[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1148]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING HURON HUMANE SOCIETY

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                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 29, 2008

  Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the Huron Humane 
Society (HHS) in Alpena, Michigan, on its 25th anniversary this year. 
HHS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to caring for the homeless 
dogs and cats of Alpena County. On any given day, the shelter is 
charged with caring for more than 20 dogs and more than 80 cats. With a 
maximum capacity of 120 animals, the shelter often houses closer to 
150. With so many urgent needs in our local communities, our pets are 
often overlooked. The Huron Humane Society is making sure the welfare 
of four-legged friends, considered family to many, is not overlooked.
  The Huron Humane Society has been providing a valuable service to 
Alpena and the surrounding communities for more than a quarter century. 
HHS is a no-kill shelter and works to heal and rehabilitate the pets 
that come through its doors. While HHS cooperates with local 
governments to provide services to the surrounding city, township and 
county, it relies mostly on private donations to keep the doors open. 
Fundraisers, grants and donations account for more than 85 percent of 
its budget. And even with limited resources, the shelter continues to 
put the animals it cares for first.
  The Huron Humane Society provides a full range of services to help 
keep animals in homes and rehabilitate those animals that come to the 
shelter. The shelter serves as safe haven for stray animals, and 
provides a service for the residents of the community by making sure 
all animals that come through its doors are properly vaccinated. HHS 
provides shelter for stray and lost pets, rehabilitates those that are 
ill or injured, and ultimately locates suitable homes for those pets. 
The Huron Humane Society promotes a public education program, urging 
individuals to spay and neuter their pets, helping to reduce the number 
of unwanted animals in the community. HHS also offer valuable training 
to pet owners on properly caring for their pets, and offers a 
microchipping service to the community to aid in locating pets should 
they become lost.
  The shelter manages to accomplish this great work with a full-time 
staff of three and three additional part-time employees. While the 
shelter also receives assistance from those required to perform 
community service and local inmates, it is the community volunteers 
that provide the additional labor to keep the Huron Humane Society 
running.
  This coming weekend, the Huron Humane Society will hold its 25th 
Anniversary Gala. One year ago, this annual event raised more than 
$15,000. More than 200 people opened up their checkbooks to help the 
shelter continue to provide its valuable service to the community. 
Especially as we see story after story in the news of helpless animals 
being abused and mistreated, it is important every community have its 
own Huron Humane Society to look out for the animals that can't look 
out for themselves.
  Madam Speaker, as the Huron Humane Society celebrates its 25th 
anniversary, I ask that you and the entire U.S. House of 
Representatives join with me in recognizing the valuable contribution 
the shelter, its staff and volunteers make to Alpena County. Please 
join with and the people of Alpena County, Michigan in congratulating 
the Huron Humane Society on a job well done and best wishes for the 
future.

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