After nearly being forced to close in June, the Greater Hillsdale Humane Society is still in operation with the community’s support.
Since the no-kill shelter lost its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit status a few years ago due to some negligence with paperwork, it has struggled to keep its doors open. In June, the Humane Society did not have the funds to accept anymore cats and dogs. At that point, it reached out to the Hillsdale community for help.
The Udder Side Ice Cream Parlor in Jonesville, Mich. responded by hosting a “Shake Your Tails” benefit on June 23, at which the Udder Side matched all donations and gave a free ice cream cone to anyone who donated $10 or more. The benefit raised a total amount of $7,136.
On Friday Sept. 6, The Dawn Theater in Hillsdale hosted a concert to raise money for the Humane Society and celebrate the reopening of the Hillsdale Veterinary Hospital. The event featured a “deep funk and soul” band from Ann Arbor, Mich. called “Third Coast Kings.” Local businesses donated to a raffle, and the $10 cover fee as well as percentage of the bar drinks together totaled approximately $1,800 for the Humane Society.
“All in all, I think it was a pretty successful night,” said Tim Baker, a Hillsdale veterinarian.
With the help of donations from the community, and the hope of regaining its tax-exempt status, the Humane Society should be able to stay in operation.
“The biggest thing that has changed over the summer is we have reached out to the community more and the community has embraced us,” said senior Jennifer Scharl, GOAL program leader and secretary of the Humane Society board.
Scharl said that the Humane Society has reapplied for its 501(c)(3) status, which will help tremendously with donations. This status would allow for larger donors to receive tax deductions for donations. It will also allow larger organizations that support animal welfare to donate.
“It’s hard to ask for big donations from people if they can’t get tax deductions on it,” Scharl said.
Because it is the only animal shelter in the county, the Humane Society is always receiving animals, yet it does not receive funds from the county.
“Adoption fees just go right back into caring for the animals,” Scharl said. “The cost to care for an animal is more than the adoption fee.”
Also, about 90 percent of the Hillsdale Humane Society’s adoptions take place outside of the county.
Before losing their nonprofit status, the Humane Society would send its kittens to a PetSmart in Ann Arbor, Mich. for adoption.
The Humane Society is currently down to about 20 dogs and 70 cats, when it usually cares for approximately 40 dogs and 100 cats.
