As a young child, Hope Lowry was known for taking in stray animals off the street. She was passionate about helping animals that had little hope of finding a home. She would push her mother’s wheelchair door to door asking for donations to help nurse animals back to health before finding their forever homes. She was a trailblazer and a force to be reckoned with when she founded the Lenawee Humane Society in 1921.
She went on to serve as executive director and board president before handing over the reins. She also became a mentor and role model for her young friend Hildreth Spencer who carried on her legacy and dedication to the welfare of homeless animals; their vision is still alive today. We like to think we share Hope’s same zeal and commitment, more than 100 years later. We think Hope and Hildreth would be proud of all that we have accomplished and all we hope to do in the future.
We’ve learned to do a lot with a little over the years at LHS. But eventually we can only do so much.
We’ve more than outgrown our space. We know that the following problems are “good” challenges to have because they mean the community has come to count on us to provide the services and support abandoned, abused, and stray animals need. More and more people come to us for low-cost spay and neuter services, educational programs, and to adopt their new best friend.
More animals need our help. Now that we’ve cultivated a transparent, trusting relationship with our community, many more people are turning to our no-kill shelter for help. They know we will do everything possible to find animals a safe and healthy forever home to live out their lives.
The animals need more room. The Lenawee Humane Society does not currently have inside/outside connected kennels that allow dogs to freely move to an outdoor space. It requires a lot of time (and expense) to take dogs out individually for bathroom breaks and exercise. The dogs also need trail space and large outdoor play areas to expend their energy, which makes them happier—healthier and more adoptable.
Our clinic is too small. As more people use our spay and neuter services, we need additional space and veterinarian services to meet the demand. We are the only low-cost spay and neuter clinic in the area, which is critical in helping keep pets in homes while reducing the unwanted pet population.
We need more isolation areas. Isolation is required for new intakes to prevent the potential spread of diseases while also giving us time to evaluate any potential health or behavior risks while we prepare the pet for adoption. Furthermore, it’s essential to have restricted areas to house animals that have been abused, confiscated from hoarding cases, and other situations that require a safe, secure holding spot while they receive the evaluation and care they need.
We need more income-generating programs. Our low-cost spay and neuter programs not only provide an essential service, they generate revenue for the Lenawee Humane Society. Our community has asked us to provide boarding, training and doggie daycare programs to meet the need for these services in this area. A boarding program will generate revenue, as will additional educational programs once we have the space to provide them.
A new location to better serve our clients. Our location is on a busy street, close to the road with no staff parking, minimal customer parking, and no safe walking areas for pets or people.
It’s time to do more. We have worked with an outstanding group of leaders who have guided us in our Campaign for Hope.
This $6.5 million Phase 1 of our Campaign for Hope will:
• Provide indoor/outdoor kennel space for our cats and dogs.
• Provide a safe and convenient space for potential adopters, families using our services, and community partners.
• Provide space for more veterinary care and maintain low-cost services associated with animals, including spay, neuter, and microchipping, which will also provide ongoing revenue.
• Add a vaccine clinic for pet owners.
• Provide space for exercise programs, enrichment and play groups for our animals.
• Expand our educational and community programming.
Lenawee Humane Society Launches $6.5 Million Capital Campaign for First-Ever Humane Society on a Hospital Campus
Adrian, Michigan – In a historic groundbreaking event on October 23, 2024, the Lenawee Humane Society announced the launch of its $6.5 million “Campaign for Hope”, marking the first-ever humane society to be located on a hospital campus in the United States. The new facility will be built on the ProMedica Charles and Virginia Hickman Hospital campus in Lenawee County, thanks to a generous land donation from the hospital.
To date, the Lenawee Humane Society has raised $4.1 million, which takes them to 64% of their campaign goal. This achievement has been made possible through the generous support of many community individuals, corporations, and local foundations who believe in the vision and mission of this transformative project.
Dr. Julie Yaroch, president of ProMedica Charles and Virginia Hickman Hospital, emphasized the significance of this new facility. “The new Lenawee Humane Society location is expected to enhance the health and welfare of the animals. Additionally, its close proximity to the hospital creates opportunities for the Lenawee Human Society to provide a therapeutic and calming environment for select patients and staff who have an interest. Given the well-documented positive effects of animals on mental health, we are looking forward to further exploring potential collaboration. As a nonprofit organization, we are pleased to partner with another nonprofit in this effort, which we believe will benefit the entire community.”
The significance of the new facility being located on a hospital campus lies in the potential for innovative collaboration. This arrangement opens up opportunities for the new facility to offer new and different services, such as comfort animal services to interested hospital staff and patients; convenient volunteer opportunities for hospital staff, like walking dogs; and temporary, safe boarding for patients’ pets if needed.
The Lenawee Humane Society has outgrown its current space, and this new facility will help address several critical needs, including:
● Indoor/Outdoor Kennels: Allowing dogs to move freely between inside and outside spaces, which enhances their wellbeing and increases adoptability.
● Expanded Veterinary Clinic: Providing more space for spay, neuter, and vaccination services, which are essential for reducing the pet population and offering low-cost care.
● Improved Intake Area: Allowing more animals to be accepted into the facility, which improves turnover rate and creates a better resource for the community.
It is important to note that while the new Lenawee Humane Society facility will be located on the hospital campus, noise levels have been carefully considered. The campus is quite large, allowing for a sizable distance between the buildings. Additionally, the hospital was constructed with sound-proofing materials designed to minimize outside noise. As always, Lenawee Humane Society remains committed to being a good neighbor.
Marcie Cornell, Executive Director of the Lenawee Humane Society, shared her excitement for the future: “We’ve worked tirelessly to meet the growing needs of our community, but our current facility no longer meets the demand. This new space will allow us to expand our services, provide more room for the animals, and continue offering life-saving programs. We are thrilled for the support of ProMedica to create a safe and humane space for the pets of Lenawee County.”
The Campaign for Hope will fund a facility that not only houses more animals but also offers expanded community programming, veterinary care, and enrichment activities. This new space will ensure that that Lenawee Humane Society can continue its mission to save the lives of animals while enriching the lives of humans.
For more information about the campaign or to learn how you can get involved, please contact:
Marcie Cornell
Executive Director, Lenawee Humane Society
Phone: 734-625-0126
Email: mcornell@lenhumanesoc.org
Press Coverage
Honorary Chair
Cathy Nystrom
Committee Chairs
Jennifer Borton-Rupert
Brandon and Jennifer Farver
Jeff and Laura Tagsold
Committee
Marcie Cornell | Executive Director
Ted and Anna Aranda
Sheriff Troy Bevier
Todd Butler
Jamie Camburn
Garry Clift
Doug and Valerie Gray
Scott Hill
Ed and Janis Montalvo
Margaret Noe
Christopher Phillips
Sheila Dwyer Rivait
Susan Steele
David and Barb Wagley
Sasha Wilkerson
Are you interested in becoming part of this exciting, historical project?
