How MHS is Creating 'Healthy Pet Communities'
Adoption, Lost Pet & Sterilization Programs:
Keys to Ensuring a Home for All Pets

Eight years ago, Michigan Humane Society President and CEO Cal Morgan made a bold proclamation: By 2010, MHS would find homes for 100% of its healthy (adoptable) dogs and cats. While this might seem a lofty goal - and, indeed, it is unprecedented for a large, open-admission organization - with current adoption rates at 98% for dogs and 99% for cats, MHS is confident that it will be able to reach its goal by year’s end while advancing additional programs to help end animal suffering.

To make this milestone adoption goal a reality, the Michigan Humane Society continually seeks new ways to positively impact the lives of thousands of animals in need. Most recently, MHS introduced a package of new programs designed to further the organization’s efforts in creating “Healthy Pet Communities” - that is, a “safety net” in which organizations and community members collaborate in addressing the three predominant issues in ending pet homelessness: Adoption, Lost Pets and Spay/Neuter. As the largest animal welfare organization in Michigan, and touching the lives of more than 100,000 animals each year, MHS must be at the forefront of these efforts to create a stronger support system for animals in crisis.

“The concept of a healthy pet community is one in which major companion animal issues, like adoption, identification and sterilization are accepted and widespread, and responsibility for the well-being of our pets is understood and embraced,” Morgan says. “While the needs of our community are diverse and our challenges great, the Michigan Humane Society stands on the verge of achieving 100% adoption of healthy dogs and cats - a tremendous victory and one key element on the journey to ending animal homelessness.”

Adoption Program Innovations
Adopting a pet from the Michigan Humane Society has always been an exciting, memorable and worthwhile endeavor, but now it’s become even more financially rewarding.

On March 29, MHS launched two exciting adoption-based programs that add even more value to what is already the best option available when finding a furry family member.

MHS Alumni Club:
As a prestigious alumnus of the Michigan Humane Society, the adopted dog, cat or other companion animal, and his or her guardians are automatically entitled to a host of valuable benefits at absolutely no additional cost under the new MHS Alumni Club.

The benefits include a 10% discount on MHS veterinary center services and products for the newly adopted pet; 10% off Camp Bow Wow camp and in-home care (Home Buddies) services; 10% off MHS Online Store purchases; a subscription to MichigAnimals, and other special offers. The new pet is eligible for these exclusive benefits for 12 months post-adoption, which can add up to tremendous savings!

60-Day Adoption Guarantee:
In addition to a new best friend and a great adoption package, MHS adopters go home with the peace of mind that they now share their home with the very best companion available, guaranteed! And, if the adopter feels otherwise, for any reason, they are encouraged to return the pet to MHS for a full adoption-fee refund (within 60 days).

“We have the ability to offer such assurances because of our confidence in the high-quality care services and investment in each companion animal inclusive of our matchmaking process,” says Mike Robbins, director of marketing and communications for MHS. “We apply extensive resources to ensure that the animals entrusted to our care are physically and emotionally ready to become wonderful companions.”

Identification for every pet is essential to saving more lives. MHS now includes no-cost microchipping with its feline adoptions.

Helping Lost Pets Get Home
Losing a beloved pet is devastating, and it can happen to even the most cautious of pet guardians - an estimated one in three pets become lost at some point in their lives, and the vast majority lacking any form of identification will never be reunited with their families. That is why MHS is diligently working to educate everyone who shares their home with companion animals on what they can do to maximize the chances of finding a lost pet.

Providing pets with visible ID is critical. In addition to providing a “ticket home,” it encourages neighbors to come to your pet’s rescue quickly, before he travels far from home - or worse, is stolen or hit by a car. Dogs and cats (even strictly indoor cats) should wear a collar and ID tag/license, as required in your community, at all times.

MHS also strongly encourages dog and cat microchipping, which provides permanent ID should the pet’s collar or tag fall off. The minimal cost, approximately $50, is well worth the peace of mind. To help save lives since only a tiny fraction of lost cats brought to shelters are reclaimed, MHS now includes no-cost microchipping with all of its feline adoptions.

It’s critical to begin searching for a lost pet right away. But one must also know where to look - or where to take an animal they’ve found. Helping get lost animals back home saves lives. To that end, MHS believes it’s crucial for people to have one centralized location to search for their lost companions. For the best chance of reuniting a stray pet with his guardian, found animals should be transported to the appropriate municipal animal control shelter or its designated sheltering organization.

In 2009, MHS launched an online tool, dubbed the ePole, with the hope of dramatically increasing the number of lost pets who are reunited with their families. The ePole functions like a virtual telephone pole for public use. Those who lose a pet, and those who find a lost pet, can make contact, 24 hours a day. To post a lost or found pet online, or for other helpful resources, visit www.michiganhumane.org/lost.

Spay/Neuter to Save Lives
To be effective in the long term, adoption and lost pet efforts must, of course, be paired with programs that get to the root of the problem - too many homeless pets.

In March 2008, MHS launched an aggressive, low-cost feline sterilization program that would add significant incremental impact to the already 12,000-plus annual dog and cat sterilization surgeries it performs through its adoption and veterinary services. In the first two years of the program, more than 8,000 low-cost sterilization surgeries were performed for the pets of qualifying low-income guardians. Plans are to expand this program to a five-days-per-week operation with a goal to sterilize 8,000 animals annually.

Since one cat, her mate and their subsequent offspring can produce more than 300,000 homeless cats in seven years, each of the resulting sterilizations represents the prevented suffering of numerous innocent lives. Not only that, it also helps animal welfare groups place the adoptable animals already waiting patiently for a second chance at a loving home.

Creating happy endings is at the center of every MHS program.

Everyone Plays a Role
While MHS takes a leadership role in the vision and advancement of healthy pet communities, the fact is that humane organizations, individual citizens and local governments must work collaboratively to make our communities safer for the companion animals who depend on us fully. As momentous an achievement as it will be for MHS to reach 100% adoption of healthy animals in 2010, this represents only part of the journey to establishing healthy pet communities. One thing is certain - the journey cannot continue without your support!

How You Can Help
Think adoption first when considering adding a pet to your family.  Ensure that your pets are spayed/neutered and have up-to-date identification at all times.  Stay informed and vocal about your community’s progress on companion animal issues. Register for MHS’ free e-newsletters at www.michiganhumane.org. To donate visit www.michiganhumane.org/donate.