A year ago, I became a volunteer for the Humane Society of West Michigan and fell in love with the animal shelter and everything it stands for. I dog walked mostly but wanted to be an Adoption Counselor. No matter how hard the volunteers try to keep the animals comfortable, shelters are not meant to hold animals in a life of confinement so the Humane Society of West Michigan (HSWM) tries to get the animals out of the shelter lifestyle and into a social one with human interaction as quickly as possible.

HSWM's mission statement is to promote the humane treatment and responsible care of animals in West Michigan through education, example, placement and protection. Their vision is to build a more compassionate community where all animals are given the care they deserve.

The Humane Society of West Michigan is a non for profit organization, an adoption shelter that provides additional services for pets in the surrounding area. These services include obedience classes for animals, Kibble Konnection, which is a pet food bank program which helps low-income pet owners provide food for their pets, animal vaccinations, spaying and neutering, and Euthanasia.

The Humane Society of West Michigan is one branch of locations all throughout the United States. There is one Humane Society Shelter located in every state/city (varies). Shelters of any kind usually run through the Humane Society of the United States or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) but they do not aid every shelter under this vast organization. Therefore, leaving each separate shelter to fundraise and come up with the means to care for animals in need themselves.

Being a non for profit, the company hosts fundraisers and bands together with other companies to receive donations that help maintain the upkeep of the organization. The company hosts a multitude of fundraising events such as the Pet Therapy Dog Workshop, Paws, Claws & Corks, Bark in the Dark and the "Share the Love" Home For the Holidays Adopt-a-thon. The events range from a workshop for $35 to an extravagant evening with auctions. The goal of these fundraisers are to help benefit the Humane Society of West Michigan, and most importantly the animals that are being cared for in hopes of finding them a good, solid home. There is a Face Book page and a Twitter account that directs you to their website so you can make donations at your leisure!

At the shelter, pets such as dogs, cats, rabbits, puppies, kittens and on occasion birds and reptiles are in need of a loving family and home. Animals are brought to the Humane Society of West Michigan for multiple reasons ranging from abuse to finding a stray on the street and to the inability of proper care for the pet in financial or emotional means. Dogs are the first largest animal in supply held in kennels, cats are the second largest animal in supply, and finally rabbits are the least animal in supply.

Puppies (Up to 5 months) cost $300.00, Dogs (5 months and older) cost $175.00, Kittens (Up to 5 months) cost $95.00, Cats (5 months and older) cost $25.00 [they even promote the fact that all kittens/cats are adopt one get one free… Everyone needs a BFF!], small critters have adoption fees ranging from $15-$50.

Additional Thoughts/Ideas: Another new opportunity that the Humane Society could do as a service to the community and also to get the organization recognized would be hospital visits from their animals! The Society could train certain animals and make sure they are qualified to be friendly around people and in public places, and take the animals to visit terminally sick patients in the hospital or just the general population of friends and family of the patients.

Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer! These beautiful animals need fun time and just by walking in the double doors you will be greeted with barks, purrs, and sniffles of excitement at your presence!

Adopt, adopt, adopt! There is a beautiful creature at the Humane Society waiting to be loved by you and to love you in return <3

Visit the links below for updates on the Humane Society of West Michigan!

https://www.facebook.com/hswestmi/?fref=ts

http://www.hswestmi.org/

They're on Instagram AND Twitter!

Citations:

http://hswestmi.org/uploads/Winter%202013.pdf

http://hswestmi.org/