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Who can we trust with our pets?

Who can we trust with our pets?

March 12, 2026 | Comments Off on Who can we trust with our pets?

I want to share something that’s been weighing on me because pet parents deserve honesty. There has been a shift in the veterinary field, and its consequences for animals and the people who love them are serious. You may have noticed that veterinary medicine used to feel different. It was local. Relational. Not perfect but built on trust that the person treating your pet was guided by medical judgment and compassion — not corporate growth targets. Over the past decade, the veterinary industry has been quietly but rapidly consolidated by corporate giants and private equity firms. An estimated 25–30% of
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HSHV Highlights Risk to Pets When Owners Are Suddenly Taken or Hospitalized

HSHV Highlights Risk to Pets When Owners Are Suddenly Taken or Hospitalized

February 3, 2026 | Comments Off on HSHV Highlights Risk to Pets When Owners Are Suddenly Taken or Hospitalized

Ann Arbor, MI (February 3, 2026) — Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) reminds the community of the critical role neighbors play in protecting animals, after staff were alerted by a hospital social worker that a recently adopted dog had been left alone when his adopter was unexpectedly hospitalized following an encounter with federal immigration officers. Unfortunately, the worried owner was not permitted to contact HSHV himself, nor did any law enforcement agency notify HSHV. Thankfully, the dog was safely recovered by HSHV staff and is back in HSHV’s care—only because a hospital social worker thought to call HSHV. This story
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Public Urgently Asked to Help Identify Man Seen Striking, Dragging Dog

Public Urgently Asked to Help Identify Man Seen Striking, Dragging Dog

December 31, 2025 | Comments Off on Public Urgently Asked to Help Identify Man Seen Striking, Dragging Dog

Ypsilanti, MI (December 31, 2025) — The Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) is investigating a complaint involving the alleged abuse of a dog whose footage was captured on a doorbell camera in Ypsilanti. The video, reportedly taken late last week on Ypsilanti’s South Street, appears to show a man running onto a porch, grabbing what appears to be a pit-bull mix with light-colored fur, striking the dog several times, then lifting and dragging the dog by the neck while walking down the steps off the porch. In the footage, the dog’s legs appear to be lifted off the ground as
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HSHV Rescues Over 120 Animals from Repeat Offender with Long History of Cruelty

HSHV Rescues Over 120 Animals from Repeat Offender with Long History of Cruelty

September 4, 2025 | Comments Off on HSHV Rescues Over 120 Animals from Repeat Offender with Long History of Cruelty

­­Ann Arbor, MI (September 4, 2025) — Friday evening, the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) rescued 126 animals from a person with a history of animal cruelty-related convictions and felony charges. The rescued animals included dogs, cats, horses, ponies, a donkey, goats, sheep, a rabbit, snakes, iguanas, frogs, tarantulas, and more. The suspect, Christine Thompson, currently has two pending felony animal cruelty charges from northern Michigan and a warrant for failure to appear in court; a case which has resulted in more than 100 animals being seized and civilly forfeited. Thompson also has a prior conviction in another northern
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HSHV Urges Investigation Into Wayne State’s Killing of Healthy, Adoptable Dog

HSHV Urges Investigation Into Wayne State’s Killing of Healthy, Adoptable Dog

August 14, 2025 | Comments Off on HSHV Urges Investigation Into Wayne State’s Killing of Healthy, Adoptable Dog

Ann Arbor, MI (August 14, 2025) — Together with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) called on the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) today to investigate Wayne State University for killing a healthy, adoptable dog instead of offering him the chance at a home—an action that appears to violate Section 287.388a of Michigan Public Act 224—commonly known as Teddy’s Law, Michigan legislation requiring the adoption of dogs and cats used in laboratory experiments. Recently obtained records show that in 2024, Wayne State killed “dog 3002,” a brown-and-white hound who
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Starving Dog Dumped in Ypsilanti; Humane Society Seeks Information

Starving Dog Dumped in Ypsilanti; Humane Society Seeks Information

July 24, 2025 | Comments Off on Starving Dog Dumped in Ypsilanti; Humane Society Seeks Information

Ann Arbor, MI (July 24, 2025) — The Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) is investigating a suspected case of animal cruelty after a dog was found abandoned and in severe condition on the side of the road in Ypsilanti. The female dog, who looks to be approximately 5 years old and a bulldog mix, was discovered this Sunday, July 21, near the intersection of Chalmers and Washtenaw Avenue. She was found covered in urine and feces, emaciated, and in need of immediate medical care. A concerned Good Samaritan brought her to HSHV’s shelter. It is suspected she may have
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We Can—and Should—Coexist with Urban Wildlife

We Can—and Should—Coexist with Urban Wildlife

June 16, 2025 | Comments Off on We Can—and Should—Coexist with Urban Wildlife

Local governments are increasingly facing challenges from urban wildlife. As we expand into natural habitats—and restore green spaces and waterways—encounters with animals like deer, coyotes, and beavers are inevitable. What’s troubling is how often the response is reactive, violent, and uninformed. The recent killing of a family of beavers at Ann Arbor’s Leslie Park Golf Course is a case in point. Beavers are remarkably intelligent and ecologically vital—nature’s engineers. But when conflict arose, the only response was lethal removal – reportedly using gruesome Conibear traps that are illegal in Ann Arbor.. It was stated that there was a search for
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HSHV Commemorates 15 Years of Pet Loss Support Group: A Lifeline for Grieving Hearts

HSHV Commemorates 15 Years of Pet Loss Support Group: A Lifeline for Grieving Hearts

June 12, 2025 | Comments Off on HSHV Commemorates 15 Years of Pet Loss Support Group: A Lifeline for Grieving Hearts

Ann Arbor, MI (June 12, 2025) — 2025 marks the 15th anniversary of the Humane Society of Huron Valley’s (HSHV) Pet Loss Support Group, a community-driven program that has helped hundreds of people navigate the profound and often misunderstood pain of losing a beloved animal companion. “When the death of my cat Buddhe (pronounced “buddy”) hit me harder than any pet loss before, I felt it might be helpful to attend a support group,” says attendee Marty Davis-Merritts. “Experiencing commonality with others in their grief process and supporting each other has been a great help and I recommend the group often
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Learn About Co-Existing with Coyotes via Humane Society of Huron Valley Free Virtual Event

Learn About Co-Existing with Coyotes via Humane Society of Huron Valley Free Virtual Event

June 5, 2025 | Comments Off on Learn About Co-Existing with Coyotes via Humane Society of Huron Valley Free Virtual Event

Ann Arbor, MI (June 5, 2025) — The Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) is proud to host “Co-existing with Coyotes,” a free virtual event on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, from 6 – 7:30 PM EDT on urban coyotes. Coyotes are highly adaptable animals who have been increasingly spotted in suburban and urban areas. This sometimes leads to appreciation—but also concerns and misunderstandings among community residents. To address these issues, HSHV has invited Karin Saucedo, Texas State Director for Project Coyote, to lead the seminar and discussion. Saucedo will delve into coyote behavior and feeding patterns, what we’ve seen in
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Laying it out there – Why eggs are expensive

Laying it out there – Why eggs are expensive

January 20, 2025 | Comments Off on Laying it out there – Why eggs are expensive

The current egg shortage and skyrocketing prices have left folks confused and upset. While some blame inflation or humane farming practices, the primary cause is a bird flu outbreak, exacerbated by factory farming practices. Bird Flu and the Egg Crisis Since early 2022, the H5N1 strain of avian influenza has devastated U.S. poultry farms, resulting in the culling of over 130 million birds, including many egg-laying hens. This sharp decline in production has caused prices to surge. Yet, the poultry industry’s response has been baffling. To save costs, the agriculture industry has reportedly resisted implementing effective biosecurity measures, allowing the
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