2009 Save Rate Report
The Michigan Pet Fund Alliance in 2009 took the annual shelter reports that each licensed shelter is required to submit to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and for the first time ever performed calculations within each report to determine the shelter’s performance in saving lives. Click here for the 2009 Save Rate report.
Based upon the performance determined by the Save Rate report the following shelters were 
recognized with awards for 2009:
Outstanding Michigan Large (5,000+) Open Admission Shelter Humane Society of Huron Valley, Ann Arbor; 75% percent save rate
Outstanding Michigan Medium (1,000 – 5,000) Open Admission Shelter Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter, Negaunee; 91.33 percent save rate
Outstanding Michigan Small (less than 1,000) Open Admission Shelter Hope Animal Shelter, Ironwood; 100 percent save rate
Outstanding Michigan Limited Admission Shelter with greatest number of adoptions Cascades Humane Society , Jackson; 96.7% save rate in 2009 with 842 adoptions
Honorable mention: All Open Admission Shelters which met the no-kill definition of a save rate of 90%: Grosse Isle Animal Shelter, Antrim County Pet & Animal Watch, Greater Hillsdale Humane Society, Noah Project, and Copper County Humane Society.
In 2009 the Michigan Pet Fund also bestowed the following awards:
Best Friend Award
The Best Friend Award recognizes a person, agency/organization that has gone above and beyond to save, care for, home or advocate for Michigan’s homeless cats and dogs.
Joe Sowerby – Joe has created two of the largest adoption events in the country Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo and Pet-a-Palooza. Since 1993 over 12,000 animals have found new homes as a result of the events. Joe has successfully led the charge to remove gas chambers from several southeast Michigan shelters. He worked with State Representative Jones in 2009/2010 to introduce legislation to ban gassing in all Michigan shelters.
Homeless Animals Legislative Friend Award
The Homeless Animals Legislative Friend Award recognizes an elected official who has successfully introduced and shepherded legislation to benefit and improve the life of homeless cats and dogs in Michigan.
Senator John Pappageorge – Senator Pappageorge championed the Animal Welfare Fund Act 132 of 2007 which created a state fund in which taxpayers can contribute funds when filing their tax return. In the first two years of existence, over $200,000 was generated by the fund which has been distributed via competitive grants to spay/neuter shelter pets prior to adoption.
Exceptional Volunteer Award
Recognizes the volunteer in a shelter or rescue organization that has given above and beyond service to re-home cats and dogs. The individual has given selflessly for the cause.
Del Harvey – (In memorial) – Adele “Del” Harvey, was born on December 27, 1926 in New York, New York. She passed over the rainbow bridge suddenly on October 5, 2010 at the age of 84. Del rescued cats and dogs all her life and in the early 90s founded the Best of Friends Humane Society which she ran from her home. When she ran out of space she refused to send the animals away, instead she had her sons and husband build a shelter so she could take in even more. Del did everything it took to raise money for the animals including bake sales and garage sales. She discovered a gold mine to get visibility for her animals when she struck a deal with the local newspaper to publish adoptable cats and dog pictures with their bio and with local businesses sponsoring the ad. Del spent countless hours working for the animals she loved starting at 5:00 a.m. to clean the shelter. With the help of 20 volunteers, homes for well over 1,000 dogs and cats were found. Del worked with the animals to the end. The volunteers that worked with Del continue her legacy staffing the not for profit Best of Friends Humane Society.
Honorable mention: Julia Funds, Vice Chairman of Basil’s Buddies and Kathy Bambach, Adoptions Director and Medical Coordinator. Paws for Life Rescue.
