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About Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter
Mission
History 
Contact Us
Major Accomplishments
Board of Directors
Big Heart Award
Paw Prints
In the News
Employment Opportunities
Volunteers
New Shelter Campaign
Document Library

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.

Contact Us

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

 

 


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.  

City of Dearborn  Home Town of Henry Ford

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 technician 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
2008

  • Provided loving care for over 2,100 animals

  • Had over 11,500 visitors come into the shelter

  • Found the owners of 227 lost pets

  • Adopted over 1,100 deserving pets into good homes - see our Happy Tails

  • Were able to add 2 more trailers to our Cat Community Center to house another 30 kitties

  • Began our Recycl-a-Bullz program. This program is targeted to help bully breed dogs, specifically pit bulls by promoting responsible guardianship of these dog through responsible placement, education, humane training and exercise methods. With all the talk about BSL, breed specific legislation, it is very important that we work to educate the pubic, public officials and the media, about the truth of these dogs and what wonderful companion pets they can be.

  • Have over 500 volunteers on our roster- 300 adults and 200 students

  • Received some good Media coverage

    o  WDIV (channel 4) 11:00 news

    o  Sandy Kovach at Smooth Jazz 98.7

    o  Jyl Forsyth at WYCD Young Country 99.5

    o  Press and Guide - our sincere thanks to Sean Delaney for writing and printing stories through
    the year

    o  Mary Lendosion- Adopt a Pet section in the Free Press

    o  On going support and features on CDTV. They are currently airing segments on the shelter
    on Meet you Council which highlights Black Tie and the Mayor’s Forum which highlights the
    Fox 2 program.

    o  Fox 2 – Weekend morning show plus having the honor of being selected over hundreds of
    nominees for the Gift of Giving special.

  • Met our budget objectives and were able to contribute to our Rainy Day Fund (please check back in February for a complete list of all our generous donors)

  • Again met our goal of saving ALL of our adoptable animals

2009

2009 Was A Very Busy Year for the Friends with many challenges and opportunities.  We'll never forget it and we'll always be grateful.  Thank you for your incredible help.  Together we achieved success and were able to provide loving care for all the many animals who came to us this year seeking help and a second chance.

Animals

 

·          Intake:

Over 2,595  (948 dogs up 17%, 1,507 cats up 14%, other 140) up by 15.2% in 2009 and up 26.1% since 2007

·          Adoption rates:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Shelter Visitors

     The significant increases in animal intake are attributable to 3 hoarding situations and 2 cat colony rescues (207 additional animals) and animal surrenders from a poor economy.

      The end-of-year population in the shelter is 306 or double what it was at the end of 2008.  We need your help - see our adoptable animals.

      For the 8th straight year, 100% of all adoptable animals were saved.  Approximately 65% of the animals who find their way to the shelter were able to be saved.  On a national average, shelters euthanize 70% of the animals they receive.

A total of 33,835 individuals and families visited the shelter, up 22% from 2008

Volunteers:

             On roster

 

859 (approximately 407 adults; 452 students)

Hours donated are the equivalent of 51 employees

·          Special Programs

One of the few organizations to accept youth under the age of 16.  One of the training sites for the ARKAY and Step training program for mentally and developmentally challenged adults.  One of the employment sites for AARP.

Events:

          Community and 

                Education

          Offsite Adoptions

          Fundraising

 

 

 

 

 

 

          City of Dearborn

          Volunteer

          Administrative

 

Over 200 including Low Cost Sterilization and Microchip Clinics, Puppy and Dog Training 

           Classes, Bully Splash Bash, and more

22 at several different locations (including Detroit Lions and Red Wings games)

Over 25 including:

-          Black Tie and Tails Dinner, Dance, and Auction

-          Critter Invitational Golf Outing

-          Mutt Strut Dog Walk

-          Cool Cat Casino Night, Pet Photos, and others

-          3rd party sponsored events from Kiernan's Hogs for Dogs, Bailey’s Grille and Pub,
    Aleta Sill’s Bowling World in Farmington, and many others

Homecoming and Memorial Day Parade

Over 50 including orientation sessions and volunteer meetings

Over 100 including Board, Committee, and special meetings

Public Relations

      News about the Friends appeared in at least 10 international publications from Taiwan to Australia, 30 national publications from USA Today to the New York Times, 12 statewide publications from Detroit Free Press to Lansing State Journal and Grand Rapids Press.  Stories were carried on all major television networks including  ABC News, CBS News, Fox News, and MSNBC as well as 13 out of state network affiliates from Seattle to Orlando  and over 70 web portals including MSNBC.com, UPI.com, AOL.com/news, YahooNews, and blogs on Twitter and Facebook.

      The Friends now appear regularly on Fox 2 (monthly), CDTV (30 minute monthly program airing repeatedly), and in a column in the monthly publication School Life.

Financial (preliminary numbers)

          Sources of Funds

          Use of Funds

 

Donations 42%, Events 29%, Adoption and Shelter Fees 15%, City Subsidy 9%, Other 5%

Animal Care 81% plus funded Rainy Day and Cash Reserves

Supporter Demographics

During 2009, the following came from outside of Dearborn - 68% of adoptive families, 60% of  volunteers, 68% of donors, and a total of 56% of the 33,835 records on our database. 

 

 

 


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Page Last modified October 03, 2009
Copyright ©  Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter  All rights reserved.   Adoptions, Donations, and Volunteers always appreciated.
2661 Greenfield, Dearborn, MI 48120, 313-943-2697, friends@dearborn-animals.comwww.dearborn-animals.com

 

 


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