Throwing open their doors Sunday afternoon, the Cherryland Humane Society welcomes the public to explore their facility, listen to guest speakers and learn about pet care, training and grooming.
Meet Your Cherryland Humane Society Day runs from noon to 2 p.m. at the facility, 1750 Ahlberg Road. A mix of entertainment and education, the event will also celebrate the society's 51st anniversary and fifth year at their current location. The society is also hosting their major annual fund raiser in September, Happy Tails To You II.
On tap are a clown, music by members of the Traverse City West Senior High School band and tours of the facility plus drawings for pet-related items. Speakers include Deputy Mark DePew of the Grand Traverse Sheriff's Department, who will bring along narcotic dog, Jesco, and Deputy Derick Morton with the department's bomb dog, Brutus. Dr. Jim Kartsimas, supervising veterinarian of the humane society will staff an "Ask the Vet” booth and also talk about proper pet care.
"This is something that we really do apart from any major fund raiser, it's a thank you to the community and combines a lot of different things,” said Mike Cherry, executive director of the society for more than 18 years.
The event is intended for all ages, a choice organizers made to further their goals of promoting responsible pet ownership.
"We were originally thinking of gearing some things towards kids only but then we thought that really people of all ages always need to be educated about responsible care of pets,” said Rita Melotti, a board member of the society. "That's why we wanted to do speakers that had a lot to offer with a variety of topics and give tours. Some things are geared towards kids, but not say [it is a] kids' day.”
The Cherryland Humane Society moved in 2002 to a 14,000 square facility, boosting their space for both operations and administration by six times. The new facility also features amenities such as a grooming area, isolation areas for both cats and dogs, separate dog runs and natural light in both the cat and dog areas.
The society averages 2,145 intakes a year, noted Cherry, about 60 percent of which are cats and the remainder dogs. Staff members get a huge assist from the 140 volunteers who do everything from animal care and socializing to publicity to gardening.
"People bring their own areas of expertise and help us,” said Cherry.
The facility's small store as well as the Humane Library will also be showcased at the Meet Your Cherryland Humane Society Day.
"Now we have a Humane Library that people can come in and take advantage of: do research or come in and read for fun,” noted Cherry. "[The new building] has allowed us to do a tremendous amount of things we couldn't have done in the old facility and it's helped us with public education and awareness in many ways and helped us with doing adoptions and caring for the animals when they're here.”
The Cherryland Humane Society will present Happy Tails to You II on Friday, September 21, beginning at 5 p.m. at the Williamsburg Creekside behind the Williamsburg Showcase Dinner Theater on M-72. Tickets in advance are $25 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under or $35 and $15 respectively at the door. Tickets are available at DeYoung's downtown or at the society. For more information or tickets, call the Cherryland Humane Society at 946-5116 or see their web site at www.cherrylandhumane.org.