Posts by Wendy Welch

After Detroit child killed by dog, a call to boost animal control services

[Originally published on Bridge Detroit, 12/29/23] In October, we learned of another tragic death in Detroit due to a dog attack. Though the details remain sketchy, we know that a four-year-old lost his life and surely experienced horrific pain and fear during his last moments. And a family is now grappling with the worst trauma and grief imaginable. All of whom now deserve an open and honest examination of the system that may have failed them and how we can better protect others. Immediately after a severe injury or death by a dog, there are calls to ban “pit bulls.” We should search for solutions, and
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Chihuahua found inside a dumpster

Ann Arbor, MI (December 18, 2023) – A heart-wrenching discovery was made last Monday the 11th around 3:30 a.m. near Ypsilanti’s Leforge and Green Road: a tiny pup was found abandoned in a dumpster, still stuck inside her crate. The pup, temporarily named “Frankie” is estimated to be approximately 10 months old and weighs a mere 5 pounds. “We are deeply grateful for the compassionate person who not only alerted us to this distressing situation, but also took it upon himself to help this poor little gal right away,” says Tanya Hilgendorf, HSHV’s CEO. “It takes a village to look
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Stay Safe on the Road While Deer are Chasing Tail

Ann Arbor, MI (November 7, 2023) – As the temperature drops, deer affairs are heating up. November is a prime month for deer mating as well as deer hunting. As deer are on the move—“chasing tail” or “running from guns”—they can head out into the middle of the road. While deer collisions represent less than 3% of all car collisions in Ann Arbor, and none have been fatal, the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) wants to remind residents how they can prevent accidents and protect both people and deer. To help prevent accidents, HSHV suggests seven safety tips: Look
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Cayenne’s new life

After losing Duke, our 7-year old Pitbull, unexpectedly to cancer, we were too sad to talk about any other dogs for a while. One day, my husband could not take it anymore and we wandered into the HSHV. That is when we saw Cayenne. She looked us nervously with her side eyes. We were told she has anxiety and is on her medication. We were concerned at first, since Duke had a lot of behavioral issues. She, however, has been a very happy dog once she got used to us and her new home. She loves to go for a
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It’s Friday the 13th and Do You Know Where The Black Cat Is?

Yes, I’m talking about Uffda (formerly Puma). Later this month it will be 13 years since this one from HSHV moved in with me and in some ways it still feels as if it all happened just 13 days ago. He and I both knew we were meant for each other when we met, something that gets reaffirmed every single day. He was incredibly quick to make himself at home, sleeping on my bed the first night and every night since then. So here he is, at least 14 years old and possibly as old as 16 years old, still
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Izaak: More human than Dog

Our special needs dog Grace enjoyed visiting a puppy in the neighborhood so our family decided that Grace would love to have a sibling puppy in our home. We went to HSHV when they had a lot of puppies from the Love Train but decided that an older “puppy” would probably be a better fit so we visited the other dogs and discovered “Otto” (now Izaak meaning “laughter” because he always made us laugh), an 11 month old dog found underweight and in need of a loving home. Izaak was about the same size as Grace (around 50 pounds) when
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The adventures Of Dwight & Jim

In April ’22 I sadly lost my almost 21 year old cat, Shaney. I had him since I was a teenager and was at a loss. I drove out to HSHV the next day, just to see if I would connect with anyone. I immediately found a perfect pair of little black kittens that I named Dwight K Snoot and Jim Halpurrt (formerly Maui and Mewtoo). They had been brought all the way from Oklahoma because of overcrowding in shelters over there. I knew these little kittens were just what I needed to cheer me up. They have brought me
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Ducky’s story

When I first saw Ducky (Bibimbap), I was taking one of the adults I caregive for with disabilities. We instantly fell in love with her when we saw her. I knew then she needed to heal in a home with a family. When we saw her she had a plethora of issues – healing from a very recent leg amputation and being spayed, an ear infection and a nasty skin infection. I brought her home a week after her procedures and she began to heal and get stronger. Flash forward to today, she runs miles with me, plays for hours
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Healing a Broken Heart

In March, I lost my best furiend, Heisman unexpectedly to cancer. He was only 7 years old, he was my “first” dog as an adult, and I couldn’t have asked for a better pupper. Heisman’s loss really shook me, and I struggled moving forward. I knew that we would adopt our next pup from the Love Train, and after a particularly difficult week coming home from vacation (to an empty house), a group arrived to HSHV from the Love Train. Without hesitation, we made our way to HSHV to find our new furbaby. I had an idea of who I
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How to introduce guests to your avoidant or reactive dog

Does your dog avoid or react to strangers? Bark, growl, run away, or hide? Here’s what we suggest. (Note: Please consult with a professional trainer for biting.) Prepare Yourself Make sure you are familiar with the dog’s behavioral history, what has and has not worked in previous introductions. Use correct equipment (collar/harness and non-retractable leash) and have high-value treats with you. Have a helper with you when introducing a dog that may struggle with new people. The helper can assist with handling the dog if there are problems, coach the guest and narrate what they are observing, provide a second
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