At Martin Waymire, our office dogs are an integral part of our company culture. On any given day, you can find a pup, or five, in our HQ, whether tucked away in an office, sleeping in a bed or snuggled on a lap. We love our dogs—and we love all animals—and we want to make sure they have a happy holiday season, too.
For our ninth annual Martin Waymire Gives project, we’ve chosen to highlight three different animal organizations that are working hard to make a difference both in the community and in the lives of animals. Over the course of the week, we’ll be showcasing each organization in a dedicated blog post.
The first organization that we’re featuring is the Ingham County Animal Shelter (ICAS). Located in Mason, Mich., ICAS ensures that state and county animal laws are being enforced, educates the community about responsible pet ownership, aids pet owners who may be struggling and cares for animals that have been surrendered or are homeless.
ICAS is an open admission shelter, meaning that any domestic animal in Ingham County is accepted. In 2017, ICAS took in 2,507 animals. The shelter helps match dogs and cats with their forever homes. They also provide volunteer opportunities to work with shelter pets and provide the animals with love and affection while they wait for their future family.
During this holiday season, the animal shelter is booming with programs and expansions, having recently broken ground on a new facility thanks to generous donations from the community, including a matching grant of $25,000 by a donor through the Community Foundation.
The shelter hosted two events on Dec. 15 – a discounted adoption event as well as the first “InPound” event.
Approved adoptions were discounted to $25 for dogs and $5 for cats. Guests stopped by to view and adopt between 5 p.m. and 1 a.m., and had the opportunity to take a photo with their new family member and Santa from 5 to 8 p.m.
ICAS is also hosted its first “InPounded” fundraising event, at which local celebrities are “kenneled” and must raise a $500 “impound” fee before they can go home for the holidays. Donations were made in person at the shelter or over the phone. Between the two events, 27 pets were adopted and nearly $9,000 we raised! All proceeds from the event benefit the shelter.
Learn more on the ICAS website or Facebook page and show your support!
