New law allows cruelty victims to find homes instead of spending months or years waiting for court cases to conclude

Ann Arbor, MI (September 22, 2026) — Four 2-month-old puppies have gone from being rescued from an Ypsilanti apartment to sleeping in their own forever homes in under a month—a journey made possible in part by Michigan’s new animal forfeiture law.

Cash, Cricket, Cordelia and Miles were seized by HSHV’s Animal Cruelty Investigations team August 16 after a partner agency’s search warrant was executed at an Ypsilanti apartment. The four puppies were brought to HSHV, where they received veterinary care, food, shelter and TLC while the legal process unfolded.

Just two weeks after their rescue, the puppies were legally released for adoption under Michigan’s new animal forfeiture process. After being spayed/neutered and preparing for adoption, all four found loving homes within days. For HSHV, their quick journey marks a major change from the experience of cruelty victims in years past.

In 2021, HSHV rescued Titi, a 7-month-old puppy who had been beaten by her owner. Titi spent more than three years at HSHV while waiting for the criminal case against her former owner to conclude, and she was 3 years old by the time she was released for adoption.

Two Australian Shepherds rescued from severe abuse in 2022 faced a similar fate, spending approximately 1,600 days at HSHV while their owner’s case was resolved. Their care and medical treatment ultimately cost HSHV approximately $72,000.

Now, Cash, Cricket, Cordelia, and Miles are showing what a different path looks like.

“For years, we’ve watched with immense frustration and sadness as victims of animal cruelty spent far too much of their lives just waiting for a legal case to end,” said Tanya Hilgendorf, President and CEO of the Humane Society of Huron Valley. “That’s why we pushed so hard for this new law, and why advocacy matters. We’re deeply grateful to Senator Polehanki for championing animal protection, and to everyone who spoke up for animals. And we’re thrilled that, because of this law, these four innocent puppies didn’t have to spend years waiting in a shelter for a loving home,”

Senate Bills 293 and 294, sponsored by Senator Dayna Polehanki, were signed into law by Governor Gretchen Whitmer July 27, taking effect immediately. Companion Public Acts 87 and 88 modify Michigan’s existing animal bond-or-forfeit process. Under the new process, an owner can be required to post a bond to cover the costs of an animal’s care, or ownership can be forfeited to the animal-control agency, following required legal procedures. The legislation also provides for restitution for the care and treatment of forfeited animals and prohibits animals who are victims of certain crimes from being returned to the person convicted.

“This is a really joyful moment for us,” said Hilgendorf. “Seeing these puppies go from rescue to loving homes quickly is incredibly rewarding, and we know many more will benefit.”

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