Created Equal: Rethinking solutions for pets who live in poverty
Cary Junior September 12, 2024Michigan Humane’s CEO joined the show to discuss the organization’s efforts to support families with pets who are struggling.
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Michigan’s largest animal welfare nonprofit is expanding support for families with pets that live in poverty.
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Michigan Humane is providing resources like veterinary care, food and utilities for struggling families in an effort to keep pets in their homes instead of removing them.
Detroit does not have an even distribution of pet resources across the city, with one recent analysis from The Conversation identifying only 11 specialty pet stores in the city — many of which are located in higher income zip codes. Matt Pepper, CEO of Michigan Humane joined Created Equal on Tuesday to explain how the organization plans to help address the disparity.
“Our job is to go out there and make a presence, let people know there’s resources out there,” he said. “We figure out ‘what resources do you need?’ Because if I go there and take that dog, what’s going to happen is that family is going to go, ‘Well fine. If that’s all these people are going to do when they come to my house, then I’m not answering the door next time, and I’m just going to get another dog.”
Guest:
- Matt Pepper, CEO of Michigan Humane
Listen to Created Equal with host Stephen Henderson weekdays from 9-10 a.m. ET on 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand.
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