We have been coming to Michigan City with my family for the last 15 years and it’s always a trip I look forward to. While I don’t fully enjoy the sunshine, (I’m literally allergic) I do relish the time to unwind and take things just a bit easy. It’s a full week of nowhere to go and all day to get there.
If you haven’t already noticed, my happy place is when I’m with animals and vacation is no exception. I decided to stop by the local shelter to see what it was like and I was not disappointed in the slightest.
Michiana Humane Society is a bright and happy place, welcoming to anyone interested in adopting a furry companion or just wanting to play with them. The animals are all so well cared for that one staff member even joked that the dogs are treated better than her’s at home. The cats and kittens are all able to roam when visitors (aka me) come to play with them. I was so impressed that I asked to come back a do a mini shoot with some of their longer term residents, in hopes to give some of them just a little bit more attention.
I was grateful when they welcomed me (and my camera toting husband) back to so I could dive a little deeper into all the good work they are doing. I think what stood out to me the most about this shelter is its heart. You can just feel it from all the workers and volunteers; they truly love these animals and spending time at Michiana Humane Society. They knew each cat and dog personally and took the time to tell me a little about each of them.
The shelter operates purely on donations and fundraising events to help sustain them throughout the year. It’s a difficult feat, but you can tell how supported they are by the surrounding community. Just take a peek at their latest newsletter and you can see all the donations from people who believe in their cause. With only 14 staff, it’s a small but mighty shelter that is helping hundreds of animals each year.
I applaud Michiana Humane Society for all its efforts and I encourage anyone in the Northern Indiana/Southern Michigan area to stop by and visit with their four-legged tenants. If you’re ever on vacation around here, be sure to visit my happy place and make it your own. You won’t regret it.
It’s been the best of trips and I am so very lucky to be able to spend this time with my family and enjoy the limited cell service. I’ve included some moments from my vacation below and I’m already looking forward to next year’s trip.
THE RESCUES:
The first lady is Shiraz. She’s an older, black dog, so you can probably predict how much time she’s spent in the shelter. She’s a sweet and inquisitive girl who takes a little bit of time to warm up, but once she does, she’s all cuddles. Shiraz comes from a home with children so she would do best in a house with kids eight and older and would prefer to be the only dog. Shiraz is as fine as the wine she’s named after and has the manners to pair perfectly with her classy name.
Carlie was the next lovebug we got to meet and she was the opposite from Shiraz on all accounts. Young and full of energy, this girl is outgoing and ready to be anyone’s best friend. She’s only one or two years old so she’ll need a home that is looking to keep up with her energy. Since she’s still learning, she’d do best with older children who can help train her. She’s ready to find her forever home and you can find more information about her here.
They certainly saved the best for last. Gotta was by all accounts the perfect dog. He offered me his belly so that I could kindly give him all the scratches while he soaked up the sun. He’s a larger Pit Bull mix that has had a rough go of it lately. He bounced around at a few rescues before ending up at Michiana Humane Society where he is patiently waiting for his forever home complete with a couch and snuggles. Gotta is a staff favorite and he’s gotta be close to finding his happy ending soon!
THE RUNWAY:
xoxo,
