Duchess is Our Pet of the Week on Wet Nose Wednesday

Heather from the Humane Society of West Michigan wasn't able to come into the studio yesterday morning due to COVID-19, but we talked on the phone about Duchess!

This totally bodacious babe LOVES 80s jams, big 100.5 River fan, car rides, cheeseburgers, playing fetch, and is a gold-star snuggler! While she may seem shy at first, give this lady any amount of love and she'll turn into a puppy puddle in your lap! Duchess would love to find a home that is willing to give her the time and space she needs to be comfortable, where she can be your only baby, furry or otherwise, and the center of your attention. This little lady has enough love to give for THREE pets, and she promises to pay you back in lots of kisses, cuddles, and snuggles!

If you’d like to give Duchess a "furever" home, please visit our website at hswestmi.org

Empty the Shelters Thank you!

Check out all of the happy faces on these pets when they heard they were getting adopted last week during our fall #EmptyTheShelters event!

Thanks to the generous donations of BISSELL Pet Foundation and Cathy Bissell, we were able to find LOTS of loving pets happy homes!

We’d like to give an extra special shout-out to all of the adopters that came out to bring home a new furry friend this past week. Events like these can’t be a success without you opening your home to a shelter pet in need. Thank you so much!!

National Pitbull Awareness Month

October is National Pitbull Awareness Month, and HSWM is proud to be an advocate for misunderstood bully breeds everywhere! There are so many negative misconceptions about these pups, and their undeserved bad reputation means they tend to linger in our shelter longer than any of our other pets.

This month we're here to loudly and proudly CELEBRATE these meatball babies, and help bust some bully-breed myths for you! Did you know that “Pit Bull” isn't even an actual breed? It's a general term used to describe large, stocky dogs with big, blocky heads. Another common myth is that pit bulls can lock their jaws. This is NOT true of pits--or any animal! Pitties actually have less biting power than Dobermans, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds. Lastly, the American Temperament Test Society conducted tests that reported Pit bulls have a passing rate of 84.5% OR BETTER compared to the 77% average passing rate of the general dog population!

Share this information with your friends and family, and together let’s change the negative perception surrounding these snuggly, hippo babies!

Autumn Safety

Autumn is officially here, and we can't wait for cool crisp air, bonfires, crunchy leaves, and apple picking--but it's also good to keep in mind your pet's safety this time of year!

Make sure to keep your pet away from indoor hazards, like houseplants, rodenticides, school supplies, (many of which can be choking hazards) and fall decorations like corn cobs which can cause intestinal blockages. It’s also smart to steer clear of outdoor dangers, like possibly poisonous fungus, acorns (which are toxic to dogs), as well as wild animals settling down for the cold weather.

Instead, let your dog enjoy pet-safe fall treats--like plain pumpkin puree, apple slices, and unseasoned cooked sweet potatoes!

Please visit www.hswestmi.org to view profiles and learn more about adopting!