Animal Welfare Nonprofits Band Together to End Overpopulation, Euthansia and Increase Adoption

A new West Michigan collaborative focused on animal welfare will launch this month. The West Michigan Network for Animal Protection (WMNAP) is comprised of six local animal welfare organizations dedicated to increasing adoptions and reducing euthanasia through education, advocacy, and spaying and neutering of animals.

“Nearly 10,000 pets are still entering the two largest shelters servicing our community each year,” said Jennifer Self-Aulgur of the Humane Society of West Michigan. “The bleak reality for these animals is that there simply are not resources to find all of them a home. In 2012, positive outcomes were achieved for 43% of the animals entering the shelters. Working together and sharing new and innovative ideas is the only way we will be able to help solve the problem of pet overpopulation and homeless pets in our community."

The organizations involved with WMNAP collectively represent the sheltering and caring of 95 percent of the homeless animals in Kent County. They include Kent County Animal Shelter, Humane Society of West Michigan, Community Spay and Neuter Initiative Partnership (C-SNIP), Vicky’s Pet Connection, Carol’s Ferals and Reuben’s Room Cat Rescue. The groups began meeting in late 2011 and WMNAP has been busy planning throughout 2013. They were awarded a $5,000 capacity building grant from the Dyer-Ives Foundation in May.

The community is invited to learn more about WMNAP at the Share the Love: Adoption & Awareness Event on December 14th from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Delta Subaru.

WMNAP will join the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) and Subaru of America for the annual year-end Subaru “Share the Love” event and campaign, which launched November 21, 2013 and runs through January 2, 2014. For every new Subaru purchased or leased during the “Share the Love” campaign, Subaru donates $250 to the owner’s choice of participating charities, one of which is ASPCA. A majority of the ASPCA’s “Share the Love” donation is targeted for distribution as grants to animal welfare organizations and WMNAP is pleased to be a recipient of one of these grants.

“The campaign with The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) and Subaru of America gives us the opportunity to educate the community on WMNAP and the importance of working together to improve the lives of dogs and cats that share our homes and neighborhoods,” said Kara Eagle, of the Community Spay Neuter Initiative Partnership.

As part of this national effort, WMNAP and Delta Subaru have teamed up to create off-site adoptions at the Grand Rapids dealership, along with offering free pet ID tagging, dog licensing and appointments for low cost spay and neuter. Visitors will also have the opportunity to “Stuff the Subaru Outback” with donated pet food and supplies for homeless pets under the care of WMNAP partners.

Event: Share the Love: Adoption & Awareness Event
Date: December 14, 2013
Location: Delta Subaru, 6025 28th Street, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

For more information about “Share the Love: Adoption & Awareness Event” please visit http://www.wmnap.org. To learn more about the “Share the Love” campaign, visit http://www.aspca.org/subaru.

About West Michigan Network for Animal Protection: WMNAP’s vision is a community that values the life of every animal. We work to inspire and partner with our community to increase adoptions and reduce euthanasia through education, advocacy, and spaying and neutering of animals in West Michigan. The ultimate goal of the collaborative is to increase live release rates and positive outcomes for homeless animals in our community. Together, we engage with our community to operate differently, think creatively, and save more lives.