Have you ever wondered how animal groups start, or where humane societies come from? Do you have a passion for the care and well-being of animals and would like to get involved in a local organization that can be of great service as a humane society?
These groups are born when concerned citizens meet to solve the problems of animal welfare that plague every community. Most humane societies build an animal shelter in which they can care for homeless dogs and cats. The construction of this building will take several years of hard work and it should be the first order of business for any newly formed group.
The Dickinson Country Humane Society: A Classic Case Of Dedication
Such a group that was started in the late 1960s, and is still going strong today, is known as the Dickinson County Humane Society, near Iron Mountain, Michigan, and is a good example of the trials, tribulations, and growing pains that confront such an organization.
It was organized when a small group of animal lovers met in the home of Jim and Anne Brandt. During the summer of 1969, they managed to open a temporary shelter. This was a one-room building that had at one time served as a thrift shop.
Homes were found for more than 100 animals, but the building proved inadequate. Winter was coming on and there was no practical way of heating the shelter so it had to be closed. Homes were found for as many of the remaining pets as possible. However, dozens of the animals had to be euthanized once the dog warden had arrived.
A reorganization meeting was held above the fire station in Dickinson County. The membership decided to build a brand-new animal shelter. Everyone was enthusiastic and worked hard on money-raising projects like teenage dances, rummage sales, bake sales, pot-luck dinners, and even a Wild West Show. Sometimes the membership even went door-to-door begging for donations.
Soon after, the group's luck took a terrific turn. A couple by the name of Mr. And Mrs. Robert Johnson gave the society an acre of land and the American Humane Association provided a blueprint for the new shelter.
A vocational class from the Iron Mountain High School prefabricated the building under the direction of industrial arts director Dan Zini. The men from the Humane Society held work campaigns at the shelter every Saturday and sometimes in the evenings. A plea was sent out for volunteer laborers and many women and teenagers joined the crew.
The electricity and heating systems were installed; fencing was put up; the building was insulated and painted; the bricks laid. The building went up slowly. New supplies could only be ordered when there was enough money to pay for them and occasionally a work campaign had to be postponed.
Many of the workers were elderly persons or teenagers. They shared the same dedication and worked hard together. One teenage boy had to ride 5 miles to the shelter on a bicycle to work full days. One week, a 70-year-old man was at the shelter working. At lunchtime everyone would sit in the sand outside the half-finished building, enjoy hamburgers, and plan the afternoon's work schedule. It was like an old-fashioned party, but with work as the number one focus.
The Dickinson County Animal Shelter was officially opened up on June 24, 1972. A crowd of 500 people applauded as a dog named “Spur” ate his way through a string of hot dogs in a unique ribbon-chewing ceremony. It is the most modern animal shelter in the state of Michigan. A visiting veterinarian called it the cleanest shelter he had ever seen. This was quite a compliment because it is still staffed by volunteers.
Starting Your Own Humane Society
Starting a Humane Society is not an easy job. It takes many dedicated workers and years of hard work and perseverance. Nevertheless, new humane societies are needed to cope with the millions of unwanted dogs and cats that are being born every month. Here are some suggestions researched from successful Humane Society associations that can help anyone looking to get started with their own humane group:
1. Launch a successful membership campaign.
Animal lovers can be found in all walks of life and all interested persons should be recruited. Ask a popular local celebrity to give a short talk on the radio asking all interested persons to join. Print membership applications in the newspapers. Have posters printed and placed in feed stores, veterinarians offices, kennels, or any other places where pet owners might gather.
Write personal letters inviting people to meetings and get on the telephone and talk about the urgent need for a human society within your community. Start a website where everyone can go for detailed information. One person should be appointed to serve as membership chairman.
2. Meetings should be held in a public building that offers ample parking space, and comfortable meeting rooms.
Refreshments should be simple. In fact, coffee and cookies will be sufficient. Meetings should be kept shorter and the presiding officer should keep the conversation from straying away from important business.
3. Every new organization should be incorporated under the laws of the state.
This will give the Humane Society the right to fix its name on documents and to own property. It will also free individual members from personal liability if a court case develops.
4. A large committee should be appointed to draft the by-laws.
This committee should be made up of people who have had past experience in drafting by-laws and it would be a great help if the chairman could be someone with legal experience. Its members should be willing to devote a great deal of time and thought to the project.
5. A humane society should have its own telephone and mailing address.
Many communities have a telephone answering service and it would be a good idea to hire such a company until a permanent shelter can be built. It is also a good idea to have a P.O. Box.
6. Sick or injured animals should be referred to the nearest veterinarian.
It is not good public relations to recommend one animal doctor over another. The same policy should be followed in dealing with kennels or any other business that handles dogs and cats.
7. Do not take in rabbits, chickens, or any other type of barnyard or exotic pet, unless someone in the shelter staff is experienced in caring for such a pet.
It is also not a good idea to take in kittens or puppies until they are free of their dependence on the mother animal. Of course, emergencies do arise and the shelter may have to take extra pains to care for an unusual or unusually young animal.
8. Work with local government agencies to promote better animal welfare laws.
The publicity director can help educate the public of the need and importance of these laws
9. Sponsor rabies and birth-control clinics and invite all local veterinarians take part.
Many veterinarians and animal-health practitioners would be happy to work at such clinic events.
10. An adoption system can be set up with the co-operation of local newspapers, radio stations, Internet websites, and television networks.
Select an “animal of the week” and have his photograph taken for the newspapers. Give descriptions of several dogs and cats to the news directors of the local radio stations along with instructions on who to contact to claim or adopt the animal.
Television stations will also be co-operative. For example, many major cities have news stations that regularly offer cats or dogs up for adoption. This will almost always results in adoption for the pet shown and it will also serve to bring the public to the shelter for other pets. Good publicity is always a big help.
11. The establishment of a youth group will bring together enthusiastic youngsters who are willing to work for animals.
Children and animals just naturally go together. Some of the most energetic and hardest working members of local Humane Societies are the young people who love animals. Some of these kids sponsor their own fundraising projects and they buy gifts for the shelter from their own bank account.
Most of the members are teenagers, but anyone under 18 is eligible for with membership. You can sponsor meetings that are held once or twice per week and give the opportunity for the youngsters to work on their projects. They can also volunteer their time.
12. Humane projects can be promoted in other youth groups.
To further invest the youth of your community into the humane society, you can do so through poster contests, educational programs, and by presenting merit badges to youngsters who have contributed to animal welfare.
13. Humane Society members should be active in civic groups.
In addition they should work hard to establish activities that will aid the society in the campaign against animal abuse.
14. Members should be acquainted with all persons who work with animals.
This includes veterinarians, kennel owners, stable owners, cattery owners, farmers, horse and dog club members, etc. In fact, these people should be invited to join the Humane Society.
15. Establish a newsletter, both off-line and online.
This will be a letter sent to all members and friends of the Humane Society or can be printed in the local newspaper.
16. Every organization needs a capable leader.
This should be someone who is well-known in the community. People with radical ideas should be avoided for leadership. Anti-vivisection and anti-hunting campaigns are great and there is always room for more active workers in these fields, but these ideas are still not as popular as they should be and they might anger someone who would otherwise give his or her support to the group. A leader should be as neutral and as unbiased as possible.
17. Contact the American Humane Association or a member of some long-standing and successful Humane Society.
These people will be able to answer your questions and they will be able to help you solve your problems.
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