Adoption event for Katrina pets awaits Clinton Twp.’s ok – October 24, 2005

Detroit News
October 24, 2005

Adoption event for Katrina pets awaits Clinton Twp.’s OKThe Hogs n’ Dogs planned for Saturday needs approval to use a fire hydrant to fill a pool for a stunt dog show.
By Edward L. Cardenas / The Detroit News

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — About 100 animals stranded by Hurricane Katrina and brought to Metro Detroit by local volunteers will be available for adoption if the township board approves an event planned for Saturday.

The board will consider a request from the Michigan Animal Adoption Network, Wolverine Harley Davidson and radio station WCSX 94.7 to host a “Hogs n’ Dogs” pet adoption event to raise money for organizations that are caring for animals rescued from areas of the country affected by Katrina.

The event is to be held at the Harley dealership at 44660 N. Gratiot. Township permission was required because the groups want to use a fire hydrant to fill a pool with 26,000 gallons of water for a stunt dog demonstration.

“We had been hearing reports of tens of thousands of abandoned and stranded animals,” said Amy Wettlaufer, network manager for the Ferndale-based Michigan Animal Adoption Network, whose members made several trips to the flood-ravaged Gulf region to bring animals back to Metro Detroit. “The city was desolate. There was no one to feed the animals.”

The board will consider granting approval for the event during its meeting at 6:30 p.m. today in the township board chambers in the Civic Center, 40700 Romeo Plank.

Since the Harley Davidson dealership opened on Gratiot in 2003, it has held charity rides for Macomb County Family Independence Agency, families at Selfridge Air National Guard Base and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

The animal adoption event also will include former Detroit Tiger Milt Wilcox’s “Ultimate Air Dog Competition,” in which stunt dogs jump into a pool.

While the sideshows will help raise money for the rescue organization, the adoption of the animals is the primary goal of the event. Volunteers rescued dogs and cats from the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

The pets were surrendered by residents who could no longer care for them, or were left at shelters by their owners. The owners signed a document to surrender their animals.

Once the pets were brought to Michigan, they had to be treated for heartworm, skin and other health issues. They also did not have regular food and water, and were skin and bones in some cases, Wettlaufer said.

Marie Skladd, president of the adoption network, recommended potential adopters bring their family and even other animals to the event to make sure family members and the animals get along.

You can reach Edward L. Cardenas at (586) 468-0529 or ecardenas@detnews.com.

 

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