Oct 9, 2004

GROUP OFFERS FREE SHOTS FOR PETS

By DIANA DILLABER MURRAY
Of The Daily Oakland Press

Pam Porteous expects to find about 800 to 900 dogs and cats lined up along North Perry Street to receive free vaccinations.
The free-shot clinic is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at Centerstage Hall, 536 N. Perry.

“We’ve been doing this for about 10 years,” said Porteous of West Bloomfield, who is Michigan Animal Adoption Network’s Animal Care Network manager. The city animal control staff will be there to sell dog licenses for $10.

“It’s a group effort,” she said.

“We host free-shot clinics in areas that need them,” she said, such as Pontiac, Redford, Hamtramck, River Rouge and on Belle Isle in Detroit. “We also offer low-cost spaying and neutering programs as well, because the city is overrun with animals.”

The Animal Care Network is partnering with Dave Coleman, who operates Centerstage.

Porteous and her group look out for homeless dogs in cold weather.

“We deliver doghouses and straw to Pontiac. We’ve been doing that since 1994.” The network also delivers food in exchange for pet owners’ agreement to neuter or spay their animals.

The nonprofit organization operates on donations from people and companies, she said. Call (248) 545-5055 for information or to donate.