THECONNECTION May 23, 2019 - Issue 8

DACC UPDATE By Senior Vice President and Chief Mission Officer, Doug Plant

Detroit Animal Care and Control (DACC) has been in the news recently for issues related to its animal care practices resulting from very limited resources. Given that DACC is a founding member of the Metro Detroit Coalition (along with MHS, Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit, Michigan Anti- Cruelty Society and All About Animals), our commitment is to support coalition partners whenever they have need. I thought it would be helpful to discuss how MHS has been, and will be, working with DACC to assist in minimizing the problems it faces working in a very challenging environment.

For context, in 2018, MHS transferred in 265 and from DACC to assist with overcrowding and special needs. We did so fairly routinely as did other organizations. So far in 2019, we have transferred only 12 animals despite our efforts to be willing to do so not just when there is an urgent need. Additionally, last year, we routinely sterilized dogs from DACC (at little or no cost) while this year almost no appointments have been scheduled by them. We also responded to several medical issues when they were unable to properly treat, addressing complex medical conditions with our skilled medical team. DACC continues to work fairly closely with our Field Services team, and we enjoy a positive relationship in the field.

When the recent negative publicity surfaced, I reached out to Charles Brown, director of DACC, to ask how we could assist going forward. In his response, he noted that he had resigned and his last day was the end of that week. Given this response, we felt it appropriate to elevate the conversation with the City’s administration to determine how we could effectively communicate with and support them. Matt Pepper reached out to our board, who arranged for a meeting with Mayor Duggan’s senior leadership team last week. The outcome was positive and resulted in senior leadership touring the Mackey Center last week to understand our capabilities. They clearly lack an understanding of our medical and behavioral services, our transport assets, our access to the rescue community, and our experienced cruelty/rescue talent despite our repeated attempts to engage their team more fully. The meetings so far have been very positive, and we look forward to future conversations about our shared vision for the animals of Detroit. There is some interest in having our team do an analysis of their shelter practices on cleaning, animal care, adoption and outflow. We have conducted these kinds of assessments in other scenarios and are able to provide a comprehensive report on findings and recommendations to drive change.

We are committed to helping DACC because their animals are our animals. If we have resources to support DACC and the animals of Detroit, it is imperative that we use those resources towards saving more lives. I am committed to keeping our team informed on how things progress. Should you have any interactions with DACC in the coming weeks, please share them with me to help further our conversations.

Q. During the Detroit riots in 1967, what organization provided aid and food for injured animals (Hint: The answer can be found on our website)? TRIVIA Send your answers to [email protected], and the first person to answer correctly gets a free Michigan Humane t-shirt!

1 MICHIGAN HUMANE IS MENTORING By CEO and President, Matt Pepper and Senior Vice President and Chief Mission Officer, Doug Plant

MHS staff will be heading down to Montgomery County, Texas to help their local animal control shelter assess their needs for training, outreach, adoption practices and transport. We were connected to this particular shelter by our friends at HSUS, who will be paying for our team to spend three days learning as much as we can about their strengths and weaknesses. The goal is to provide them with a comprehensive plan of action to improve their operations and develop best practices in animal care. Dr. Kelley Meyers, Dr. Shirene Cece and Jeremy Colborn will be providing the professional consultation services in mid-June. Our plan is to provide follow-up support to this organization and mentor their team going forward. We’re excited to be providing our expertise to organizations who are striving to save more lives.

Why were we chosen? I think we can all be proud of the answer to that question. It’s not bragging to say that MHS is the most impactful animal welfare organization in Michigan. Our work here locally and throughout the state is considered a standard in the industry. In all we do, we emulate best practices and often drive industry standards. That puts us in a position to be a go-to mentor for other animal welfare organizations. We are working as a mentor shelter through the HSUS for Montgomery County because some of our core functions directly match some of the areas this community and this organization has the most opportunity to enhance and improve.

CHANGES IN SHELTERING; NEW RESEARCH REGARDING FIV AND FELINE LEUKEMIA By Medical Director, Dr. Shirene Cece, DVM

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline leukemia are both important viruses in cats that can have devastating consequences. In past years, cats that tested positive for these diseases were euthanized. However, as more research is done, and evidence gathered, attitudes are changing, and a positive test isn’t always a death sentence.

FIV is a virus that attacks the ’s immune system, making it more susceptible to other infections. Cats can live many years before showing symptoms, which can include poor appetite, weight loss, severe dental disease and chronic diarrhea.

Although there is no cure, cats with this disease, can live good quality lives for years, if their condition is managed properly. Recent research regarding transmission to other cats has shown that this disease is actually very difficult to pass from one cat to another. Dr. Litster from Purdue followed several rescues where positive and negative cats lived closely together and found that, the disease was not transmitted from positive to negative cats as long as there were no serious bite wounds. I have included the link below that discusses Dr. Litster’s findings.

With this new information, many shelters including ours have begun to place FIV cats up for adoption and are meeting with success. Adopters are counseled regarding the disease, keeping the cat indoors only and making sure that the cat is monitored closely to ensure any illness is addressed promptly.

This is another way that our shelters are making a difference in the lives of the animals we care for.

Next week we will take a look at Feline Leukemia. http://maddieslifesavingacademy.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Litster-2014-TVJ-Tmission- FIV-cohabiting-cats-2-rescue-shelters.pdf

2 MAKING AN IMPACT By Shelter Medicine Manager, Katie Ouwerkerk

Many times, our jobs can make us feel defeated, exhausted and broken. Sometimes it can feel like no matter what we do, it is just never enough. That day, we made a difference. It was 4:30 on a hectic Friday afternoon, and we spent the whole day on our feet trying to get everything done. In walks a coworker with something unfathomable. It is something most of us had never seen before and something we hope to never see again. He was lying in the arms of a stranger, scared and too tired to fight for anything. He trusted humans, and they let him down. Not one person in that room thought twice in that moment. Each team stepped up and did what needed to be done. It was that moment that watching these teams come together that I remembered why I chose the path I did. Field Services, the shelter and the clinic united together to make sure he knew we wouldn’t fail him again.

There are days when our jobs can seem so separate, and sometimes we don’t understand what the other team does, or why they do what they what they do. In the end, we are one team, fighting for the same goals and values, supporting the same mission. That day and every day we show how powerful we are. I have never been more proud to work with this team than that moment watching all of us come together. As Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

HOW’S IT GOING, LIVINGSTON? By Director of Berman Adoption Center, Megan Ortman

You know by now that Michigan Humane Society is in the process of merging with Humane Society of Livingston County. Soon, this colorful little spot in Howell will be MHS’s fourth facility! Since the merger was announced, we have been embracing some best practices and processes, and building community relationships. I asked our new teammates, “If you could describe our great teamwork in one word, what would it be?” They gave answers like “communication,” “cooperation,” “unity,” and “FUN!” So if you come out for a visit, that is what you will find here! You will also find beautiful scenery (yup, there’s a pond), an interesting basement, and a very bright lobby!

Overall, we are just like the rest of Team MHS…hard-working and happy to be here in service of the people and animals that walk through the door. Change will continue here and so will the organization’s wonderful work that we are grateful to be a part of.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Meet Your Best Friend at the DIA Mutt March in the Park • When: Sunday, August 25 • When: Sunday, June 2 • When: Tuesday, June 25 • Where: Detroit Institute of Arts - Detroit, MI • Where: Edsel & Eleanor Ford House - Grosse • Where: Comerica Park - Detroit, MI Pointe Shores, MI

Kitten Shower Meet Your Best Friend at the Market • When: Saturday, June 15 • When: Sunday, July 14 • Where: Berman Center for • Where: Eastern Market - Detroit, MI Animal Care - Westland, MI

3 Know someone who would be a great fit for the Michigan Humane JOB BOARD team? Check out our job openings at michiganhumane.org/careers

Animal Care and Enrichment Tech Clinic Veterinarian Licensed Veterinary Tech Behavioral Health Service Supervisor Clinic Veterinary Tech Shelter Veterinary Tech Behavioral Health Services Director Custodian Clinic Receptionist Customer Service Representative

FINANCE UPDATE By Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Matt Kubler

Through the first half of the fiscal year 2019, MHS performed better than budget, earning $171.7k compared to an expected loss of $460.7k. The major reasons for this better-than-expected outcome were planned giving donations and a number of positive variances on the expense side, including lower-than-expected animal supplies spending. This outperformance gives us some much needed breathing room as we head into the second half of the year. Generally speaking, donations typically taper off, with the obvious exceptions of the Brunch, Mutt March and the walks in the fall, so it is important to ensure that expenses stay in line with expectations through our busy time of year.

Below is our statement of activities through the end of March 2019:

If you ever have questions about financials, please feel free to reach out to Matt Kubler at [email protected]

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