PET PROTECTOR INGHAM COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER FUND | DECEMBER 2017 NEW SHELTER PLANS PROGRESSING Groundbreaking Expected in Spring 2017 Plans for the new shelter for Ingham County Animal building and will have many features to ensure the health Control are taking shape. The new shelter, funded and well-being of the animals, including indoor/outdoor by a millage passed by Ingham County voters and kennels for some of the dogs, larger cat enclosures, and supplemented with donations, will be built near the modern air handling to reduce spread of diseases. The current shelter on the Sheriff’s Department campus in shelter will also be designed to provide better service Mason. The shelter will be located by the District Court to the citizens of Ingham County with separate areas building and Drain Commission office on the north end of for guests adopting and those relinquishing animals or the County property. Keeping the shelter on this County reclaiming lost pets. complex saved the expense of purchasing land, provides good access to maintenance and other County Services While there is still a lot of work to be done before the and provides the shelter with excellent security. ribbon is cut on the new shelter, we are well on our way to having a great new facility for the animals and citizens of The architecture and construction management team has Ingham County. been diligently working with shelter and other County staff on planning for the new facility. The floor plan for the shelter is very near completion as the architects refine each version of the plan, incorporating input from the shelter staff. As this schematic design phase reaches completion, design development is ramping up and specific materials, finishes, furnishings, and mechanical systems are being selected and designed. Ground-breaking on the new shelter is expected to happen in the spring of 2017 and construction should take approximately 10 months. The new shelter will be more modern and efficient than the current 45 year old BISSELL EMPTY THE SHELTER EVENT October 14th, 2017 On October 14th, ICAC was one of over 75 shelters Another difference between this event and the previous in Michigan that participated in the highly anticipated spring event was that we had a lot of kittens available for “Empty the Shelter” event, which was sponsored by adoption this time. Adopters found it hard to resist their Bissell Pet Foundation. During these events, Bissell bright eyes and playful antics as they showed off their Pet Foundation covers the adoption fees for qualified best games. Our older, more mature cats were also on adopters, and provides each newly adopted pet with a their best behavior, purring in laps and “head-butting” starter kit that includes food, treats, toys and some home everyone in sight. cleaning products. At the end of the day, although our shelter was not The day started out slow due to a downpour of rain; completely empty, we still knew that we were part of a however, once the doors opened, people kept coming in bigger picture – across the state of Michigan, the Bissell Pet and checking out the adoptable animals. At the end of the Foundation had helped create a significant “win” in helping day, eight dogs and eighteen cats had found new homes thousands of shelter animals find new homes. and people to love them. Lots of caffeine and doughnuts and pizza fueled our rockstar volunteers while they slogged through the rain to make sure every adoptable dog was shown off to potential adopters. The volunteers who have participated in these events have said that it is one of the best ways to spend a volunteer day, since they know the event has such a big impact on the animals. DOG HOUSE PROGRAM The Ingham County Animal Control Dog House Program is Weather professionals are predicting that this will be a more our way of helping pet owners with outside dogs through severe winter than last year, so we are preparing for more the winter. Each year ICAC supplies twenty to thirty residents families in need. At this point there are about 30 dog houses with dog houses to make sure their pets have proper shelter. donated or promised to the program; depending on the Unfortunately this year going into fall, ICAC didn’t have any requests this year, we may have already met our minimum dog houses to start the season with, so ICAC reached out to goal, but the more houses and resources we have, the more the community, and there was an overwhelming response! families we can help! Dog houses were being donated across the mid-Michigan area; staff and volunteers were kept busy driving a shelter Thank you to all of our great community members who van near and far, picking up dog houses that citizens were have helped, and continue to help, to make this program a willing to donate; people were also bringing them to the success! BISSELL EMPTY THE SHELTER EVENT shelter in Mason and to the Outreach Center in Lansing. October 14th, 2017 Some generous donors made monetary contributions to purchase new dog houses. These newly purchased dog houses come unassembled, so Animal Control Officers will be able to keep one in their vehicle at the ready if they end up at a home in need. Lansing Community College construction framing students also contributed dog houses specifically for this program. These dog houses are huge and (as you can see in the photo) very sturdy. They will last for years at whatever home they end up at. Preuss Pets jumped in to help transport these dog houses to the shelter – it really does take a community! Thanks go to the employees of Preuss Pets for transport of these dog houses! 4TH ANNUAL HALLOWEEN PARTY This past October, we hosted our 4th Annual Halloween Party supporting ICASF, the Heroes and Villains Masquerade Ball. This year was our largest event by far, with nearly 150 shelter supporters dressed as popular heroes and villains from comics and film. The evening included a professional pumpkin carver, a silent auction, a costume contest, and a dance floor that was full throughout the night. The event raised over $7,000 to support the animals at Ingham County Animal Shelter! Guests were treated to unlimited desserts from Bake N' Cakes and Whipped, enjoyed massages from Creative Wellness, and were able to take part in a scavenger hunt to win cool prizes. The party took a crazy turn when shelter mascot, Chippy, broke out of the shelter and convinced the Imperial Force to kidnap the DJ in hopes of getting $100 in ransom to help his shelter friends get vaccines. Thanks to the generous party attendees, Chippy was more than successful, and the DJ was returned unharmed! The party then safely continued with psychic readings, caricature drawings, and signature drinks from American Fifth Spirits. A huge thank you to the planning committee, sponsors, and volunteers that made this event possible. We'll see you next year! HAPPY TALES A HAPPY ENDING FOR MONTY AND NEAPOLITAN MEET MONTY November 6th was a great day at the shelter; two of the longest The staff and term residents of the shelter were adopted. Monty, a big, goofy volunteers didn't give lab mix without any manners to speak of, was one of the two up; they worked with long term residents that had come to the shelter in August. He Monty on his manners was large and had an overwhelming way of greeting people, so and took him on he was quickly passed over. As the weeks went on and the dogs special outings to get around him were adopted, Monty became aloof with potential him more exposure, adopters. They would take him out to the play yard and he would and finally someone wander around by himself. Most people want a dog that shows saw Monty's potential. some interest in them, so they would end up taking a different After 81 days, Monty dog home. It became a vicious cycle where the more Monty was had someone of his passed over, the more aloof he became, which caused him to own! continually be overlooked by potential families. MEET NEAPOLITAN The second special adoption on November 6th was for an even After 146 days at the longer term resident! Neapolitan was a sweet, shy kitty who shelter, Neapolitan came in to the shelter in June with a large group of cats from finally had her forever a hoarding situation. The cats in this group were all given "ice family! We are so cream" names in honor of the beginning of summer, our busiest grateful to the special season of the year. These cats spent a month or so getting healthy people who are willing before becoming available for adoption. The kittens and the more to take a chance on outgoing of the group were adopted fairly quickly, and the shyer adopting the animals ones were adopted slowly over the next couple of months. But that are a little bit more Neapolitan found the shelter to be overwhelming and would hide scared or shy or less at the back of her cage so that few people could see how sweet mannered – each one she was. It wasn't until November 6th that someone saw past her of them deserves a fear and took a chance on her. Her adopter stopped by the shelter happy loving home! several weeks later to let us know that although Neapolitan was still spending part of her time hiding, she was coming around and feeling more at home, and she was purring whenever she would see her adopter.