HOPE Animal Shelter celebrates 25 years of service

IRONWOOD - Help Orphaned Pets Everywhere Animal Shelter is entering its 25th year of service and with it continues a commitment to prevention of needless suffering and cruelty to animals on the Gogebic Range, according to director Randy Kirchhoff.

HOPE has accepted more than 10,000 cats and dogs since opening its doors, said Kirchhoff.

"HOPE Animal Shelter is there for the lost, stray and abandoned animals on the Gogebic Range," he said.

HOPE is a nonprofit organization founded in 1992 in a remodeled house in Aurora Location. After two years, it moved its operation to a trailer just north of the current facility in the Ironwood Industrial Park.

In 1998, voters of Gogebic County approved a millage which allowed the county to hire an animal control officer and helped support the current 2,800-square-foot facility at 590 Easy St. The millage has been renewed every four years since.

HOPE also receives municipal funds from Iron County, Wis., from dog licenses and other funds. The municipal funds make up about 40 percent of the shelter's funding.

"We are thankful and appreciative for the overwhelming community support we have received throughout these years," said Kirchhoff.

Adoption and reclamation fees, along with donations and year-round fundraising, make up the remaining 60 percent of HOPE's operating budget.

HOPE works closely with law enforcement personnel from Gogebic and Iron Counties who bring in most stray animals and can accept animals 24 hours a day.

HOPE is open seven days a week, 365 days a year, Kirchhoff said.

For the past five years, HOPE has been honored by the Michigan Pet Fund Alliance for its no-kill policy and consistently high save rate among small animal shelters in Michigan. Gogebic County is among 10 Michigan counties with a save rate over 90 percent.

"HOPE's save rate has consistently been in the 97 to 99 percent range the last five years. No animal is euthanized because of space limitations or time at the shelter. Our goal is to provide food, water and shelter until the pet is back with its owner or into a new, forever home. Sometimes that means hours or sometimes that means months; we will do what we must do to give the animal a second chance. They didn't volunteer to become homeless," Kirchhoff said.

There have been many changes in the past 25 years. From a paved parking lot to a 2,000-square-foot dog park, HOPE is continuously striving to make improvements to help care for the more than 500 animals it receives each year.

"We have a dedicated group of staff, volunteers and board members who are always looking for ways to help the dogs and cats in our care," said Kirchhoff.

Additional outside dog kennels, a seasonal outside cattery and new and larger inside pet cages have helped make the animals safer and more comfortable while they await their turns for adoption.

The last couple of years, grants have enabled HOPE and the local veterinary clinics to provide a low-cost spay or neuter assistance program (SNAP) to help area residents with their pet-related expenses.

"Spay/neuter reduces the overpopulation of unwanted and homeless animals. We want to reach pets in areas where cost is an obstacle to obtaining animal health care and spay/neuter services," said Kirchhoff.

HOPE has had a great response in its partnership with the Ojibway Correctional Facility in Marenisco in implementing a dog training program. Currently four to five dogs are at the facility being trained and socialized by inmates that were selected during an interview process. "We're very pleased with the success and with the reports that the dogs that were trained and subsequently adopted have made great pets in their forever home," said Kirchhoff.

Shelter improvements are among the priority goals of HOPE this year, including central air conditioning and a refurbished floor.

"The building is showing some wear and tear after almost 20 years of use. Hopefully, we can get these projects finished in time for a 25-year open house," said Kirchhoff.

A food bank for community pet owners is also being planned.

HOPE has worked to expand its foster care program in response to the increased number of owner surrendered pets it has received in the past year. Volunteers have also been instrumental in helping carry out the tasks and to achieve the consistency the public has come to expect from HOPE.

"We have a dedicated group of staff, volunteers and board members that are always looking for ways to help the dogs and cats in our care," said Kirchhoff. "I started out volunteering at HOPE over 10 years ago, and many of our current staff members started their tenure at HOPE as volunteers. Working with the animals can be overwhelming and frustrating at times, but also rewarding and fulfilling and that outweighs the negatives and provides you with a sense of pride and satisfaction when you see that pet get a new home."

For more information, call 906-932-1511, or visit myhopeanimalshelter.org.