The staff and students at the Brighton, Michigan campus of Ross Medical Education Center recently held a supply drive for the Livingston County Humane Society. Most of the staff, faculty, and students are animal lovers so this community service is a favorite, but this time the circumstances were a bit different.
Students in the Dental Assistant program were working in their administrative classroom when one of the students noticed someone was watching through the window. A fluffy cat was peering in at the students, crying. The students jumped into action, notifying Campus Director Susan Mall. Susan and Jennifer Ritter, Medical Assistant program and Medical Insurance Billing and Office Administration program instructor, investigated the situation and found the animal to be very thin and limping. The cat was quickly named “Ross” by the students and was quickly taken to the Livingston County Humane Society down the street, where workers found it had a microchip. Susan Mall felt she left Ross in good hands at the facility.
After returning to campus, the students and staff decided to collect supplies for the organization. According to the Livingston County website, there are nearly 2,200 stray, unwanted, injured, or abandoned animals in the county each year. Throughout the entire month, the whole campus worked together to help their furry friends by bringing in donations for the Livingston County Humane Society.
During the drive, over 50 items were donated by students and staff. Some of the items collected ranged from bags of dry food to canned food, tons of treats and toys, as well as gently used towels and blankets, bleach, and pee pads. The facility has room to care for 130 cats and dogs, with interview rooms for potential pet parents. While the organization facilitates pet adoptions, they also offer other services. According to their website, the society also helps track lost pets that may end up at their facility, they help with pet care questions, and they ensure all the pets in their care receive excellent treatment. Their new surgical unit will spay or neuter your pet at a reduced cost. The society conducts educational programs and is home to a pet food pantry. The society is always in need of supplies and volunteers, especially for their foster pet program. More information is available at the Livingston County Humane Society website at humane-livingston.org.