BISSELL Pet Foundation - WKTV Journal

Peanut the cat needs a home. (Courtesy, Janet Vormittag)

By Janet Vormittag

WKTV Contributor

Are you considering adding a furry friend to your family? If so, you’re in luck. The BISSELL Pet Foundation is hosting its Fall National “Empty the Shelters” event in 43 Michigan shelters.

Several local shelters are participating including the Humane Society of West Michigan and the Kent County Animal Shelter.

Our nation’s animal shelters are in crisis due to increased owner surrenders and stray intakes, spiking post-pandemic euthanasia rates across the country.

Eli the rabbit is available. (Courtesy, Janet Vormittag)

“Our nation’s animal shelters are facing an overcrowding crisis unlike anything we have experienced in more than a decade. The devastating increase in owner surrenders and stray intakes has left tens of thousands of socialized, house-trained, and leash-trained pets desperate to find a home,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation.

From Oct. 1-15, BISSELL Pet Foundation will sponsor reduced adoption fees at more than 345 shelters in 42 states. Adopters can save a life and bring home a spayed/neutered, vaccinated pet available for adoption for $50 or less.

Alize the dog is hoping for a new home. (Courtesy, Humane Society)

Tania Jaczkowski, executive director of the Humane Society of West Michigan, said the humane society is only doing a one day event on Saturday, Oct. 14, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Close to 50 dogs, 100 cats and a few rabbits will be available and adoption fees will be waived.

Anyone interested in adopting is encouraged to fill out an application online at www.hswestmi.org Adopters can also be pre-approved which will save time on the day of the event.

Alize, a 74-pound hound mix, is hoping to find a new family. Alize loves toys and playing fetch. She also loves affection. She’s only a year and a half old and is a long-termer at the humane society having been there longer than three weeks.

Peanut, a 13-year-old gray cat, is hoping to find a family with a couch where he can spend his golden years. Peanut is sweet, independent and playful. He needs a home without young children. Peanut has an over active thyroid which is controlled by daily medication.

A rabbit who needs a home is 10-year-old Ike. He currently lives in Jaczkowski’s office where he takes up close to half of her floor space. Ike is friendly and will take treats out of your hand.

Jaczkowski said they have participated in more than 20 Empty the Shelter events and have always seen increased adoptions. She added that Bissell has been very supportive of the humane society. “They’re fantastic.” When the humane society needed more space for their cats, the Bissell Pet Foundation paid for a cattery expansion which included several rooms for free-roaming cats.

Jaczkowski said the humane society, like other shelters and rescues, is feeling the crisis of too many pets being surrendered and adoptions being down. Plus, since the Covid pandemic there are more animals with behavioral issues. She feels the reason for the crisis is the economy. “People can’t afford another mouth to feed.”

The humane society also is feeling the pinch of inflation. “We’re purchasing less, but it’s costing us more.”

Jaczkowski hopes the Empty the Shelters event will result in some of the animals at the humane society finding new homes.

“It’s a lot of work, but the exposure it brings to the animals is worth it.”

Visit www.BISSELLPetFoundation.org/Empty-The-Shelters for more information.

By Philip Janowski
WKTV Contributing Writer

BISSELL Pet Foundation founder Cathy Bissell (Supplied)

The BISSELL Blocktail Party, West Michigan’s premier animal welfare fundraiser, is returning Tuesday, June 7. The last event in 2019 resulted in more than 1,000 guests — both human and canine — coming together to support homeless pets. Pet lovers and their four-legged friends are invited to this party with a purpose.

This year the event, which is from 6-9 p.m. at the East Grand Rapids track, will include live grilling with Celebrity Chef Paul Wahlberg of Wahlbergers. There will be adoptable pets from local shelters, including Labradors, Doodles, assorted puppies, and more. The popular silent auction is also returning with unique art and pet-themed packages.

Other attractions include DJ AB providing music, ArtPrize winner Chris LaPorte creating caricatures of furry friends, and even a specially created Blocktail IPA (I Prefer Adoption) beer.

“This year’s BISSELL Blocktail Party is going to be bigger and better than ever,” said Cathy Bissell, founder of the BISSELL Pet Foundation. “[The] Blocktail is BISSELL Pet Foundation’s primary fundraising event, providing critical support to give homeless pets a second chance. It wouldn’t be possible without the generous individuals who attend and sponsor the event.”

All of the proceeds will go directly to save homeless pets through grants from BISSELL Pet Foundation.

Besides a chance for fundraising, there’s good reason for celebration. In May, the BISSELL Pet Foundation announced a record number of adoptions for its National “Empty the Shelters” campaign. From May 2 to 15, more than 13,500 shelter pets in 45 states—approximately 6,035 cats and 7,469 dogs—were adopted through the event.

“Empty the Shelters” was created in 2016, and was originally hosted in just a few Michigan shelters. Since then, this event has grown to be BISSELL Pet Foundation’s most prominent program and the country’s largest funded adoption event. To date, “Empty the Shelters” has found homes for 96,068 pets and provided more than $7.6 million in direct funding to shelter partners.

“Right now, shelters are so full, and pets are experiencing longer stays,” Bissell said. “This is an expensive program for our small foundation, but it is a proven success. And we can’t turn our backs when we know we can save thousands of lives in one event.”

Tickets to the BISSELL Blocktail Party are available online for $100 per person and $50 for students with a valid student ID. Sponsors at $1,500 and above will receive tickets to the separate BISSELL Sponsor Party on June 6, which will have the talents of Lou Gramm and Asia featuring John Payne. Visit www.bissellblocktailparty.com for more details and to purchase tickets or be a sponsor for the event.