Huron Humane Society reports 221 animals served year‑to‑date; shelter seeks volunteers and donations

Mary Egan of the Huron Humane Society gave the council a semiannual report on Aug. 4, saying the shelter has taken in 221 animals so far this year, adopted 184 and continues to recover from damage caused by an ice storm.

Egan said the shelter had taken in 106 kittens and 80 adult cats through July 29, plus 17 dogs and 18 puppies, for a total of 221 animals. She said 184 of those animals have been adopted, seven animals were returned to owners, and one cat that tested positive for feline leukemia was transferred to a specialty facility.

Egan described damage from a recent ice storm that left part of the shelter without power or heat for up to 15 days. She thanked Schweitzer Veterinary Clinic for temporarily housing animals with medical needs, the sheriff’s office for delivering a generator, and councilmember Carol Walchek and others who helped with cleanup and repairs.

The shelter continues interior repairs, replacement of dog kennel doors and upkeep of “catios” (outdoor cat enclosures). Egan said staff and volunteers cared for animals during the outage and that the city provided a trench to drain water that had blocked the driveway.

Egan urged residents to adopt, volunteer and donate supplies such as laundry soap, bleach and canned cat food. She said the shelter operates a pet‑food pantry, partners with PetSmart for off‑site adoptions and is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Council moved to receive and file the Huron Humane Society annual report; the motion passed unanimously.

Sources: Remarks by Mary Egan, Huron Humane Society, to Alpena City Council, Aug. 4, 2025.