​It’s Bunny, your favorite paw-fessional blogger and resident baby hippo! This month I’m excited to tell you all about my friend, Pepita! Pepita is a beloved cat whose family fell on tough times. Even with support from the kind staff here at Humane Society of West Michigan, they were unable to keep her and decided to give Pepita a second chance with us. Poor Pepita came into our care with a painful eye infection that caused her to lose her eyes and required medical attention. My buddies in vet land got to work right away treating the infection and scheduled a surgery to ensure she’d stay healthy!

During this time we learned that this two-year old sweetheart was curious and bold, and just like my deafness, she didn’t let her blindness slow her down! After Pepita’s surgery she went to a foster home to recover, and there, Pepita really blossomed into her own! This little spitfire was outgoing, spunky and fun, and her inability to see did not inhibit her want to play and be loved. She would seek out attention and instantly trusted anyone who would pet her. She returned to HSWM briefly and was even amazing with the kids in our Summer Camp!

Shortly after returning to HSWM it was no surprise that Pepita was adopted into an amazing  forever family. She is now comfortable, loved, spoiled, and living her life to its fullest! I love that the people here at HSWM are always ready and willing to do everything they can to help pets in need, just like Pepita. Though she may be a cat, I think Pepita is one of the good ones, and I loved hearing all about her Happily Ever After!

It’s the end of May already, when did that happen? It’s easy to lose track of time when you’re having as much fun at the shelter as I am!

But enough about me, let’s talk about my friend Angie. When Angie entered our care, this poor kitty was scared. She had lost the only owner she had ever known and had nowhere to go. When her owner passed away,  unfortunately, no family member was able to take her in, but we at Humane Society of West Michigan welcomed her with open paws!


At just three and a half years old, Angie was a sweet cat, but was confused and closed off when she first arrived. She had been with the same owner her whole life and she told me she felt like the  rug had been pulled out from underneath her. She shied away from attention, hid in her kennel, and was nervous around people.  


It didn’t take long for the paw-some staff here to realize she needed some quiet attention to help her adjust and feel more comfortable. Often HSWM staff would be found giving her extra gentle pets, chin scratches, and tasty treats, and within days,  she realized this place wasn’t so bad! She warmed up quickly and began rubbing against her kennel door,  seeking out the love that she had previously rejected.


Once Angie was feeling more herself, it wasn’t long before she found her fur-ever home! Her family now spoils her rotten, and she’s getting all the love and attention she deserves! Pets like Angie, (and even me!) are so lucky to have Humane Society of West Michigan to go to when we had nowhere else to turn.  Thank you to everyone who helps support the pets at HSWM, like Angie and me, so we have a chance at long, happy, healthy lives!

It’s Bunny again – did you miss me?  😊

I just wanted to check in to tell you all about a little litter of kittens that came into our care a while back. My friends here at the shelter knew, as soon as these kittens arrived, that they were really sick. Not only did they have missing hair, but they were also lethargic and not acting as normal, rambunctious kittens should! Our vet staff tested them and found out they had both ringworm and panleukopenia (which is a very serious disease that is often fatal in young kittens). Their outlook was bleak, but our tough team didn’t give up hope! 

The staff at HSWM worked around the clock to provide them with fluids, medication, and top-notch medical care! Once all of the kittens had finally kicked panleukopenia to the curb, it was time to address their ringworm. These brave little guys fought for a total of nine long weeks against their various health issues, until FINALLY, they were ready to go to a foster home to finish healing! This whole fuzzy family of siblings was able to get the space, love, and attention they needed to grow, learn, and, of course, find loving adopters! 

I don’t usually spend much time with cats, but I’m proud to say that I know Minerva, Sol, Fortuna, Poseidon, Flora, Vesta, and Vulcan – these kittens showed us all how to persevere through life’s trials, no matter what they are. After months and months of fighting off infection after infection, it’s exciting to share that they are all adopted and I know they deserve every bit of happiness that they’ve found!

Today I wanted to share with you all about my friend named Reign, who’s a real handsome guy!
Reign came to Humane Society of West Michigan under terrible circumstances. He had been at a nearby animal shelter where he was diagnosed with adult parvovirus, which is an incredibly dangerous, often fatal disease. While this disease is very preventable, Reign had not been vaccinated like I have. The shelter he had been surrendered to did not have the staffing or medical ability to treat him, and so his only options were humane euthanasia or hope another shelter could help him!

The good humans at HSWM work pretty darn hard and they immediately offered to take him into our care. Reign came in rough shape, but let me tell you, we have a great vet team and they hit the ground running with around-the-clock veterinary care of IV fluids, painkillers, and anti-nausea medication with hopes this sweet guy would make it through! Many of the days, it looked uncertain, and I worried that Reign might not make it, but after he was with us for a long time, he was well enough to be sent to a loving foster home to continue regaining strength. I hear that during that time he was able to heal from his illness and began to show his cheerful personality!  

I overheard that his foster said “We ended our evenings with reading or TV on the couch, where he'd just lay next to me with his head on my lap and snuggle. He had a hard time learning "’stay’ but that is mainly because every time I moved he wanted to be next to me. He loves to give kisses and I taught him to do a couple of licks under the chin when I said it!”

It was shortly after I heard that, on one of my walks, when they told me that Reign found a loving forever family and started his new life! I was so happy for him! Reign is just one example of the thousands of animals that come through our doors each year and Humane Society of West Michigan is able to provide the life-changing care needed to place them into loving fur-ever homes! Without support from people like you, I wouldn’t be able to share happy tails like these.

Thanks for being a great human who helps furry friends like me! Can’t wait to share more stories with you soon!

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