Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter Organization

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About Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter

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Mission

The mission of the Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter is to provide loving care and sanctuary to animals, encourage adoptions and reunions, and promote respect, responsibility, and compassion for all animals.

History - About Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter

The Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter (the Friends or FFDAS) was formed in 1993 by a small group of people who wanted to improve the conditions for the animals at the Shelter and promote their adoption into loving homes. The Friends is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to helping homeless and owned animals.

The Dearborn Animal Shelter is owned by the City of Dearborn and is managed by the Police Department.

The Shelter enjoys a "scenic" location between the City Transfer Station and the Waterworks and prior to the Friends involvement, was run as a “pound”. When we began in 1993, there was no adoption screening and animals were sold for $5.

We worked closely with the Mayor and the Chief of Police and in 1995 submitted a proposal to the City to actually run the Shelter. This was approved by the City Council and in July of 1996, we took over. We hired a licensed veterinary technical to manage the Shelter and instituted significant policy changes. All animals adopted from our Shelter are now fully vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and are identified by a microchip. We also participate over 50 community outreach programs including low cost spay/neuter clinics, offsite adoptions, City events, and a golf outing in June. We care for over 2,500 animals a year at the Shelter and are grateful for our more than 100 active volunteers. You can visit our web site at www.dearborn-animals.com for more information on us.

Our dream has always been to build a new Shelter facility and we are so excited that we are now in the finance and design phases. It is being planned as a true community service and will offer not only homeless animal care and adoptions but also a retail store and various services including training, boarding, and grooming. Our proposed new location is right next to the new Dearborn Civic Center. You will go to the Civic Center for the human members of your family and to our Animal Adoption and Education Center for the pet members of your family.

Although we receive a subsidy from the City that covers a portion of our operating costs for the Shelter, we are totally dependent upon donations and fund raisers for our operation.

Our major accomplishments to date include:

1993	Friends organization formed and recognized by the City
1994	In partnership with the City, totally reconstructed the cat room at the Shelter.
1995	Produced our first newsletter - Paw Prints Made proposal to City that Friends operate the Shelter
1996	City issues contract to Friends to operate the Shelter Hired professional staff to operate the Shelter Initiated vaccination program Initiated adoption screening
1997	Rebated operational subsidity money to the City Won a Michigan Municipal Award for innovative achievements in government
1998	Initiated mandatory spay/neuter program in partnership with local veterinarians Initiated mandatory microchip identification program Completed major facilities improvements including an isolation ward Completed our Cage Campaign to obtain sponsors for 70 new stainless steel cages Conducted the 5th Annual Critter Invitational (golf outing)
1999	Participated in over 60 events with the community - more than 1 per week Complete major facilities improvements including dog runs, a security system, interior and exterior signage and other improvements Partnered with Brian and De Moehler and the Detroit Tigers to produce a Tigers and Shelter calendar as well has participation in several community events Launched the web site and began posting adoptable animals City sponsored a recognition dinner and ceremony for major donors and active volunteers Began first merchandise sales
2000	Obtained leader, initiated strategy, and received preliminary City approval for a new Shelter facility -- the Dearborn Animal Adoption and Education Center (AEC) Participated in nearly 70 events -- half of which involved animal adoptions Adopted a new logo
2001	Commissioned the design of the new Shelter Facility and conducted reviews with the City, Advisory Board, Volunteers, and Staff Participated in over 90 events Deployed an adult pet education class through the Dearborn Adult Education Program Presented 19 pet education sessions with workbooks to 475 3rd graders in 11 elementary schools through our Wags and Whiskers Program. To date, over 1,038 students have been exposed to this animal education program. Conducted our first Black Tie and Tails dinner, dancing, and auction event Initiated a grant application program and applied for 15 grants
2002	Saved 65% of the animals Achieved 43,000 hours of volunteer time Remained financially healthy during difficult economic times

Contact Us

You may contact us by phoning (313.943.2697) or visiting (2661 Greenfield) the Shelter during normal business hours or by sending us an email.

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Page Last modified April 11, 2008
Copyright © Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter All rights reserved. Adoptions, Donations, and Volunteers always appreciated.
2661 Greenfield, Dearborn, MI 49120, 313-943-2697, friends@dearborn-animals.com, www.dearborn-animals.com