Cascades Humane Society

JACKSON, MI – “Connecting animals in need with people who care” is the motto at Cascades Humane Society.

Due to a recent acquisition from the Jackson County Animal Shelter, the humane society will have the opportunity to find people who care for 10 new dogs.

Some of the new residents include Gibson, an Australian cattle dog mix, Spartan, an Alaskan husky mix, and two chihuahua, short coat mixes named Rocky andJasper.

“We’ll take some dogs from (the shelter) as soon as we have room,” said Sue Chambers, director of operations at CHS. “If (the shelter) is going to euthanize them, then we go get them. They really don’t euthanize adoptable dogs, and we will use isolation areas if needed to make room or we’ll foster dogs out to make room for them.”

Chambers said the combination of fewer stray and surrendered dogs brought to the shelter and more adoptions led to the recent openings at the humane society.

Working closely with the county animal shelter, CHS provides a temporary home for dogs that might otherwise be euthanized due to overcrowding at the shelter.

“We established (the relationship) because we need to work together,” said Debbie Drouin, an administrative clerk at the animal shelter. “We try to work hard together to get these dogs adopted. If I put out a plea that I’m full, I can have Sue pull some dogs. Last week she came through with 10.”

The animal shelter transfers dogs to the humane society based on kennel availability and adoptability.

A dog might be deemed unadoptable if it’s aggressive or has a social illness, Chambers said. “Like you can have a person who is psychotic, you can also have dogs who are psychotic and that might make them unadoptable.”

Melissa Woodhurst, the CHS interim director, said the human society transfers about 100 dogs from the county each year.

Not only is the partnership good for moving dogs to new homes, but Woodhurst said it also allows the organizations to share excess materials and labor.

“We share lots of resources with (JCAS),” she said. “Sometimes, if we get extra medical supplies donated to us, we’ll donate them to them. If we have extra collars or leashes, we’ll help them out. They help us in return with the filing of dog licenses.”

The average dog will stay at CHS for two to three weeks, though pure breds and small breeds are adopted quicker than other breeds. Last year, the humane society saw 843 of its animals adopted into new homes.

Dogs at the humane society spend time inside and out each day, and receive attention from the 16 staff members and more than 150 volunteers who work at CHS, which Woodhurst said is vital to their health.

“The more we can get humans into their lives while they’re here, it gives them a healthier lifestyle,” Woodhurst said. “As volunteers spend time with the dogs, they will tell us things they learn about what the dogs like and dislike. We try to get that information to pass on to new owners.”

Contact the humane society at (517) 788-7475 for more information on adoptions or visit cascadeshumanesociety.org.