ................................................................

21

Community Resource Guide .......................................

28

Piper’s Palace – Page 22

Features Moving with Pets ..............................................................

4

Seniors for Seniors ..........................................................

11

Pound Buddies’ Capital Campaign ..........................

12

C-SNIP adds 2nd location ...........................................

13

Piper’s Palace .........................................................................

22

Presents for Pets ...............................................................

25

New Director at HSWM .................................................

26

Is Michigan No-Kill? ......................................................

27

Hearts of Hope Fund-raiser .......................................

30

C-SNIP Receives BISSELL Grant ..................................

30

Chalsey Schmidt, left, and Wendee Hofbauer, founder of Piper’s Palace – Page 22 Winter 2019-20 • www.catsanddogsmagazine.com

Cats and Dogs - 3

Moving with pets

By Janet Vormittag After 16 years of living in Michigan, Nicole Schramm decided to move back to her native Germany. Her work Visa was getting harder and harder to renew, and she worried about being asked to leave the United States without warning. Her concern wasn’t for herself, but for her pets.

Nicole had two dogs and 12 cats.

“They’re my family,” she said.

Nicole has always been an animal advocate. While living in Grand Rapids, she volunteered at various shelters and rescues including Crash’s Landing, Carol’s Ferals, the Humane Society of West Michigan and Mackenzie’s Animal Sanctuary.

When Nicole adopted her pets she promised to care for them for the rest of their lives.

“It wasn’t an option to leave them behind,” she said.

Nicole planned on returning to Germany, but the town where she wanted to relocate wouldn’t allow one of her dogs. Sparty, an American bulldog mix, was considered dangerous. Because of the breed discrimination, Nicole opted to move to Austria instead.

She hired an international pet shipping business, PetRelocation, to arrange and oversee the move of her furry four-legged family.

The price tag left Nicole stunned. To transport the animals from Grand Rapids to Austria would cost $29,500. She credits her ex-husband and his parents with helping make the move financially possible. She said they understood how much her cats and dogs meant to her.

The relocation company guided her through the many regulations. The animals needed to be checked by a veterinarian and had to be implanted with a specific type of microchip before a rabies vaccine could be administered. They had to be rechecked by a veterinarian within 48 hours of boarding their flight and needed an EU health certificate.

While dealing with the transport of her pets was daunting, Nicole also had to sell her house, car and belongings. The cost of shipping was so high it made better sense to sell her furniture, kitchenware, clothes and everything else and then buy new when she reached her destination.

One of the reasons Nicole had so many cats was she took in strays. She refused to take them to a shelter or rescue where there was a chance they would be euthanized.

Earlier this year when she heard a mother cat and four kittens were in the road near Breton and 28th Street, she raced to the area. One of the kittens had already been hit by a car and killed. She was able to catch the remaining kittens and the mom cat and brought them home.

Cats and Dogs - 4

Top: Nicole Schramm with her cats and dogs a few days before moving to Austria.

Bottom: Waiting to be picked up by PetRelocation.

Nicole eventually found homes for the kittens and the mom cat, who she had named Banana. But Banana quit eating when placed with a new family. Blood work didn’t detect a reason for her refusal of food so Nicole brought her back home.

“She was confused and lost trust because I gave her away,” Nicole said.

Banana went ten days without food. The vet was about to insert a feeding tube, when Nicole was finally able to coax the weary cat to eat.

Banana became cat number 12. “It was meant to be,” Nicole said.

Before she left, Nicole was able to buy a house in Austria that a friend checked out for her.

The animals were scheduled for pickup by the relocation company on Nov. 10 and would be driven to Chicago where they would spend the night. The following day, after their last health check, they would be placed on a flight. The relocation company would also pick them up in Austria. Nicole’s flight was Nov. 12. She would arrive at her new home before the pets would be delivered there.

When we talked, she had five days before her flight and was overwhelmed by all she had to do.

Her advice to anyone moving with pets is, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

Update: Nicole posted on Facebook Nov. 14 that everyone arrived safely, and they were all settling into their new home. www.catsanddogsmagazine.com • Winter 2019-20

BUSINESS CARD DIRECTORY

616-949-1390 www.noahspetcemetery.com noahspc@comcast.net Cats and Dogs PO Box 996, Jenison, MI 49429-0996 616-777-0645 catsanddogsmagazine@comcast.net www.catsanddogsmagazine.com Cats and Dogs, founded in 2006, is a free publication supported by advertisers. Magazines are distributed throughout Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon and surrounding counties. We are not responsible for services and products advertised. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission from the publisher.

Publisher: Janet Vormittag Owner: JLV Enterprises LLC Deadlines Spring: Feb. 15 - Summer: May 15 Fall: August 15 - Winter: Nov. 15 Home delivery of Cats and Dogs is $16 per year. Make your check payable to Cats and Dogs and mail to: Cats and Dogs, P.O. Box 996, Jenison, MI 49429-0996

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Winter 2019-20 • www.catsanddogsmagazine.com

Cats and Dogs - 5

Willow’s World The (as yet unnamed) Book

By Tricia L. McDonald Fourteen years ago a little white dog came into my life. I had no doubt I would love her, I just didn’t know I would fall head-over-heels in love with her. But I did, and I believe the feeling was mutual. Her name was Sally, she was a mini bull terrier, and most of you reading this know all about her.

Sally taught me how to be a good dog owner (although I slipped on one or two occasions), and about unconditional love. What I didn’t expect from this little white dog was how her presence opened doors for my writing career. I mean what can you learn about writing from a dog, right?

It all started when I was asked to write for this magazine on a monthly basis. I thought, okay, but who is going to want to read about my dog? Every month I wrote about some event with Sally and by doing so, I let you (her readers) have a peek inside our family life with the little white dog. Soon there were lots of Sally readers who looked forward to discovering our latest tale. From licking toads to eating butterflies to doggy painting – I shared our stories. Some were gross, some were funny and some were heartbreaking – but they were all written with love.

These stories became the catalyst for the publication of four Life With Sally books. Four books filled with little white dog tails were being read throughout the United States and even internationally. I couldn’t believe it when I received an email from a gentleman in South Africa who told me how much he enjoyed reading about Sally.

Really? My little Sally?

I was looking forward to writing about her as an old lady, but it wasn’t to be as Sally’s life ended on a cold March day. She was only 12 years old when her body quit.

Her stories were over… …but were they?

Early on in Sally’s life, I had toyed with the idea of writing a children’s book about her and the other animals in her life. I even wrote one chapter. Then life got busy and this idea (along with the chapter) were pushed aside…for a very long time. In my grief over losing Sally, I started thinking about that book again. Where did I put those notes? Could I do something with them? Is there really another Sally book to be written?

I am ecstatic to say YES!!! Over the past couple years I have been working on this new Sally endeavor and it will be published in March of 2020.

If you are a Sally reader, you will recognize many of the characters in this first book (yes, I said first as I am now working on the second book), such as Eli, Mary and Cats and Dogs - 6

of course Sally. Plus, there are amazing new characters like a blue heron named Miss Blue and a toad called King Croaker. There is a cranky tom cat named Orangey (guess what color he is?), and Whiskers, a rat who tells really tall tales.

There is adventure, excitement and some sadness along the way as they take on the challenge of rescuing some friends from a very bad person. I wrote this book for middle graders (8–12 year olds), but I think other ages are going to enjoy reading this book as well.

My only problem at this point—and it’s a big one—is that I don’t have a title for the book yet. But don’t worry, I have my Sally thinking cap on and I’ll have a title before the book is published!

The book’s debut will be at the Women’s Expo on March 13-15, 2020 inside the Devos Place in Grand Rapids. Then I will be at the PetExpo at the DeltaPlex in Grand Rapids on April 4 & 5.

In the meantime, here is a little snippet from the (as yet unnamed) book: Two furry black arms shoot out of the cage, grab Whiskers and pull him tight against the opening of the crate. Whiskers’ eyes bulge and his four tiny legs thrash as he tries to pull away from the hands, not paws, holding him.

Mittens yowls and runs backwards, her nails scrabbling on the floor. Her fur puffs out and her tail becomes twice its normal size so she looks like a fuzzy porcupine. Sally backs into the darkness of her crate and tucks her nose under her paws.

“Let go of me, you beast!” Whiskers screams.

The hands hold tight as the tiny black and white rat thrashes about. Almost as fast as it happens, it ends.

Whiskers goes limp in the hands of the monster.

You can purchase Life With Sally: Little White Dog Tails, Still Spinnin’ Tails, Waggin’ More Tails and Princess Tails in Grand Haven at Must Love Dogs and The Bookman; in Grand Rapids at Schulers Books. You can order books at amazon.com. The cost is $13.95. The books are also available on Kindle and Nook for $5.99. www.catsanddogsmagazine.com • Winter 2019-20

Winter 2019-20 • www.catsanddogsmagazine.com

Cats and Dogs - 7

In this collection of humorous short stories, you’ll meet the cats who kept the author sane during life’s trying moments. Those same furry friends also drove her to the brink of crazy cat lady status. Janet questions if she’s soft in the heart or soft in the head.

You’ll meet more than 20 kitties including Lucy who started Janet’s love affair with cats. Lucy, a partially paralyzed kitty, competed with Janet for the house title of Best Mouse Hunter. Janet used a live-trap and practiced catch-and-release. Lucy’s method was catch-and-eat, and she left only a trophy tail as proof of her prowess.

There are tales of Buddy, aka Basketball Cat, who couldn’t say no to snacking; Wild Cat, who took more than a year to tame; and Frosty Flake, a foster kitten with attitude who never left. You’ll also learn about Janet’s trip to an animal shelter to pick up four kittens, which resulted in 16 kittens in carriers being packed into her car.

Each story features black and white photographs.

You Might be a Crazy Cat Lady if… takes the crazy out of the cliché Crazy Cat Lady and replaces it with compassion. It makes an ideal gift for anyone obsessed with our feline friends.

$13.95 plus tax ($14.79) ---- Free Shipping Mail check, made payable to Janet Vormittag, to: Cats and Dogs, P.O. Box 996, Jenison, Mi 49429-0996 Also available at Amazon.com Cats and Dogs - 8

www.catsanddogsmagazine.com • Winter 2019-20

A special thanks to Noah’s Pet Cemetery & Crematory for sponsoring our page.

Winter 2019-20 • www.catsanddogsmagazine.com

Cats and Dogs - 9

Cats and Dogs - 10

www.catsanddogsmagazine.com • Winter 2019-20

Seniors for Seniors

By Janet Vormittag Bellwether Harbor Animal Shelter in Fremont is looking for people 55 and older who live in Newaygo County and want to share their home with an older cat.

The nonprofit recently launched Seniors for Seniors Foster Program, which places senior cats with senior citizens.

“People benefit and the animals benefit,” said Bellwether founder and president Danielle (Dani) Merrill.

“Elderly people can feel isolated. This is a way for them to feel less alone.”

Under the program, Bellwether gives qualified participants a cat to foster without any financial obligations.

“We’ll provide everything,” Danielle said.

Everything includes food, a litter box, litter, a carrier, bowls and whatever else is desired such as a scratching post or lint roller to remove cat hair.

Danielle said older people sometimes hesitate to adopt because they worry about what will happen to the cat if something happens to them.

The Seniors for Seniors Foster Program solves that problem.

Bellwether will take the cat back if a home can no longer be provided. They’ll also help take care of the cat if the foster parent becomes hospitalized.

As part of the program, someone from Bellwether visits the foster home periodically for a wellness check and to restock supplies. If needed, they’ll also provide transportation to a veterinarian.

The cats eligible for the program are 7 years old or older, or have been at the shelter for longer than 18 months. There are about a dozen cats available for seniors to foster. All of the cats have been spayed or neutered, dewormed, are up to dates on vaccines and microchipped.

“All they need is love,” Danielle said.

Jayne Vonlinsowe heard about the program when she attended a Seniors Expo in Fremont, where Bellwether had a booth. She had never had a cat before but was intrigued by the idea. She went to Bellwether to meet some of the kitties.

“She picked me,” she said of a pure white cat named Duchess.

Jayne, who is 76 years old and lives on social security, said her blood pressure has gone down since Duchess came to live with her. “She’s an angel, and I don’t know what I would do without her. She’s spoiled rotten. I buy her toys all the time.”

Jayne highly recommends the program. “I love everyone at Bellwether,” she said.

The Seniors for Seniors Foster Program is partially funded by a grant from the Fremont Area Community Winter 2019-20 • www.catsanddogsmagazine.com

Above: Danielle Merrill with the cats available for the Seniors for Seniors Foster Program.

Right: Jayne Vonlinsowe and her cat Duchess.

Foundation’s Elderly Needs Fund. There is a $15 participation fee, but Danielle doesn’t want that to stop anyone from applying. If needed, the fee can be waived.

A common problem at animal shelters is older cats are often bypassed for adoption for young playful kittens.

“We’ve been criticized for holding cats too long,” Danielle said, but she refuses to euthanize animals whose only crime was they didn’t get adopted. She feels the cats at Bellwether have a good quality of life. Volunteers and staff interact frequently with the cats, plus they often get playtime outside their cages. As long as the cats don’t display signs of depression, they’re kept.

The shelter can house about 12 dogs and up to 40 cats.

Danielle is hoping the Seniors for Seniors Foster Program will place some their older cats into loving homes. Bellwether has a waiting list of people who want to surrender their cats. “We can only take one when one gets adopted,” Danielle said.

If you are interested in the Seniors for Seniors Foster Program or if you know of any seniors in Newaygo County who would benefit from having a cat please call 231-924-9230 ext 4.

To learn more about Bellwether Harbor Animal Shelter or the Seniors for Seniors Foster Program visit www.bellwetherharbor.org.

Cats and Dogs -11

Pound Buddies initiates capital campaign

By Janet Vormittag Twenty years ago, Jan Jacobs adopted a 16-year-old blind and deaf poodle from the Muskegon County Animal Shelter. “I could tell she was somebody’s pet. How did she end up on the verge of being euthanized?” asked Jan, a life-long animal advocate. The abandoned pup spent her final months with Jan and her family.

That first experience with the county shelter, then known as Vector Control, stayed with Jan through the years. The concrete floors and walls. The chain-link and metal-barred tiny kennels. The deafening barks of caged dogs that echoed with hopelessness.

When Jan retired from her job at Mercy Health, where she spent more than 15 years in the Office of Philanthropy, she had one goal.

“I want to help Pound Buddies build a new shelter,” she said.

Pound Buddies Rescue, whose members used to volunteer at Vector Control, now manages the county shelter.

Jan’s first step towards her goal was to volunteer. “I needed to know the organization from the ground up,” she said. Among her duties were walking dogs, washing food bowls and fostering.

“It’s not for the faint of heart,” she said.

Shelter Executive Director Lana Carson recalled Jan’s first day. Staff had picked up a small dog that had a sweater taped to her tiny body. The pup screamed whenever anyone came near her and had to be sedated to have the tape peeled off. Jan was asked to give the dog a bath.

“I wanted to see if she had grit,” Lana said.

She did.

Months later when Jan asked for a meeting with Lana to share her ideas for a capital campaign to fund a new building, Lana became excited. She said they had a great team at Pound Buddies but nobody had the skill set to run a capital campaign.

“Jan was the right person at the right time,” Lana said. The board created a position for a campaign director and immediately hired Jan. She started August 1.

It’s not Jan’s first capital campaign endeavor. A few years ago she helped lead a successful campaign for a new facility for Out Side In, Inc., an equine assisted psychotherapy horse farm in Grand Haven.

Currently the animal shelter operates in an 8,000square-foot building that is owned by the township and leased to the county. It’s financially beyond renovation.

“From the outside, the building is in poor condition,” Jan said.

The shelter was built in the 1960s. The antiquated design was for disease control. Dogs were only kept for Cats and Dogs - 12

Pound Buddies Rescue Executive Director Lana Carson, right, discussing plans for a new build with Campaign Director Jan Jacobs. the state required time and then euthanized.

The kennels, measuring only 3-by-5 foot, are smaller than the 4-by-9 foot required by the Michigan Department of Agriculture.

More than 90 percent of the dogs at the shelter are larger dogs. Staff and volunteers give them a break from their confinement as often as possible.

“The conditions are deplorable,” Lana said.

They currently house close to 135 dogs.

The shelter has one multiuse room for meetings, lunchroom, and meet-and-greets for pets and perspective new families.

Pound Buddies operates form 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day including holidays and weekends.

The goal is to have the new building be more than twice as big. Pound Buddies Rescue will own it. The group has a 10-year contract with the county to care for stray pets that will begin when they move to the new facility.

Jan said she is looking for either vacant land to build on or land with a building that can be converted for shelter use. Zoning and permits have to be considered.

Besides more space for the dogs, the building has to have room for cats, a quarantine area, offices, and enough land for outside activities for the dogs. The goal is to also have space where someday they can accommodate spay and neuter services, TNR (trap-neuter-return) initiatives, a community training room and a pet pantry.

“We want to be the community’s animal center where our priorities are rescue, shelter, adopt and educate,” Jan said.

Currently Pound Buddies works with area cat rescues including Heaven Can Wait and Faithful to Felines when cats are brought to the shelter. They plan on continuing those relationships.

Jan estimates the capital campaign will be for $2.5 to $3.5 million. If they find a building to convert, the price tag will come in at the lower end of the range. A new building would cost more.

“We’re on the fast-track for this,” Jan said.

Continued on page 13

www.catsanddogsmagazine.com • Winter 2019-20

Continued from page 12

C-SNIP opens second location in Fruitport

Top: Campaign Director Jan Jacobs visiting with two dogs at Pound Buddies Rescue.

Above: Entrance to Pound Buddies Rescue, 1300 East Keating Ave., Muskegon, Michigan.

Left: Kennels at the current facility are too small for large dogs.

She’s been meeting with bankers and donors so they’ll be ready when they find the right property.

“I’m committed. I won’t give up,” she said.

She added that she wants a building that will match the good work being done by the volunteers and staff at Pound Buddies.

“I love it. I’m so excited. I couldn’t be happier,” Lana said.

Both women can’t wait until they move and leave the old building behind.

“Instead of a ground breaking, we’re going to have a door shutting,” Lana said.

C-SNIP, a nonprofit spay/neuter clinic located in Kentwood, Michigan, announced it will be opening a second clinic located in Fruitport, in the facility recently vacated by the West Michigan Spay Neuter Clinic (WMSNC).

“It is C-SNIP’s goal to move as quickly as possible in order to fill the community’s need for affordable, accessible spay/neuter surgery for dogs and cats in this region,” said Sharon Caldwell-Newton, C-SNIP Executive Director.

C-SNIP is planning to open the Fruitport location on Dec. 3. During the month of December, they will offer surgeries on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The veterinarian team will be Dr. Julie Eberly and Dr. Alana Gillhespy. They will provide spay/neuter procedures for approximately 30 dogs and cats each surgical day. This will be in addition to C-SNIP’s Kentwood location, which offers surgical services four days per week and serves approximately 70 dogs and cats each surgical day.

“We believe pet owners should have access to affordable, basic veterinary care, especially spay/ neuter surgery,” Caldwell-Newton said.

Spay/neuter surgery is the most effective strategy contributing to the reduction of shelter admission and euthanasia rates in West Michigan. C-SNIP is pleased it can be a resource and provide a solution for pet owners and rescue groups who are committed to preventing accidental and unwanted litters by those at-risk dogs and cats living in the Lakeshore region.

People can call 616-455-8220 to schedule an appointment at the C-SNIP Lakeshore facility.

The phone line is staffed M-F, and a message can be left after hours. After the new year, people can scheduled surgeries online through C-SNIP’s website.

Visit www.csnip.org for information on pricing, services and general spay/neuter questions.

AP K W C D

If you’d like to donate to the campaign, contact Jan Jacobs at 231-557-8268 or jacobs0414@gmail.com.

For more information on Pound Buddies Rescue visit www.poundbuddies.org.

Winter 2019-20 • www.catsanddogsmagazine.com

Cats and Dogs -13

In-Home Pet Care When You Can’t Be There THE CAT’S MEOW Pet Sitters Jeanine Buckner Veterinary Assistant

616-791-9696 Loving Home Care For Your Pet During my 18 years of working in veterinary medicine, I realized the need for an alternative to boarding. Thus, The Cat’s Meow Pet Sitters was created.

By keeping your feline friend in her familiar home surroundings, you and your cat experience less stress while you are away. My first home visit with you and your cat is at no charge. Information regarding medical care, instructions on feeding and watering, litter box patrol and playing with and/or grooming your cat will all be discussed. At no additional charge, bringing in mail and/or newspapers and watering plants can also be done. Pampering your cat in her/his own home is a wise alternative to boarding. Your cat will thank you!

Jeanine Buckner, Owner

Need more customers, clients or volunteers?

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Cats and Dogs - 14

Ask the Trainer How to Use the Desensitization

By Bob Crough * Begin by exposing your dog to a very low level or small amount of whatever is causing the fear. For example, if the dog is afraid of bicycles, start with a bicycle placed at a distance of 100 feet from your dog. * Reward the dog for organic calm, nonfearful behavior in the presence of the bicycle. Gradually move the bicycle closer to him. As long as your dog remains relaxed, reward him with treats and praise. If at any point he becomes anxious, move the bicycle further away and proceed at a slower pace. * When your dog can remain relaxed in the presence of a stationary bicycle, move the bicycle 100 feet away again, but have someone ride it slowly by him. Again, gradually increase the proximity of the slowly moving bicycle, rewarding your dog for remaining organically calm and relaxed. Repeat this procedure as many times as necessary, gradually increasing the speed of the moving bicycle. * This process may take several days. You must proceed at a slow enough pace that your dog never becomes fearful during the desensitization process. If you move too quickly, success decreases. If the fear is to great to work alone, always seek a professional trainer for help.

Bob Crough, Owner of Paradigm Dog School, has spent 18 years using positive science based methods. He specializes in behavior modification, obedience, dog on dog aggression, fearful issues, and training average people to be better handlers and owners.

He owns, has co-owned, and managed dog training businesses, dog daycares, boarding facilities, and grooming shops over the years in West Michigan. He studied animal biology at Grand Valley State University, and also has logged over 35,000 hours working with off leash domestic packs of 25-30 animals learning handson k9 behavior and social skills. He is a Certified Dog Trainer, Dog Behavior Specialist, Pack Rehabilitation Specialist, a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, and AKC. Paradigm Dog School: 616-886-4214 paradigmds@gmail.com www.paradigmdogschool.com

www.catsanddogsmagazine.com • Winter 2019-20

This Reuben’s Room Cat Rescue page is sponsored by Sleepy Hollow Pet Cemetery.

Winter 2019-20 • www.catsanddogsmagazine.com

Cats and Dogs - 15

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www.catsanddogsmagazine.com • Winter 2019-20

Winter 2019-20 • www.catsanddogsmagazine.com

Cats and Dogs - 17

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Winter 2019-20 • www.catsanddogsmagazine.com

Cats and Dogs - 19

Furry Philosophy

By Jodi Jarvis -Therrian “Saving one dog will not change the world, but surely for that one dog, the world will change forever.” ― Karen Davison

I have had the privilege of observing what huge hearts the girls at Muskegon Humane Society have. They do so much in our community. Recently, they became a part of The Prison Enrichment Training Program. I felt I had to share some details and answer questions others asked me.

At the shelter I noticed one dog, Cruiser, who had been there for a long time. Dogs who are in shelters too long, may start to have behavioral issues. At Muskegon Humane the dogs get walks, yard time, interactive toys and love. The cats even have a catio and cat TV. Sadly, nothing can take the place of a home. Cruiser broke my heart being there for almost 3 years. Chelsie Blaine, an amazing kind trainer at the shelter, worked with Cruiser to learn desirable behaviors. She spent her own time giving him extra love. However, Cruiser needed a lot of extra time that this program provides.

This program at the Brooks facility seems to provide a win-win. Where else does a person have 24 hours a day to commit to a dog to help them overcome their hurdles?

Alexis Ogborn, Muskegon Humane Director, gave me this background about the program and Cruiser: “Cruiser joined our shelter family in early 2017. He was transferred from Detroit Animal Control. Although he doesn’t have any aggression issues, he is a large, goofy dog that just doesn’t know his size...so he continues to be overlooked. This program has given him the oneon-one attention and training he needed to become a well-trained adoptable dog. He no longer jumps on new visitors. He can now play well with other dogs. He listens and follows his trainer, and knows many commands including: sit, stay, shake, crawl, down, drop it, leave it, touch, roll over and more.

In August, after months of preparation, we launched a prison foster and training program with Brooks Correctional Facility. This program is designed to give purpose and aid in rehabilitating prisoners while they live and work with a shelter dog. It is going to give many of our long term dogs like Cruiser the opportunity to have 24 hour companionship and training to help him and his friends ‘put their best paws forward’ when they get adopted.

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Photography by The Bearded Lady Pet Photography

Cruiser is ready for adoption at Muskegon Humane Society after being trained through The Prison Enrichment Training Program.

We started with eight dogs moving in with their inmates at the Brooks facility. They have a weekly training session with our certified dog trainer and are given homework with their dog for the week. After 12 weeks of training, the dogs become available for adoption, but can continue working and living at the prison until a suitable owner is found. Once a dog is adopted, the process repeats.”

This program was very well laid out and planned.

When I interviewed Chelsie and Alexis I found out there is a separate wing for inmates with dogs that is connected to a private outdoor secure yard just for the dogs. They have access to this area 24 hours a day to let the dog out to go potty and play. The other inmates are not allowed to enter that wing or yard. Each dog also gets to spend a day up front in the office at the prison to experience a different environment. They are totally committed to making this program work.

Continued on page 21

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Continued from page 20

The inmates are very eager to learn. They go through an intense screening process to be allowed in this program. They become attached to these dogs and care for them immensely. They notice the littlest bump on the dog and inquire about it. They worked ahead on lesson plans and are so happy to connect and teach these dogs.

The inmates are learning numerous skills and giving a priceless gift of constant care and companionship to these dogs.

One of Cruiser’s inmate trainer’s stated, “I’ve been in prison since I was 19, so, me and him both are exactly alike we both know nothing, but being locked up. So if I can give him a chance to get a home then that’s me giving back, and really that’s the only way I can give back right now.”

It makes a heart smile to hear that a very stressful, over excitable black lab, Frank, will live happily ever after. After 11 weeks in this program, he regained focus, and did all the commands asked of him. He was adopted to a forever home.

At the time this article was written Cruiser had some interest but has not been adopted yet. Please share this story and help to spread the word for him and others looking for their forever home. One by one we can make a difference. There are so many good pets in shelters that deserve a chance to be snuggled and loved.

For a full list of available pets at Muskegon Humane for adoption please see muskegonhumanesociety.org/

Memory Stones by Jodi Honoring the memories of your loved ones in a beautiful way. Fur or ashes can be permanently fused in a stone that can be made into a sun catcher, keychain or jewelry.

www.memorystonesbyjodi.com

231-893-1227

On the Wild Side with Allyson Swanson Hope: a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.

At the Wildlife Rehab Center, nearly all of the animals we take in are admitted with a degree of hope in the forefront of our minds. Hope that a bird will fly again or hope that a squirrel’s arm will heal correctly. But for one critically injured animal who arrived at WRC late this Summer, our hope for her was so strong that she earned that as her name.

“Hope” is a baby opossum that came in from Muskegon with a severe injury to her face. Most likely inflicted by an animal attack, the incident caused her to lose a portion of her nasal cavity and her vision. Hope was in such critical shape when she arrived that we feared she wouldn’t survive the hour, let alone that day.

However, the way she was fighting to stay alive melted our hearts and we knew we had to try to save her.

At first, each day was a gamble, but with dedication and a wonderful veterinarian we were able to pull her through. For over two months, everything seemed to be going well, but recently Hope had a relapse and hemorrhaged from her nearly healed wound. She lost so much blood that we feared she would die despite all her successes. We had to rush her to the vet and perform a blood transfusion to save her life yet again. To our astonishment it worked and she has bounced back. Proof you never know what the future will bring, but all you can do is try.

Completely blind but doing well, Hope has since begun her training as the next WRC Ambassador Opossum. Hope has helped the public understand and bond with opossums and will continue to do so with her very own book! Hope’s rescuer, the Good Samaritan who initially found her in the road, was so touched by Hope’s journey and what we do at WRC that she has written and illustrated her first children’s book. “Hope: The Tale of A Blind Possum” by Diane Neas is set to be available this holiday season with a portion of the proceeds going to help the rehabilitation of more animals. Follow us on Facebook or check our website for upcoming “book signings” where Hope will be making her debut! Just remember, “there is always hope!”

PQRSTUV

Winter 2019-20 • www.catsanddogsmagazine.com

Allyson Swanson is a Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator with Wildlife Rehab Center Ltd, 1504 Union Ave. NE, Grand Rapids.

She has been licensed since 2013 but started as a volunteer over sixteen years ago. Since then she has worked with countless species of birds and mammals and has become one of the main local resources for Virginia Opossums. She is also the Center’s Education Coordinator and does presentations with their Educational Ambassador animals. allyson@wildliferehab-center.org – 616-606-5805.

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Piper’s Palace Rescuing kittens

By Janet Vormittag When her 4-year-old cat died last Janaury, Wendee Hofbauer was devastated. She had adopted Piper as a kitten and had fallen in love with the gray and white kitty.

“I had her four short years,” she said. Piper had eaten a string, which punctured her intestines and the damage couldn’t be repaired.

To honor Piper, Wendee decided to start a kitten rescue in her hometown of Zeeland. Piper’s Palace, which is a nonprofit 501c3 organization, opened in July.

Shortly after that a friend introduced her to Chalsey Schmidt. The meeting was magic.

“We were on the same page,” Wendee said.

“We clicked,” said Chalsey who lives in Holland.

Both wanted to rescue kittens, and they held similar beliefs on mandatory spay/neuter and complete health care for kittens in their care.

Chalsey’s journey to rescue started when she was 8 years old. She found a kitten and her mother taught her how to bottle-feed the youngster. “I was in love,” she recalled.

Whenever anyone asked Chalsey what she wanted to do when she grew up, she would say she wanted to rescue cats. And that’s exactly what she has been doing.

Through word-of-mouth she became the go-to person when orphan kittens were found. So far she has bottle-fed 237 kittens.

“It’s tiring. It’s exhausting, but I can’t see my life without kittens,” Chalsey said.

Newborn kittens have to be fed every two hours.

Every week the time between feedings can be increased by an hour.

Chalsey admits letting her babies be adopted is hard.

They’re cautious when approving adoptions. They require veterinarian references, and if the adopter rents, they make sure the landlord is okay with kittens.

“We make sure they go to the best possible home,” she said. Chalsey loves it when adopters send her photographs. “It’s not required, but I always ask if they can send pictures.”

One of the reasons Wendee and Chalsey work with kittens is because they are easier to place. “People like them young, 12 to 14 weeks,” Chalsey said.

All their kittens are vet checked, spayed/neutered, microchipped, have age-appropriate vaccines, treated for fleas/ticks and dewormed.

Veterinarian bills come in faster than donations. Both women spend a lot of their own money to take care of the kittens. Wendee said the hardest thing about running a rescue is financial. “I thought it would be easier,” she admitted.

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Chalsey Schmidt, left, and Wendee Hofbauer, founder of Piper’s Palace, with kittens available for adoption.

They took in six kittens with genetic heart defects who have a life expectancy of 6 to 18 months. So far two have died. Three of the remaining kittens will live out their natural lives with Wendee. One is with Chalsey.

Piper’s Palace has partnered with PetSmart in Holland where they do adoptions the first weekend of each month.

Long-term goals for Piper’s Palace include having a building and a spay/neuter program.

“No one should be breeding cats when they can get perfect cat off the street,” Chalsey said.

For more information on Piper’s Palace visit piperspalace.wixsite.com/kitten or follow them on Facebook.

Some of Piper’s Palace’s kittens. www.catsanddogsmagazine.com • Winter 2019-20

This page paid for by Clock Timeless Pets!

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www.catsanddogsmagazine.com • Winter 2019-20

Presents for Pets ”Twas the night before Christmas at the animal shelter, the dogs were asleep, tired from their helterskelter. Their stockings were hung from the cages with care, in hopes that Santa Claus would find them all there. The dogs were all snoring and snug in their beds, while visions of doggy treats danced in their heads…”

It’s that time of year again! The Holiday season is a busy time for everyone with decorations, get-togethers and gift exchanges. We at Sleepy Hollow want to make sure that the Holiday cheer is spread to the four legged members of the community as well! That’s why in 2012 we began our annual “Presents for Pets” campaign!

Presents for Pets was created for the homeless pets and animals in need in West Michigan by the Staff of Sleepy Hollow Pet Cemetery & Crematory. We at Sleepy Hollow have a passion for the homeless pets, shelter animals and injured wildlife and want to make a difference this holiday season! We are blessed to

Winter 2019-20 • www.catsanddogsmagazine.com

have our own rescue kids at home, all of various breeds, sizes, shapes and health conditions. We would like to see all animals in the community experience a wonderful Holiday as if they were our own.

There is a great need in West Michigan for this type of holiday campaign. With similar collection drives for children and families available, there is no campaign designed to help the animal rescues, shelters and wildlife during the holiday season; thus, the birth of Presents for Pets. Our goal is to collect as many items as possible for distribution to various rescues, shelters and wildlife organizations in our community. That’s where you come in!

Take a copy of our wish list with you during your Holiday shopping. Pick out any of the needed items and then visit our website at www.presentsforpets.net and find a drop off location near you! We will then take all the collected items and distribute them amongst the local shelters in need! Help us make an animal’s holiday “furry and bright”!

See ad on page 24

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Humane Society of West Michigan gets new director

By Janet Vormittag For nine years Holly Guild worked at the Capital Area Humane Society in Lansing. When a recruiter contacted her about a job opening in Grand Rapids, she decided to apply.

Holly was hired as the executive director at the Humane Society of West Michigan.

She started August 26.

“There aren’t a lot of shelters I would have left that job for, but this was one of them,” she said. “I’m super excited to be here.” She was pleasantly surprised by the support given to the humane society by the people of Grand Rapids. “It’s a philanthropic community and they love animals.”

Holly replaced Trudy Ender who left to become the executive director at Susan G. Komen, Michigan.

Holly said the Capital Area Humane Society is similar in size, budget and staffing to the Humane Society of West Michigan.

HSWM has 47 employees, some of them part-time. It operates with a $2.3 million budget.

One of the first things Holly did was have a staff meeting where she asked everyone to write down suggestions for improvement on Post-it Notes. One wall of her office is covered with the yellow slips of paper, which are divided into five categories including staffing, programs and culture. Her goal is to develop a strategic plan for the humane society. She would love it to become a resource for anything pet related.

Holly said she has seen a lot of changes over the years in shelters. She recalls a time when puppies were euthanized for space.

“Now it’s rare to get a litter of puppies,” she said.

To meet the demand for puppies, some shelters and rescues will go to high-kill shelters in the southern states and bring litters back to Michigan. Holly said the south is about 20 years behind many of the northern states when it comes to spaying and neutering pets.

She said while there aren’t many unplanned litters of puppies in Michigan, the same isn’t true with kittens.

“Part of the problem is society doesn’t value cats as much as they do dogs,” she said.

Holly also believes in trap-neuter-return (TNR) of cats, where feral or outside cats are live-trapped, spayed or neutered, and then returned to where they were caught.

“We struggle with people who don’t agree with TNR,” she said.

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Humane Society of West Michigan’s new Executive Director Holly Guild with owner surrendered 8-year-old Rosco who is sharing her office because he is stressed when in the kennel.

She said the overpopulation of cats seems daunting and overwhelming but she reminds herself that it was once that way with dogs.

“Education is key,” she said. The humane society holds programs for children with the hope kids will grow up with a mindset of being responsible pet owners.

Holly grew up on a farm and was involved with 4-H, showing horses, rabbits, goats and sheep at local fairs.

She is a licensed veterinarian technician having worked at Michigan State University’s Veterinary Medical Center and has experience with large and small animals.

“My heart is definitely in animal welfare,” she said.

Humane Society of West Michigan, 3077 Wilson Drive NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49534 616-453-8900 - www.hswestmi.org

AMPB www.catsanddogsmagazine.com • Winter 2019-20

Is Michigan No-Kill?

By Julie Steffen, founder of Mosh Pit Rescue, a homebased rescue in Grand Rapids, MI. If you were on social media in September 2019, you likely saw the headline, “Michigan has become a no kill state for animal shelters.” Countless people immediately reacted by hitting like or share. Many others commented “yay” or “about time.”

As the smoke cleared, Mosh Pit Rescue realized some people didn’t fully understand what this headline and designation really meant. Misconceptions flew around the Internet ranging from “no kill is zero kill” to “I can now surrender my pet and it will be safe” to “no kill is the law now.”

The term no-kill is incredibly confusing. No-kill means that 90% of intake animals leave the shelter alive, either via adoption, return to owner, or transfer to another shelter. Said another way, no-kill means up to 10% of animals that enter the shelter can be euthanized for any legitimate or illegitimate reason, including lack of space.

The biggest misconception about the no-kill designation for shelter animals is what an Animal Shelter means. Animal Shelter includes all municipal shelters and any private rescue with a physical facility. This means every humane society and private rescue with a building is included. Private rescues are generally not open intake, meaning they do not have to take in every stray and owner-surrendered animal. Private rescues can pick only adoptable animals to bring into their programs and refuse animals when their capacity is full. These private rescues do wonderful rescue work, which should be celebrated, but their ability to cherry pick animals makes them incomparable to the government-run, open intake shelters.

Shelters included in the no-kill designation do not include home-based rescues where foster pets live in people’s homes as temporary pets. When a home-based rescue pulls a dog out of a municipal shelter, it counts as an adoption for that shelter.

The pressure to become a no-kill shelter can influence decisions such as lowering adoption standards to move more animals, transferring to rescues that are not reputable, adopting out animals with behavior problems to avoid euthanasia, and categorizing domestic cats as feral when they should be homed. When pressured for a 10% or lower kill rate becomes the goal over animal welfare, no-kill shelters become a victory on paper only.

An additional concern is the lack of accountability over the numbers shelters report. Shelters self-report their kill numbers. Who is checking to make sure shelters are not manipulating numbers? Who verifies that all rescue transfers really happened? Who verifies that all Winter 2019-20 • www.catsanddogsmagazine.com

owner-requested euthanasia is really by owner request? It would be amazingly easy to fake a rescue transfer form or forge an owner request form.

Mosh Pit Rescue pulls dogs out of kill shelters and no-kill shelters.

A no-kill label does not equate to humane treatment of animals. For example, the Kent County Animal Shelter is a kill shelter on the upswing. The animals at KCAS receive sufficient vet care, are on heartworm prevention, are on flea/tick prevention, and vaccines are properly boosted. Animals are spayed and neutered in a timely manner.

A different West Michigan shelter Mosh Pit pulls from is a no-kill shelter. Animals there are not sufficiently or accurately vetted, are not on heartworm prevention or even heartworm tested, are not on flea/tick prevention, and vaccines are never boosted. Spays and neuters happen sometimes months after an animal has entered the shelter. Mosh Pit has pulled animals from this nokill shelter with visible fleas, untreated heartworm, kennel cough, bladder stones, skin issues, dental issues, hydrometra, bladder infections, ear infections, and every kind of worms.

Instead of labeling shelters based on numbers on a piece of paper, consider the humanity shown to animals in that shelter, examine the creativity that goes into adoption programming, look at the vet treatment of animals, even when vetting them requires extra time, effort, and money, and recognize community involvement and fundraising efforts.

No-kill must be more than numbers.

No-kill should be an attitude where animal lives matter and care is humane.

----------------------------------------------------------Earlier this year, the Michigan Pet Fund Alliance announced a statewide average live-release rate of 90 percent which they claim makes Michigan a no-kill state.

According to Nathan Winograd, the founder of the No Kill Advocacy Center, the 90 percent standard is too low.

There are 36 shelters in Michigan that have liverelease rates below 90 percent. Lake County euthanized 73 percent cats brought into the county shelter. Cass County euthanized 70 percent of their cats. Berrien County euthanized 70 percent of their cats. St. Clair County euthanized 53 percent of their cats.

The Michigan Humane Society handles more dogs than any other agency in Michigan. In 2018, they euthanized one out of every three dogs.

The 90 percent live-release rate is a wonderful milestone but it doesn’t make Michigan no-kill. Too many cats and pit bull type dogs are still being euthanized. Until those killings are stopped, Michigan is not no-kill.

Janet Vormittag, Cats and Dogs Magazine Cats and Dogs -27

Community Resource Guide Cemeteries

Pet Boarding/Sitters

Clock Timeless Pets 1469 Peck St., Muskegon, MI 49441 231-722-3721 - www.clocktimelesspets.com

Canine Country Club In-home pet sitting and dog walking 231-755-3230

Noah’s Pet Cemetery & Crematory 2727 Orange Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 616-949-1390 – noahspc@comcast.net www.noahspetcemetery.com

Dogs Bay Inc Boarding, daycare, grooming, CBD products 3675 64th St., Holland 49423 or 3225 132nd Ave., Holland, 49424 616-218-4493 – dogsbayinc@gmail.com – www.dogsbay.net

Sleepy Hollow Pet Cemetery 2755 64th St. SW, Byron Center, MI 49315 616-538-6050 – www.sleepyhollowpc.com info@sleepyhollowpc.com

Pet Villa – Lodging, Daycare, Grooming 3934 3 Mile Road NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49534 616-735-3191 – pvpetvilla@gmail.com www.thepetvilla.com

Feral Cat Support Services A Feral Haven Supporting feral/community cats in Ottawa and Allegan Counties by loaning live traps, and providing spay/neuter vouchers and food. http://www.aferalhavenmi.org – 616-399-1774 a.feral.haven.mi@gmail.com

Humane Societies/Shelters Allegan County Animal Shelter 2293 33rd Street, Allegan, MI 49010 269-686-5112 - www.petfinder.com/shelters/MI299.html Harbor Humane Society 14345 Bagley Street (at US 31), West Olive, MI 49460 616-399-2119 - www.harborhumane.org Humane Society of West Michigan 3077 Wilson Drive NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49534 616-453-8900 - www.hswestmi.org Ionia County Animal Shelter 3853 Sparrow Drive, Ionia, MI 48846 616-527-9040 - www.petfinder.com/shelters/MI342.html Kent County Animal Shelter 740 Fuller Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616-632-7300 - www.accesskent.com/kcas Pound Buddies Animal Shelter & Adoption Center 1300 East Keating Ave., Muskegon, MI 231-724-6500 - www.poundbuddies.org

Grooming Doggie Paws Brenda Christensen 410 E Division St, Sparta, MI 49345 616-887-7060 – brendasilverleaf@yahoo.com www.doggie-paws.com

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The Cat’s Meow Loving Home Care For Your Cat Jeanine Buckner, veterinary assistant - 616-481-6878

Pet In-Home Hospice Heaven at Home Pet Hospice In-home pet hospice, palliative pet care and euthanasia for companion animals 616-498-1316 – doc@pethospicevet.com www.pethospicevet.com

Pet Services Pleasant Hearts Pet Food Pantry Helping keep pets and families together since 2016 info@pleasantheartspetfoodpantry.org www.pleasantheartspetfoodpantry.org 1539 Taylor Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505

Pet Training Paradigm Dog School Professional dog training 616-886-4214 – paradigmds@gmail.com www.paradigmdogschool.com Wolf Song Enterprises, LLC Animal behavior consulting, Animal training, Animal talent Wolfsongenterprises@gmail.com – 231-744-7141

Rescue Groups Bellwether Harbor P.O. Box 475, 7645 West 48th St., Fremont, MI 49412 231-924-9230 - www.bellwetherharbor.org BestPals Animal Rescue Center 13888 Blair St., Holland, MI 49424 Call for appointment, 616-212-3368 www.bestpalsarc.wix.com – bestpalsarc@gmail.com

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Community Resource Guide Cannonsville Critters Helping cats in Montcalm County Michelle Hocking, 989-287-2553 Carol’s Ferals Trap-Neuter-Return and Adoption 616-560-0555 – www.carolsferals.org Crash’s Landing Cat Rescue & Placement Center No-kill, Non-profit 501(c) organization 616-821-6065 - www.crashslanding.org Hearts of Hope Dog Rescue Until there are none, rescue one 616-366-8455 - rescueofhope@gmail.com www.rescueofhope.com

Mackenzie’s Animal Sanctuary ‘A home along the way’ for dogs in need.

Adopt - Volunteer - Donate 8935 Thompson Rd. Lake Odessa, MI 48849 www.mackenzies.info Muskegon Humane Society - a no kill, non-profit shelter 2640 Marquette Ave., Muskegon, MI 49442 231-773-8689 - www.muskegonhumanesociety.org Pet Tales Rescue A non-profit, volunteer, foster-based, all-breed dog/cat rescue.

Kathy Brown, P.O. Box 88084, Kentwood, MI 49518 616-446-1591 – pettalesrescueboard@gmail.com www.pettalesrescue.com – www.facebook.com/pettalesrescue Reuben’s Room Cat Rescue Jeanine Buckner A no-kill, non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization 616-481-6878 - www.reubensroom.petfinder.com Safe Haven Humane Society P.O. Box 55, Ionia, MI 48846 Fax: 517-579-5948 616-522-1611 – shhspets@hotmail.com – www.shhspets.com Vicky’s Pet Connection www.vickyspetconnection.com West Michigan Ferret Connection Education - Boarding - Adoptions - Rescue Dee Gage, 616-447-2978 - wmfc2001@sbcglobal.net Westie Rescue Michigan Inc A nonprofit volunteer organization providing assistance and foster care for homeless West Highland White Terriers.

Jackie Curtis – 810-632-5477 westierescuemi2@yahoo.com – www.westierescue-mi.com

Spay/Neuter

C-SNIP Dogs. Cats. Spay. Neuter.

1675 Viewpond Dr. SE, Kentwood, MI 49508 616-455-8220 – info@csnip.org www.csnip.org

Specialty Businesses Critter Cottage Adoption/outreach for Vicky’s Pet Connection 7205 Thornapple River Drive SE, Ada, MI 616-682-4855 - www.vickyspetconnection.com Happy Cat Cafe Cat Lounge & Adoption Center 447 S Division, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616-202-4750 – happycatgr@gmail.com www.happycatgr.com.

Kristina VanOss Studio Pet portraits made personal 616-566-2113 – inastateofre@gmail.com Wishbone House Thrift shop and Pet Adoptions 165 Blue Star Highway, Douglas, MI 269-455-5247 – www.wishbonepetrescue.org

Veterinarians Family Friends Veterinary Hospital 6555 28th St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 616-575-6520 – chelsey.rosemeck@familyfriendsvet.com www.familyfriendsvet.com Laketown Cat Hospital 3604 64th Street, Saugatuck, MI 49453 (269)455-5056 mail@laketowncathospital.com www.laketowncathospital.com Quick Fix Veterinary Clinic Offering affordable routine wellness care and spay/neuter services south of Grand Rapids. www.quickfixvet.com

Wildlife Lowell Farm and Wildlife Center 12494 Vergennes St., Lowell, MI 616-885-4223 – www.farmwildlife.org Wildlife Rehab Center 1504 Union Ave. NE, Grand Rapids 616-361-6109 – www.wildlife-rehab-center.org

Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance Managing the Allegan County Animal Shelter P.O. Box 124, Douglas, MI 49406 (800) 475-0776 - www.wishbonepetrescue.org

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Dog Rescue Celebrates Most-Ever Adoptions at 4th Annual Raise the Woof Fundraiser: ‘A Night in Hollywoof’

BISSELL Pet Foundation $40,000 grant will prevent overpopulation by funding spay/neuter efforts

Hearts of Hope Dog Rescue, a local non-profit organization, will host its fourth annual Raise the Woof fundraiser as it celebrates 1,700 adoptions since its beginning.

The event, taking place Nov. 22 at the Stache Bar inside the Intersection, will feature live music by Melissa Dylan, a cash bar, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, and a huge raffle and silent auction with items from businesses and organizations around the community. Additionally, attendees will meet some of the amazing rescue dogs Hearts of Hope is working to save at the event, themed, “A Night in Hollywoof.”

“In effort to kick off 2020 with a strong financial outlook, and the ability for us to save more lives in the coming year, this event is critical for us,” said Janelle McFarlane, Hearts of Hope Dog Rescue founder. “The number of lives we have saved has increased nearly 30 percent since last year, so we have set an ambitious goal to raise $20,000 at this year’s benefit. Think of it as $20k for 2020!”

Raise the Woof has served as the organization’s staple event to increase awareness for the rescue and raise funds to help animals in need for the last four years. Hearts of Hope is on par to adopt out more than 300 dogs in 2019—the most the organization has done in one year.

But with more adoptions, comes more medical expenses.

The organization’s total expenses in 2018 climbed more than $100,000, with half of those covered by adoption fees. In effort to cover the rest, the group depends on donations and fundraising activities.

To make this benefit a success, Hearts of Hope Dog Rescue has received the support of countless compassionate businesses and organizations in West Michigan though cash donations, as well as items for the event’s auction, raffle and goodie bags. Guests will have the opportunity to take home items ranging from one end of the spectrum to the other, including a Bissell vacuum, professional photo session, a gym membership, among countless other fantastic prizes.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. To purchase tickets or for more information about the event, visit https://rescueofhope.com/raise-the-woof/.

C-SNIP, a nonprofit spay/neuter clinic serving West Michigan, announced it has been awarded a $40,000 grant from the BISSELL Pet Foundation to support its efforts to reduce pet overpopulation, unwanted pets, and shelter admissions that result from accidental litters.

The BISSELL Pet Foundation’s grant to C-SNIP will help provide 1372 spay/neuter surgeries for at-risk dogs and cats living with owners experiencing financial challenges. A recent report published by the United Way of Michigan found in 2017 that 37% of working families in Kent County were unable to afford basic needs. These same individuals are also unable to afford the regular fees to spay/neuter their beloved dog and/or cat. The Individual Assistance Fund at C-SNIP allows the organization to adjust its spay/neuter fees to a price the pet owner can afford. Grant funds from BISSELL Pet Foundation will be used by C-SNIP to subsidize those spay/neuter fees for those who need some extra financial assistance.

“At C-SNIP, we believe that pets strengthen and enhance families. We also believe that every pet owner should have access to affordable, basic veterinary care, especially spay and neuter surgery. BISSELL Pet Foundation understands the preventative power of spay/ neuter and has been a long-time supporter of C-SNIP. Thanks to this 2019 grant, C-SNIP can continue to make spay/neuter affordable and prevent future accidental litters,” said Sharon Caldwell-Newton, C-SNIP’s Executive Director.

Since 2001, C-SNIP spayed/neutered over 174,000 dogs and cats.

Hearts of Hope Dog Rescue, established in 2011, is a network of volunteer foster families in the Grand Rapids area who are committed to saving the lives of unwanted dogs of all backgrounds. Learn more at www. rescueofhope.com.

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C-SNIP is a a charitable 501(c)(3) non-profit veterinary clinic focused on spay/neuter surgery for dogs and cats.

We offer spay/neuter surgeries to both individual pet owners and to local rescue organizations. We perform 50–70 spay/neuter surgeries per day. We also offer vaccines, microchips, and flea treatment at the time of surgery and during outreach vaccine clinics. Grants and charitable donations allow us to subsidize our fees even further when an owner has a financial hardship.

BISSELL Pet Foundation is a charitable 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to help reduce the number of animals in shelters through pet adoption, spay/neuter programs, microchipping and foster care.

The foundation is supported by generous donors and BISSELL Homecare, Inc. Up to $25 for every pet product purchased helps fund the foundation’s mission. For more information about BISSELL Pet Foundation, visit www. bissellpetfoundation.org. www.catsanddogsmagazine.com • Winter 2019-20

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