THECONNECTION April 12, 2019 - Issue 2

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION WEEK By Katie Franklin, Director of Volunteer Programs

This is National Volunteer Appreciation Week! We have 2,000 generous volunteers who give their time to shelter maintenance, animal handling, Pawsitive Start training, events, administration, shelter and clinic medicine, the pet food pantry, humane education and more. Last year, they collectively worked 55,000 hours! They’re a very important part of our team, so this week (and every week!) please express your gratitude whenever you see a volunteer. We thank them weekly in our volunteer newsletter, in the shelters with a special volunteer hours served recognition board, and we’re planning a fun summertime picnic event, which we’ll tell you more about in the near future.

We kicked the week off with a volunteer open house last Saturday at our Mackey facility, where we hosted about 100 people interested in volunteer opportunities with us. We talked about all the ways volunteers can get involved, had a demonstration from the behavior department, and enjoyed decorating dog biscuits.

This week, we’re participating in a local reciprocal volunteer program with 27 other nonprofit organizations. Our volunteers are eligible to take advantage of offers such as free zoo admissions, free park and museum entry to a variety of locations around Detroit, and more. Volunteers from the other organizations are eligible to adopt animals from MHS facilities at a 50% discount. Stay tuned next week to hear how many animals got adopted through this program!

NEW HIRES Welcome to the Michigan Humane Team!

Charly Hahnke, Animal Care and Enrichment Associate Sarah Henry, Animal Care and Enrichment Associate Savannah II, Veterinary Technician Diane Klimowixz, Custodian Chantal Lassila, Customer Service Representative Kylie Lyerla, Customer Service Representative Silvia McFarland, Facility Administrator Faye Meyers, Animal Care and Enrichment Associate Ansley Moffatt, Customer Service Representative Landon Moffatt, Customer Service Representative Stephanie Noble, Assistant Manager Melissa Sanger, Licensed Veterinary Technician

Q. What year was the Michigan Humane Society Founded? TRIVIA Send your answer to [email protected]. The first person to answer correctly gets a free Michigan Humane t-shirt!

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TheConnectionIssue 4.11.indd 1 4/11/19 4:16 PM PET PANTRY By Becki Kenderes, Volunteer Programs Manager

The Michigan Humane Society’s Pet Pantry program, out of our Detroit warehouse, provides free pet food, supplies, straw and sterilizations/vaccinations to low-income pet owners in need. Last Spring, we transitioned the program from Community Programs to the Volunteer Department. This opportunity has brought many new and exciting changes to the program.

We serve about 1,000 households per month, including 2,300 dogs and 1,700 cats, nearly doubling the households we serve. Each month, we distribute around 30,000 lbs of free food! This comes to us from a variety of donors, including individuals, Purina and Forgotten Harvest.

The Volunteer Department has increased volunteer presence at the Pet Pantry program. We’ve expanded opportunities for volunteers and have opened oppor- tunities for corporate groups. We now engage seven regular volunteers per week who assist with bagging straw, issuing vouchers, processing client applica- tions, distributing food and managing our free store.

2019 marked the opening of the Pet Pantry free store, which is entirely comprised of donated items. Clients can browse our racks and shelves for any additional items such as grooming supplies, collars, leashes, bedding, treats, etc. Our clients love the new addition and our volunteers enjoy restocking it every day.

The renovation of the interior of our warehouse was a big change that took place this year. Our Maintenance Department worked to tear down walls, rebuild floors and patch ceilings to create a proper lobby and multi-purpose room for our clients and staff. We’ve streamlined the check-in process for clients by creating a “one stop shopping” experience through this renovation.

If you’re interested in shadowing for a day or scheduling a tour, please get permission from your supervisor and reach out to Pet Pantry Manager Becki Kenderes at [email protected]. ,

THANK YOU!

Thank you all for continuing to stick to the talking points that were sent out earlier this month regarding the retired research animals. As representatives of MHS, please continue to limit communication about these dogs and remember that representing MHS extends to personal social media accounts and even personal conversations. If you have any questions or need clarification, please feel free to reach out to Tom Varitek at [email protected] or Andy Bissonette at abissonette@ michiganhumane.org

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TheConnectionIssue 4.11.indd 2 4/11/19 4:16 PM UPCOMING EVENTS

Purrfect Bow Wow Brunch: 2019 Furball • When: Sunday, April 28 • When: Saturday, May 18 • Where: Cobo Center - Detroit, MI • Where: Crystal Gardens - Howell, MI

Protect-A-Pet Clinic Bark in the Park • When: Sunday, May 5 • When: Tuesday, May 21 • Where: Balduck Park - Detroit, MI • Where: Comerica Park - Detroit, MI

Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo • When: Friday and Saturday, May 17 & 18 • Where: Detroit Zoo - Royal Oak, MI

CONSTRUCTION CORNER

Call Center staff started the week in their new office space at the Berman Center at Westland. This space consolidates the team into one location in the back area of the building and will allow room for future growth. Their move marks the culmination of over a year of planning and cross-training among Call Center team members. Special thanks to Alicia Bennett for help planning the space, and to Larry Wilhelm and Eric Wilhelm for their valuable assistance with converting the area!

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

Annual Fund Associate Custodian - Westland Licensed Veterinary Technician Clinic Receptionist - Rochester Hills Customer Service Rep - Detroit Mission Support Services Coordinator Clinic Veterinary Technician Customer Service Rep - Petco Volunteer Programs Coordinator Custodian - Detroit Customer Service Rep - Westland Custodian - Rochester Hills Domestic Animal Trainer

INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING CONTENT FOR THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE CONNECTION? SEND YOUR SUGGESTIONS TO [email protected]

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