Since 2011, Detroit Dog Rescue has been leading Detroit’s no-kill mission and saving some of the city’s worst cruelty cases. Dogs who would have never had a chance found rescue, reprieve and rehabilitation at Detroit Dog Rescue. We’ve carried dogs out of burning buildings with Detroit firefighters and treated the wounds of abused dogs with Detroit police. We’ve worked with Detroit’s administration at the highest levels to create changes in animal welfare and we’ve continued to be a catalyst for accountability when it comes to the humane rescue and treatment of animals.
Detroit is experiencing a renaissance, but that renewal of hope hasn’t reached the animals just yet. There are still thousands of starving, neglected and abused dogs in Detroit and all of them are waiting for us. There are 142 square miles in the city and Detroit’s municipal shelter can’t keep up despite improvements. On any given day, twenty-five more dogs enter the city’s municipal shelter and Detroit has continued to rely on Detroit Dog Rescue for relief.
Sadly, we’ve outgrown our current 2,000 square foot building and it’s hard to continue to help when we’ve maximized our space. Our current facility has no indoor training area, a small laundry room which makes avoiding cross contamination difficult, and a yard that is only a fraction of the size of what we need. Perhaps our most crippling dilemma is that our current location has no space to house on-site adoption events. Thanks to fosters who open their homes and hearts, we’re able to save hundreds of dogs each year, but we need more space.
Recently, our wish for more space was fulfilled when Westcott Veterinary Hospital donated their 11,000 square foot Detroit location on Grand River Avenue to Detroit Dog Rescue. The space is comprised of three separate buildings that were conjoined into one in the early 1960’s. This gift will more than quadruple our rescue operations. A welcoming room for intakes will allow our crew to help Detroit Police officers on site, exam rooms will give our visiting veterinarians the area they need to perform medical procedures, our on-site adoption rooms will be an inviting space for potential adopters, and our mutt-ternity suites will provide a calming atmosphere for pregnant strays to give birth before their puppies transfer to our neonatal puppy pre-school room.
Although the structure of the Westcott Veterinary Hospital is solid and sustainable, current enforcement codes, enrichment plans, and Michigan Department of Agriculture requirements suggested a complete renovation. Our plans include a $2M transformation of the existing building, utility systems and training yard, as well as furnishings, program supplies for our rehabilitation program and our puppy pre-school. Detroit Dog Rescue has been a catalyst for change for a decade. We’ve proven our commitment, longevity and sustainability in Detroit and now we need you. Our rescue is licensed and regulated by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and the city of Detroit has welcomed this endeavor with their sincere gratitude. Please consider making a gift that will create a legacy in Detroit and a lifetime of love for every animal we rescue.
Gratefully,
Kristina Millman-Rinaldi
Executive Director
