Michigan Pet Fund Alliance
Newsletter  | February 2014 
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In This Issue
Kroon Grant Recipients
Al-Van Hires New Director
Macomb Shelter Keeps Rescue Groups Informed
Cat FIV
MPFA Donation Opportunities
2014 Michigan Conference
Michigan Animal Welfare Tax Check-off
Michigan Shelters Qualify for $100K Challenge
Four Macomb Communities Forming Inter-local Agreement
Just One Day
Helping Lost Pets
MPFA Mission
Judith Middleton Kroon Grant Recipients

                                                 Holly, Tina, Pearl, Dash and Mr. Bob

What do Holly, Tina, Pearl, Dash, and Mr. Bob have in common? These animals all have been rescued from Michigan shelters by Michigan Certified Rescue organizations. Having arrived at shelters with various medical challenges that shelters often can't deal with,  they have had their medical costs covered in part by the Judith Middleton Kroon grant program. Most are now in adoptive homes, but several are awaiting a new family.  Read their heart-warming stories here.

 

Additional grant funds are available to Certified Rescue organizations. See how your group can benefit from the program here. 

Al-Van Hires New Director

 

Al-Van Humane Society
Al-Van Humane Society in South Haven welcomes new Executive Director Will Anzenberger, who is replacing Cathy Thaler. Al-Van received Michigan Pet Fund Alliance's  Most Improved Open Admission Shelter award for 2012 with a save rate of 63.23%, an exemplary increase from 2011's Save Rate of 18.41%.
 

In September 2013, Thaler announced her retirement. Al-Van's Board of Directors embarked on a 4-month search for her replacement. Based on their strategic plan, which encompasses a no kill commitment and includes a significant expansion to the shelter, they were searching for a candidate with a strong and proven development background. 

Nine candidates applied from across the United States. The selection committee, comprised of Board of Directors members, reviewed, interviewed and vetted potential candidates. The final decision was a unanimous vote by the Board of Directors: Will Anzenberger.

Anzenberger agreed to an email interview with MPFA.

MPFA: How did you find out about the opening? Anzenberger: I found the ad on animalsheltering.org   

MPFA: What attracted you to apply for and/or accept the position?   Anzenberger: I have held two key positions at two well-known animal welfare organizations:  Director of Law & Advocacy at San Francisco SPCA and Development Director at Kauai Humane Society.  I had success at both positions, and I wanted to apply my diverse skillset to lead an organization to financial and mission sustainability.  

MPFA: What challenges are you facing at Al-Van?   Anzenberger: A modest financial reserve and a big goal to achieve at least a 90% save rate at a shelter that needs to expand its capacity to shelter animals.


MPFA: Any specific plans for Al-Van to continue to improve your Save Rate?

Anzenberger:  Expand our foster program, work on pet retention programs and services, partner with area animal control agencies and other shelters, and, ultimately, undergo a capital campaign to provide a larger, more modern facility to serve the communities of Allegan and Van Buren counties. 

 

MPFA: Did you most recently live in Hawaii?  How's the Michigan winter affecting you? 

Anzenberger:  Yes, I was the Development Director for the Kauai Humane Society.  Since I went to grad school at the University of Wisconsin to get my JD/MBA, I actually remember the Midwest as having tougher winters.  I know it has been awhile since SW Michigan has had this type of winter, but the last time I was in the Upper Midwest, it was -93 degrees with the wind-chill.  I did get a bit of shock with my first heating (electric) bill, though.

 

MPFA: Looks like Dexter (pictured here with Anzenberger) may have made the trip from Al-Van Will Anzenberger 2-2014 Hawaii with you; what does HE think of Michigan winter?  Did any other cats or dogs make the trip?

Anzenberger: Dexter, a rescue French bulldog, has known only California and Hawaii weather.  At first, he was loving playing in the snow, but he, like lots of other companion animals and people, is looking forward to warmer weather for sure.  Dexter is one of those dogs that really wants to be the sole animal in the house, so I will respect his wishes.  While I was on the mainland, I did help transport over a dozen animals from Kauai Humane to the East Bay SPCA .

 

Al-Van's Board President Lisa Galdikas indicates that they are delighted to have Anzenberger as part of their team and that he is committed to continuing their no kill efforts.  MPFA wishes Al-Van great success, and encourages readers to follow them on facebook.

 Macomb Shelter Meets with Rescue Groups

Macomb County Animal Control staff holds monthly meetings with local rescue groups to promote communication, collaboration, and ways to save lives of shelter animals.

February's meeting was well attended and covered these topics:  

  • New grant from the Department of Agriculture will be used to develop a specialized academy for cruelty investigation, behavioral assessments, and shelter enrichment. Animal Control Officers and kennel staff will participate and will collaborate with Macomb Community College.
  • Teacher's Pet received a grant and donated a camera and laptop to the shelter
  • Volunteers are increasing and volunteer orientation is being held
  • Calming music is being played in the shelter for the animals
  • Improved levels of care include beds, toys, and blankets
  • Tours for school groups, scouts, etc. stress the responsibility of pet ownership 
    Officer Randazzo Feb 2014
    Macomb County Animal Control Officer Randazzo at February meeting for rescue groups
     
  • Social media is helping improve return to owner statistics
  • Treatable animals are being treated for things like worms, ringworm, etc .
  • New staff and animal control officers will be hired
  • Microchipping of animals will begin after research into microchip options has been completed 
  • Donations are being received and a fundraiser is scheduled 
  • The Michigan Certified Rescue program was presented followed by questions and answers
  • All About Animals presented Shelter Neuter Return (SNR) and provided fact sheets
Managing FIV in Feral Colonies
by Philip A. Douglas, Mid-Michigan Cat Rescue 

 A common question about feral cats is whether or not they present a health risk if they are living in a cat colony. And a fundamental debate that follows from the question is how to manage cats in a colony that may be infected with FIV.

 

Feline immunodeficiency virus, or FIV, is a virus that can bring on feral cats  a number of different health issues in cats since it reduces their immune system and makes them susceptible to other diseases. Though it comes from the same family as human HIV, the virus cannot be transmitted to humans. But the syndrome that sometimes results from the virus is similarly often called feline AIDS.

 

An FIV positive cat may not show any symptoms of disease for many years. A diagnosis is not a death sentence, and many infected cats have lived long and otherwise healthy lives. In fact, it has been determined that 90% of FIV+ cats live perfectly normal lives and never show symptoms at all.  Still, once infected, a cat remains infected for life. And since bite wounds are the primary vehicle for spreading FIV, it is always a good idea to keep your feline friends indoors.

 

Because an FIV+ cat can usually live a normal life in a home environment, a more contentious matter is how to address the needs of FIV+ ferals and strays, especially those living in colonies. Some animal welfare organizations contend that feral cat colonies in general are a bad idea. PETA argues that groups of cats living outdoors will inevitably suffer more from disease and mistreatment than animals who are humanely euthanized.  The American Bird Conservancy blames ferals and strays for declining bird populations. Alley Cat Allies identifies the relationship between humans and the environment as mainly to blame, sharing powerful statistics and an informational video here.  

 

Most mainstream animal welfare groups believe that a colony carefully managed through TNR (Trap Neuter Return) programs can successfully and humanely serve a cat population. Alley Cat Allies, for example, maintains that neutered feral cats will be far less likely to spread the disease. Besides their inability to transmit FIV through breeding activities, neutered males also limit transmission because they are disinclined to fight and bite other animals.

 

Like Alley Cat Allies and Michigan Pet Fund Alliance, most well-respected groups advocate TNR. See position statements at the following links:   Best Friends Animal SocietyHSUS,  and ASPCA.

 

In any case, serving FIV+ cats in your community begins with education. Here is another link with further information.

 

Michigan Pet Fund Alliance Donations
Several important opportunities exist for you tax deductible donations.
  • Judith Middleton Kroon grant, which allows your donation to go directly to an animal with medical needs or advanced age being pulled from a Michigan shelter
  • Conference Fund helps sponsor our 2014 Getting to the Goal conference
  • Scholarship Fund allows attendees with financial hardship to attend the conference
Go to the Michigan Pet Fund Alliance Donation page and indicate Kroon, Conference, or Scholarship in the "in honor / memory of" field.

The Michigan Pet Fund Alliance is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization as defined by the IRS. Contributions are tax deductible.
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2014 Getting to the Goal Conference

Getting to the Goal and MPFA logo

Save the Dates!  Sept. 4-5, 2014 

 

Michigan Pet Fund Alliance's

 "Getting to the Goal" Conference  

Troy, MI 
  • Leading shelter medicine experts Dr. Kate Hurley, Dr. Julie Levy, Dr. Ronald D. Schultz
  • National No-Kill Advocacy Center's Nathan Winograd
  • Shelter directors and animal advocates from all over Michigan and the nation
  • The Michigan premiere of the film "Redemption," a documentary film about the No Kill movement in America
  • And more! 
Registration opening soon at www.michiganpetfund.org
Michigan Animal Welfare Grants

Have you filed your 2013 Michigan income taxes yet? If not, be sure to include a donation to the Animals Welfare Fund by using Form 4642 available here.

 

The Michigan Companion Animal Welfare fund was established as a tax check-off to support animal shelters statewide. Funds are used for spaying and neutering, registration fees and speakers for anti-cruelty training conferences, and to help cover costs of protecting and caring for Michigan animals subjected to cruelty or neglect.

 

How were prior year's donations used? Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) selected 22 facilities and awarded $184,772 for the 2014 grant period.

 

See the list of current recipientshere. 

MDARD 2014 Grants
Shelters receiving
Michigan Animal Welfare Fund grants

Two Michigan Shelters Qualify for $100K Challenge

 

Humane Society of West Michigan and Oakland County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center are competing in the 2014 $100K Challenge, in which 50 shelters across the country compete to break their own records saving the lives of animals. Throughout the months of June, July, and August 2014, each competing shelter must save more dogs, cats, puppies and kittens than they did during the same three months in 2013. Prizes range from $10,000 to $100,000. This is the final year of the Challenge, which has been running since 2010. There has never been a Michigan winner.

 

Keep an eye on this link to see how the two Michigan shelters fare.

Four In Macomb: Inter-local Agreement Update 

Eastpointe, Roseville, Sterling Heights, and Warren, the four communities in Macomb County which are forming an inter-local agreement for animal control services, have been receiving quite a bit of attention.

 

Keep up-to-date on local advocacy developments via Mi-Paca's Facebook page.

fotolia kittens june 2013

 

Michigan Pet Fund Alliance contacted officials from those communities. See our letter here. 

 

The national group Alley Cat Allies has started a campaign to inform residents of the issues and has a form which will send an email  to local officials.  If you live in any of those communities, please urge your officials to support Trap-Neuter-Return and to reject any programs that would result in community cats being killed.  View details here.

Just One Day

Save the Date! 

Just One Day will be held 

on June 11, 2014.

Animal shelters throughout the country will pledge to not kill any savable animals. For Just One Day, syringes will be replaced with cameras. The internet will be flooded with images of adoptable animals. Adoption events, extended hours, and amazingly creative marketing will take place. Will your shelter be participating? Take the pledge here

Helping Lost Pets

A great way to reunite lost pets with their families is with HelpingLostPets.com. The free national pet registry allows individuals, shelters, or rescues to list lost or found animals.  When a pet is listed, emails and text alerts are sent to other members in the area. 

Tools are included to make it easy to share the pet listings on social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest and more. HelpingLostPets.com is connected with animal shelters, humane societies, lost and found pet recovery groups, veterinarians, rescue groups and many other pet businesses and organizations.
 
Take two minutes to watch a short video about how the system works here
Help a pet in need by joining the HeLP network. Use this link to begin receiving missing and found alerts for pets near you. 
Michigan Pet Fund Alliance Mission
The single mission of the Michigan Pet Fund Alliance is to stop the killing of healthy and treatable homeless cats and dogs in Michigan shelters. 
 
We are an all-volunteer organization collaborating with shelter and rescue organizations to achieve No Kill through training, technical assistance, education and advocacy.  
 
For more information, call 877-FUR-PALS (877-387-7257) or visit www.michiganpetfund.org.
 
The Michigan Pet Fund Alliance is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization as defined by the IRS. Contributions are tax deductible. 
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