Michigan Humane Society: Animal Welfare in Detroit, 1877-2002

Throughout its 125 years of service, the Michigan Humane Society has played an integral role in the development of Detroit and its commitment to social service. Early policy makers, officers, and board members of the Michigan Humane Society included prominent Detroiters such as Henry Ford, Mr. and Mrs. Abner Larned, Frank Cody, Mrs. Henry Ledyard, Mr. and Mrs. John Dodge, and Thomas W. Palmer, who later went on to become a U.S. Senator. These dedicated individuals possessed a vision that set the course for today's Michigan Humane Society. Early Society efforts focused on improving the working conditions and treatment of the city's work horses, protecting women and children from abuse and neglect, and teaching humane values. Today's Michigan Humane Society provides for the rescue, shelter, veterinary care, and placement of domestic animals, as well as the rescue, rehabilitation, and relocation of wild and exotic animals.