There’s a new paw-tnership (pardon the pun) that aims to make more dogs available to rescue and foster organizations.
The City of Detroit Animal Control is now working with the Michigan Humane Society to make dozens of dogs a month available for transfer to rescue/foster organizations.
There has been a lot of controversy as of late around Detroit’s Animal Control program. With a limited budget and the constant challenge of not only dogs, but cats, chickens, even the occasional alligator, as well as outdated policies and procedures, it made in the past for a complicated mess when outside organizations tried to help find homes for Detroit’s stray dog population.
This is an attempt to change that. According to a statement, the change in policy not only respects dogs, but respects the advocates who have been fighting for better options at Detroit animal control. The move will help the city get good dogs, after rehabilitation and training, into good homes.
The website with the dogs’ photos and information will be will be accessible to all Michigan-based rescues and registered shelters.
The city will post photos of dogs available for fostering starting today. For questions about dogs in the program, pre-approved partners are to e-mail rescuedogs@detroitmi.gov.
“The Michigan Humane Society is proud to play a key supportive role in helping Detroit Animal Control expand the placement opportunities for the animals within its care and in doing so create a means by which the rescue community can further assist in caring for Detroit’s animals,” said Matthew Pepper, President and CEO of the Michigan Humane Society. “This is about creating a healthier pet community within Detroit and broadening the safety net for animals in need.”
The new Detroit/MHS partnership also has the support and cooperation of members of PAWS in the D (Providing Animal Welfare Services in the D), a coalition of organizations and individuals who are concerned with issues impacting animals and their families in Detroit.
As a measure of safety for future dog adopting families, only dogs that are reasonably socialized or have hope of becoming reasonably socialized are eligible for the program. Animals involved in dog bite cases, have been requested to be euthanized by owners, aren’t leashable or that have a long history of being a neighborhood nuisance or safety issue will not be available through this program.
Also, an organizational change is ahead for animal control. It will be moved from under Police Department oversight to the Health Department, where it had been until a budget restructuring in 2012.
Editor’s Note: Originally we were told that the website was going to be only for select, approved rescues. We have changed the story to reflect the new information.