How one furry friend brings new beginnings to the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan
ST. JOSEPH, Mich. -- The Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan is expanding. After moving into their new building on Niles Road in 2018 they are now adding to their space, with a new building to help separate the shelter from the spay and neuter unit along with conference rooms.
The shelter is at capacity with over 60 cats and over 40 dogs. This new addition is scheduled to be complete in January of 2026.
According to Ronald Klemm, the President of the Humane Society explains that this expansion will come with an additional perk targeted towards senior pets.
Klemm explains, “then we do have an additional six kennels that are more soundproof. These are intended for older animals that are surrendered so they can adjust to their new environment before we introduce them to the primary herd.”
What sparked the addition of the shelter is a furry friend, a senior cat named Charlie. He is a black cat who would change the trajectory for this Humane Society.
Ronald Klemm, Board President of Human Society of Southwestern Michigan tells ABC 57’s Sidney Moore, “the owner, Mary Grish, was having to go into an assisted living the assisted living place would not permit Charlie to come with so she had made some phone calls in the area, and nobody had room for Charlie, so she called the Humane Society and Robin took her in, and within about a two week period, Charlie got adopted in.”
The shelter formed a relationship with Grish by keeping her updated on Charlie’s new life with a new family. Unfortunately, shortly after Charlie was adopted Grish passed away.
After her passing, the Humane Society received a call that Grish put them in her will with a gift they would never expect, $750,000 that would go towards growing their facility and better serving the community.
From the gift they were able to invest the funding to grow it enough to cover any bumps in the road they may come across during this new construction.
Part of the conditions in the will state that the building must be named after Mary Grish and this building will honor how one cat named Charlie and his owner helped create this facility to serve other animals just like Charlie.