Our “animal ambulance” rescues sick, injured wildlife and strays within Washtenaw County and Plymouth, and our Animal Cruelty Investigators respond to reports to help protect innocent animals.
Emergency rescue
Report sick/injured animal
For adult deer who’ve been hit by car, please call the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office (734) 994-2911 and HSHV (734) 661-3512. We do not pick up healthy stray animals; please contact your local animal control or police for stray animal pick-up.
Report suspected abuse
Tell us the address with major cross-streets and a detailed account of what type of cruelty you suspect. Your name and phone number are also helpful as we may need additional information. You can indicate whether you want to remain anonymous.
Get help for wildlife
Our Rescue Team works 24/7 to help rescue wildlife in Washtenaw County. Spring is our busiest time; if we're unable to answer, please leave us a message, and we'll return your call.
What is “animal cruelty”?
Michigan law defines animal cruelty as any of the following:
- Failure to provide an animal with adequate food, water, a shelter or medical treatment
- Improperly tethering (or chaining) an animal
- Abandoning or causing an animal to be abandoned without providing for the animal’s adequate care
- Cruelly beating, torturing, maiming or killing an animal
- Willfully or negligently allowing an animal to suffer unnecessarily
- Transporting an animal in a vehicle in a cruel or inhumane manner
- Either poisoning or exposing an animal to poison
- The cropping of a dog’s ears or the docking of a dog’s tails, unless such cropping is performed by a registered veterinary surgeon while the dog is under anesthetic
What we can do
Report
HSHV Cruelty Investigators protect those who cannot speak for themselves — the unwanted, beaten, hungry and hurt animals — by responding to reports of animal cruelty, investigating them thoroughly, and working with the Prosecutor’s Office for justice.
Advocate
It’s important to know that laws for animals are often weak and outdated, but we hope you’ll join us in advocating for better for both people and animals.
Make it possible
HSHV’s Cruelty Investigators and Emergency Rescue staff operate solely on donations from the community. Please consider making a donation to help provide emergency rescue and protection for innocent animals.