It’s no surprise that animal shelters are full houses, especially the Humane
Society in Ann Arbor, with an astonishing number of 425 pets, 185 of which are enrolled in foster programs. The high numbers of those available for adoption will decrease as the holiday season comes upon us, but what about raising awareness for our furry friends the rest of the year?
Adoption is incredibly important, especially around the holidays when pets are being given as gifts. Not only does it discourage shopping and puppy mills, but it helps out the many older dogs and cats in need of a home — such as Gopher and Leona of the Humane Society —who may be outshone by the kittens and puppies. Leona (the longest cat) has been with the shelter since September of 2024, and is now 15 years old. Gopher, on the other hand, has been with the shelter since August of 2024, though he is only around two and a half. Jennifer Barrett, the Lead Humane Educator of the Humane Society, said Leona and Gopher definitely had a difficult time getting adopted. “A dog like him needs a lot of direct care and time,” she stated in regards to Gopher. Barrett also shared a bit about Leona’s story, “She was originally surrendered because she definitely didn’t get along in a house with other cats.”
Senior pets such as these two are a part of the “Gold Hearts Club” — a group of the animals that have resided at the shelter for at least four weeks. Barrett also discussed the different programs/services The Human Society offers, including vet services, animal rescue, a pet food pantry, Bountiful Bowls, and Friends For Life, which all provide assistance to those in need who may be unable to care for their pets any longer. “All of these teams are kind of united with the goal of helping animals in the community,” Barrett claimed.
Some people may wonder why anyone would voluntarily surrender their pet. Barret expressed that it’s not uncommon for owners to “Not be able to care for the animals…a lot of times [owners are] not being prepared for how much is needed.” She said that overpopulation at the shelter was its greatest challenge because of just how many animals needed care.
The Humane Society is always taking donations as simple as extra towels and blankets for kennel use, cleaning, and more. Additionally, they have Amazon and Chewy wish lists, which can be accessed on their website (hshv.org) under the ‘Wishlist’ category. If you are not interested in donating, however, there are still ways you can contribute to help out the shelter, including volunteering, fostering, bringing awareness to the pets, attending programs, and even attending the 5k that they host in the spring. This can all be accomplished by contacting the Humane Society’s website.
If you’re at all thinking about adopting a pet from a shelter for the upcoming holidays, pet owners should know that the transition can be difficult. “Animals have an adjustment period,” Barrett stated.
She then discussed the 3-3-3 rule for a newly adopted pet; that is, three days to decompress, three weeks for the animal to learn the routine of the household and begin to settle down, and three weeks for it to feel like a genuine home for the pet. “It’s something that’s really important to understand,” Barrett said, “especially around the holidays.” She also stated that it is best to ensure animals have a safe, quiet area when they are first being introduced, although she acknowledged that can be hard around the holidays.
Barrett was thrilled at the thought of bringing awareness to the Humane Society and at the prospect of finding the pets their forever homes where they can experience what might be their very first big gathering or holiday.
Although she cautions against blindly adopting an animal, she is encouraging to those who are willing to research and give the best life they can to their future pet. As the winter season dawns on us, consider smart adoption and/or donating to help out the Humane Society. Both they and their animals will appreciate the love and concern!