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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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Ann Arbor, MI (May 21, 2021) — Dangling upside down, entangled in a mass of fishing line which tied him to a branch hanging over Huron River, about 4 feet from shore and 1 foot from water, a Bald Eagle needed rescuing. Fortunately, a Good Samaritan called the Humane Society of Huron Valley’s (HSHV) wildlife rescue line Saturday. “He was still tangled up, and many of his feathers had been broken,” says Michael Shivak, HSHV Rescue Field Agent. “Thankfully, with our veterinarians’ help, we were able to remove the rest of the fishing line from the bird who, luckily, didn’t
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Ann Arbor, MI (March 26, 2021) — After pleading “no contest” to animal cruelty, on February 18, 2021, the Honorable Judge Erane Washington sentenced Ypsilanti Resident Connie Denham to one year probation and over $5,000 in restitution fees. In late December 2019, Animal Cruelty Investigators from the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) executed a search warrant on Denham’s residence, following a tip from another case. The property was infested with cockroaches, littered with excrement, and inhabited by Denham, an older adult, and six dogs. With fur caked in feces and urine, the dogs were so matted that they had
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Ann Arbor, MI (March 12, 2021) – In 2015, Ann Arbor City Council approved a four-year deer management plan including shooting deer in city limits; 2020 was the fifth year. To date, Ann Arbor has spent over $750,000 on deer management, including $469,700 to contracted sharpshooters who have also been counting the deer. In 2020, their aerial survey counted 137 deer in the city, versus 224 the year previous. “As a community leader faced with the impact of deer damage in parks, yards, and gardens, and conflict among your constituents regarding an effective solution, you are not alone,” writes Sandy Baker,
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