Award-winning local pet photographer Kat Ku hopes to tell heartwarming “tails” of Ann Arbor. She’s calling on area pet owners to share stories of their pets while helping her support the homeless animals at the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV). For $150, which includes a $50 donation back to HSHV, folks will receive a custom photo session of their pet anywhere in Ann Arbor (including their home), and their pet will be featured in a 2-page spread in the upcoming coffee table book “Tails of Ann Arbor,” to be published in the fall of 2022. “We’ve all been through
Read More

Ann Arbor, MI (March 4, 2022) — Faced with a repeat felony charge of Cruelty/Neglect to more than 25 animals, Ypsilanti resident Suzanne Marie Thompson reportedly will make a plea bargain for Abandonment/Cruelty to 2-3 animals, a misdemeanor. In November 2020, Cruelty Investigators at the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) executed a search warrant on Thompson’s residence, seizing 21 cats and 1 dog due to the severity of the situation. Several of the animals were emaciated, and many had untreated medical issues. All animals seized received veterinary care and behavioral treatment at HSHV and have been since adopted into
Read More

Ann Arbor, MI (March 1, 2022) — Charged with abandonment/cruelty to an animal for allegedly leaving his young dog tied to a door with no food or water, Ypsilanti resident George Clark is to be arraigned March 16. In late August 2021, following reports from concerned citizens, Animal Cruelty Investigators from the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) found the dog in an apartment that was reportedly in disarray, with garbage, feces and urine scattered about. The approximately 1-year-old dog appeared to be a severely emaciated black lab mix. Concerned complainants reported Clark declined their offers to feed or care
Read More

Ann Arbor, MI (February 17, 2022) — Ann Arbor, MI (February 18, 2022) — Thanks to donations by concerned individuals, the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) is offering up to $500 cash reward for information leading to the prosecution of the person(s) responsible for the dead dog found in a cage frozen to the ground near Ypsilanti’s Village Grove Apartments on Sunday. HSHV Cruelty investigators found the dog following a report received by the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office. Based on the snow and ice covering the dog and cage, it’s likely the cage was placed in the small field
Read More

On January 26, 2022, Cruelty Investigators at the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) in coordination with the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s department executed a search warrant on a structure in Lodi Township, leading to the rescue of five adult cats. The cats were reportedly found without water and in a state of physical and medical neglect. The five adult cats were allegedly living for an extended period of time in a car with the two suspects, who previously were in and out of motel rooms over several years. The cats were purportedly sickly, in need of basic care and medical
Read More

Where’s the biggest and best animal shelter in Michigan? You might be surprised. Recently published annual reports on licensed animal shelters in Michigan show Ann Arbor’s Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) took in more animals in 2020 than any other shelter in the state.
Read More

Ann Arbor, MI (December 7, 2021) — With so much anxiety and sadness in the air, particularly for high schoolers, Humane Society of Huron Valley’s Cat Café is offering free kitty comfort for teens. The Tiny Lions lounge and adoption Center (TLC) is free to high school students this Wednesday, December 8 through Sunday, December 12; they’ll be welcomed by the dozen or so joyful kittens in the café. “Cats are therapeutic,” says Karen Patterson, VP of Humane Education and Volunteering at the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) which operates the cat café. “Studies show that cats’ purring helps
Read More

Ann Arbor, MI (October 26, 2021) — Story Time at the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) just got warmer and fuzzier. “We’ve offered our Little Paws Story Time for several years, but we know some children struggle with sitting still for longer stories, or feel overwhelmed by bright lights or crowded spaces,” says Jessie Hitt, HSHV’s Humane Education Manager. “So we’ve started ‘Sensory Story Time’ to offer a welcoming space for neurodivergent and autistic children and their families.” Sensory Story Time recently launched on select Tuesday mornings at HSHV. It includes stories, fingerplays, and personal interactions with the adoptable
Read More

Ann Arbor, MI (July 9, 2021) — The Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) applauds the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners for passing a resolution Wednesday opposing wildlife killing contests in Michigan and encouraging the state to ban them outright. The resolution notes that such contests promote indiscriminate killing, are counterproductive to wildlife management and violate responsible hunting practices. It also states that, while all wildlife play a critical role in Michigan’s ecosystem, mesocarnivores like coyotes, foxes and bobcats are especially important, naturally controlling rodent populations and keeping diseases like Lyme disease in check. Wildlife killing contests are also opposed
Read More