Posts by Wendy Welch

Puppy abused and abandoned in Ann Arbor parking lot, Tips sought

Puppy abused and abandoned in Ann Arbor parking lot, Tips sought

July 27, 2023 | Comments Off on Puppy abused and abandoned in Ann Arbor parking lot, Tips sought

Ann Arbor, MI (July 27, 2023) – The Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) is seeking help from the community on an animal cruelty incident that happened Monday. A puppy was running loose in the Carrot Way Apartments parking lot (1731 Dhu Varren Rd, Ann Arbor). Witnesses reported seeing a man cruelly kicking the puppy before abandoning him, then fleeing the scene. The tan and white male puppy, approximately 5 months old, is now in the care of the Humane Society of Huron Valley, receiving medical attention, nourishment, and behavioral support. Anyone with information related to this incident is strongly encouraged
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Muzzles aren’t just for bad dogs…

Muzzles aren’t just for bad dogs…

July 5, 2023 | Comments Off on Muzzles aren’t just for bad dogs…

Muzzles aren’t just for “dangerous dogs.” Any dog could potentially bite if they are injured, in pain, not feeling well, or scared. All dog owners should consider having a well-fitting, comfortable muzzle on hand, and should proactively train their dog to be happy and comfortable wearing it. This can usually be easily done, especially with the help of some spray cheese! Hopefully, the muzzle will never be needed, but if something does happen, everyone will be glad that this safety tool can be easily put on, without causing additional stress to the dog. Muzzles also have other uses, such as
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It was a big week…

It was a big week…

June 22, 2023 | Comments Off on It was a big week…

A 1 month-old kitten, a feisty tabbycat and a black lab pup…these 3 animals have something unexpected in common. In the same week, they were all diagnosed with needing specialty surgery.
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Animal lovers: Beware of traps

Animal lovers: Beware of traps

June 22, 2023 | Comments Off on Animal lovers: Beware of traps

Our Emergency Rescue team is experiencing the usual high volume of summer rescue calls: helping ducklings stuck in storm drains, squirrels in car engines, skunks in window wells, foxes hit by cars, birds caught in fishing line. But the most heart-breaking incidents involve traps, and we may begin seeing a lot more of them.
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Cues, part two: What to do when your dog won’t respond.

Cues, part two: What to do when your dog won’t respond.

June 12, 2023 | Comments Off on Cues, part two: What to do when your dog won’t respond.

Our last tip addressed things to consider when a dog is not responding to a trained cue.  We mentioned that the first step is always to rule out whether there is a medical reason for the dog’s unwillingness or inability to respond.  Assuming that there is not a physical reason found, here are a few more things to consider if your dog isn’t responding to a cue you believe they know: Does the dog truly understand the behavior?  Perhaps we haven’t trained something as thoroughly as we think we have, especially if it is a more complicated or challenging task. 
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HSHV supports Ann Arbor Ordinance on Humane Pet Acquisition

HSHV supports Ann Arbor Ordinance on Humane Pet Acquisition

June 9, 2023 | Comments Off on HSHV supports Ann Arbor Ordinance on Humane Pet Acquisition

Ann Arbor, MI (June 9, 2023) – The Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) applauds Ann Arbor City Council for considering a ban on pet stores and is grateful to the ordinance sponsors Councilmembers Dharma Akmon, Jenn Cornell, Cynthia Harrison, and Ayesha Ghazi Edwin for putting forth a compassionate proposal. It is well-known that commercial breeding facilities, known as puppy and kitten mills, are incredibly cruel, creating unnecessary suffering and financial and emotional hardship on unsuspecting consumers who often deal with lingering health problems. This ordinance is an important safeguard preventing a pet store from ever opening in Ann Arbor and helping
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To Pet Owners in Michigan: Beware of Traps

To Pet Owners in Michigan: Beware of Traps

May 18, 2023 | Comments Off on To Pet Owners in Michigan: Beware of Traps

Following the passage of a proposal last week by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) which now allows squirrels, cottontail rabbits, opossums and other animals deemed “nuisances” to be trapped and killed without a permit, the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) is cautioning people about dangerous—even deadly—traps their pets could mistakenly encounter.
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