Three siblings fight for a stick at the Humane Society. Gemma Flores | Collegian

The Humane Society waitlist grows as neglected pets crowd the shelter

The number of abandoned dogs at the Greater Hillsdale Humane Society is rising, leading to a growing waitlist, according to Megan Shaw, the shelter director.

“Our mission is to find homes for abandoned and neglected animals in need,” Shaw said. 

While the society has resources available on its website for lost pets, it typically helps animals that are surrendered by their owners. When surrendering a pet, owners come into the shelter, present identification, and pay a fee to relinquish their animal. 

Recently, however, Kennel Manager Crystal Warner said people have been abandoning their animals at the shelter in Osseo, leaving the Humane Society in a tough spot. When people leave their dogs at the shelter without permission, the Humane Society has to prioritize care for that dog over all of the dogs waiting to enter the shelter. 

“Our waiting list is pretty long right now because of situations like this,” Warner said. “We’re not going to turn away a dog that’s been dropped.”

Tyson, a boxer, was found after his owner abandoned him in the Humane Society’s driveway Sept. 8. Warner said Tyson is sweet and gentle, unlike some dogs who are abandoned because of their aggression. 

“They didn’t even put him in one of the kennels,” Warner said. “They just dropped him off, let him go. He was severely emaciated; he was nothing but bone to skin, that’s how bad it was.” 

Warner said the cost of caring for a dog might be too much for some, leading to desperate owners abandoning their pets.

“We prefer for people to get on the waitlist. It might take some time, but we want to make sure we have room for the animals here,” Warner said.

In 2024, the shelter accepted 130 dogs. This year, so far, the shelter has taken in 101, with 26 dogs currently in-house. The shelter also currently has 43 cats in-house, with the longest having entered the shelter in December 2024. 

The Humane Society sometimes takes on dogs from Hillsdale County Animal Control, as the county does not accept pets that need veterinary care. One such dog is Bella, a beagle with an injured back leg. The shelter is caring for her while she receives treatment and awaits either adoption or being reunited with her family.

Shaw said the Humane Society tries to ensure all of its dogs get the best care. 

“When they first come in, we do an intake, which consists of the DHPP vaccine and Bordetella vaccine. We get a weight on them, we get a picture, we do flea, tick, and heartworm prevention, and we deworm them,” Shaw said. 

The dogs are also sent to the vet to be microchipped, spayed and neutered, and to receive any other vaccines they might need. 

Typically, Shaw said, dogs will be adopted within a few weeks of being listed as available. Some, however, can take months to find their new home. 

“They can stay here as long as they need to,” Shaw said. “We don’t euthanize for space or anything like that. What we’ll normally try to do is reach out to surrounding shelters or rescues and see if they’ll take the dog, or we’ll swap, so they’ll give us a dog. We’ll give them that dog just to get it a different audience.” 

Hillsdale students can help by volunteering at the Greater Hillsdale Humane Society through the Humane Society GOAL program on campus.

“It’s heartbreaking to see so many animals waiting for homes, but the good news is that Hillsdale students can be part of the solution,” said Kassidy Sherrill, the director of the Humane Society GOAL program. “Whether it’s walking dogs, playing with cats, or helping with on-campus events, every bit of our time and energy eases the burden on the shelter staff and helps prepare animals for adoption sooner.”

Warner said that all of the work is worth it to see these animals get the love they deserve. 

“In the end, it’s seeing a dog that’s been here six-plus months, and seeing them going to a great home, that’s so rewarding,” Warner said. “Being able to be a part of that and seeing where they came from to going to a great home — it’s beyond words.”

Send tips to the City News team: collegiancitynews@gmail.com