Joy Ulrickson/Collegian
Sophomore Libby Visser with Euchre, who is back at the Humane Society for the third time.
Joy Ulrickson/Collegian
Sarah is waiting for someone to take her home.
Nestled just outside Hillsdale in Osseo, Mich., amidst a pocket of forest and farmland, lies a haven for stray cats and dogs. A long, bright, plain building greets you as you pull up to anxious dogs on long chains out for fresh air.
Once inside, the smell of ammonia, urine and dog floats faintly, and one can hear the wail of dogs kenneled in the back, as well as the eager whimpers of the office kittens begging for attention.
This is the Greater Hillsdale Humane Society; a refuge where no animal will be rejected, and where its employees do their best to find homes for lost and abused animals.
“The purpose of this place is not only to provide a place for abused, mistreated strays, but it is also a safe-haven for animals before adoption,” said Renee Goshorn, who is office manager and former shelter director of the Humane Society.
According to Goshorn, the Humane Society, which is a non-profit organization, was established about 30 years ago, first serving as shelter for abused animals. Due to a severe lack of funding and limited space, however, the shelter had a 95 percent kill rate, which means it killed about 95 percent of the animals that came in.
Now, 30 years later, that number is drastically reduced, and the Humane Society can boast of only putting down dogs and cats who are vicious, gravely ill or fatally hurt. Of the 250 dogs brought into the shelter this year, only two have been euthanized.
“There is no such thing as a no-kill shelter,” Goshorn said. “That's looking at it from a practical standpoint. Most ‘no-kill' shelters ship their animals outside [their shelter] to be euthanized. There is no way we can ever be a no-kill shelter—the animals would be shot by the sheriff's department.”
Because Hillsdale is one of the poorest counties in Michigan, there is an abundance of strays.
The Humane Society can usually harbor about 15 cats and 25 dogs. Goshorn said lately they have seen as many as 85 dogs each month, which means the shelter is home to nearly 125 cats and dogs per month.
Goshorn attributed the increase of strays to economics. She said she believes when the economy is bad, more people are inclined to spend what little they have on themselves, often neglecting their pets. Frequently, owners simply let their animals go to “fend for themselves.”
“Dogs have been domesticated for hundreds of years—they are not wild animals,” Goshorn said.
“Most end up shot, hit by a car, mistreated, abused, killed by another dog, cold, hungry, beaten and starved.”
“By the right of being domesticated, [dogs] are not wild animals,” said Hillsdale College chaplain Fr. Duane Beauchamp, a devout animal lover and former dog breeder. “You've taken away their ability of being wild and fending for themselves.”
“All the strays that come from this county come from rural areas—Pittsford, Osseo, Camden—where there is no local police enforcement,” Goshorn said. “There is a huge owner retention problem here.”
According to the Humane Society, in rural areas, where many animals are abandoned or mistreated, it is difficult for the local police to enforce animal cruelty laws. Not only is there a limited amount of evidence—anyone can deny ownership of an abused dog—but also many pets are without collars and licenses, which makes it hard to prove ownership.
“We only get 30 dogs a year with a tag, out of almost 900—I estimate for every one dog we get there are three others out there,” Goshorn said.
“Michigan is a leash and license state—don't let your dogs run—you need to be in control of your pet at all times. There are great animal people but just as many foul animal people.”
The Humane Society said it depends heavily on out-of-state visitors and fundraisers to find homes for its animals. The Web site www.Petfinder.com is a lifesaver for the animals.
More than 12,000 people look at the Humane Society's animals every month, as opposed to the less than 10 per day from the area that actually come in to the kennel.
Goshorn said each potential adopter must meet strict standards, which were set by the Humane Society to ensure the animals will be going to good homes.
“I know Renee is very deliberate to whom she adopts,” said Hillsdale College senior Jay Burtka , an employee and volunteer at the Humane Society. “Dogs [and cats] can be brought back after two weeks for a full refund. And you can always bring them back.”
Only 20 percent of the adoptions that take place are from Hillsdale County residents.
“It's too poor,” Goshorn said.
However, people come from as far as New Jersey, Minnesota and Chicago just to adopt from the Humane Society.
“They fall in love with a picture from Petfinder,” Goshorn said.
John Thompson, a sophomore at Hillsdale College, was one who came with his family from New Jersey to adopt a dog. Last Thanksgiving, Thompson adopted Gilligan, a 1-year-old rottweiler mix.
“I am very happy with the dog,” Thompson said. “He's amazingly bright and much happier now that he has a nice home to live at.”