Buddies…For Life
Until every dog in Muskegon County has a
forever home.
The
Heartbreaking
Truth…
The number of homeless dogs in Muskegon County is soaring. Dogs are being discarded, abandoned in empty houses, dumped on desolate roads, even tied to trees and street signs. Entire litters of puppies are being left to fend for themselves. If they survive, these dogs inevitably find their way to Pound Buddies, Muskegon County’s only non-profit municipal animal shelter.
Pound Buddies’ ability to care for the increase in homeless dogs is a daily challenge.
The shelter is consistently over capacity and underfunded. While Pound Buddies works hard to find loving homes for every healthy adoptable dog, there simply are not enough homes for the number of dogs who need them.
Only financial support from the community will help overcome this tremendous capacity crisis.
Saving Lives
Together
Your help is urgently needed to overcome the capacity crisis and provide compassionate care for the increased number of dogs coming into Pound Buddies.
Buddies…For Life
A one-time financial donation or recurring monthly donations will give Pound Buddies the resources needed to sustain shelter operations during this tremendous influx of
homeless dogs.
Gives Hope
& So Much More
Becoming a Buddy For Life
Provide life-saving emergency medical care and surgeries.
Purchase food, shelter supplies, and low cost inoculations and preventative medications.
Increase access to spay/neuter services to reduce unwanted litters.
Fill the food pantry to help local pet owners experiencing financial hardship.
Now MoreThan Ever…
Since 2021, shelter operation & animal care expenses have
increased by 62%
Since 2021, staffing expenses have
increased by 32%
As of September 2023, dogs taken in at the shelter
increased by 42%
The balance of dogs left at the shelter, stray or unclaimed by owner,
increased by 52%
Become a Buddy…For Life
Please consider a recurring monthly gift and partner with Pound Buddies, until every dog in Muskegon County has a forever home.
THANK YOU!
Learn more why becoming a
Buddy for Life
is so important.
Why should the increase in homeless dogs concern me?
Unwanted dogs are often targets for abuse and neglect, sacrificed to dog fighting which increases criminal activity in our neighborhoods.
Stray dogs pose a significant threat to public safety. They are often the cause of car accidents, dog bites, property and livestock damage, and can be a significant threat to responsible pet owners and their dogs.
95% of unclaimed stray dogs have not received vaccinations for rabies, distemper, and parvo, allowing for the spread of these diseases in our area.
Communities who actively oversee and support the care and treatment of animals are rated higher as desirable places to live, work, and play.
Why is the number of homeless dogs increasing?
Evictions, lack of affordable housing, rental restrictions, changes in family/household dynamics.
Lack of access to low-cost spay/neuter services resulting in unwanted litters of puppies.
Irresponsible breeding.
Dogs acquired during Covid-19 who are no longer wanted.
Economic hardship and the rising costs of pet ownership.
Isn’t Pound Buddies funded by the County?
Pound Buddies receives a small portion of its funding from the County of Muskegon for contractual Animal Welfare and Public Safety services as recommended by all counties in Michigan.
County funding covers only the costs associated with picking up and caring for stray or abandoned dogs with no identified owner through their required 4–7 day stray hold. Pound Buddies covers medical costs for injured and sick dogs coming into the shelter and assumes all costs for the hundreds of dogs in their care beyond their stray hold period.