08/28/2026
For those of you who aren’t aware, or weren’t involved at the time, the catalyst behind the significant change for the animals in Detroit was not a man. It wasn’t a woman either. Nor was it a group or an organization. Nope. It was, in fact, a dog. A dog named Ace. An emaciated, pit-bull-type dog who happened to wander into an Ace hardware store vestibule, most likely seeking respite from the streets and maybe a little food from the kindness of a person who might be willing to oblige.
Calls were made seeking help for Ace to both Detroit Dog Rescue and Detroit Animal Control. Unfortunately for Ace, DAC got there first. Knowing that DAC was a guaranteed passage to death for dogs like Ace, DDR tried to get him released into their care, but their requests were denied. DDR continued with their efforts, including a court injunction, and the fight to save Ace from a certain death went public very quickly. In short time, numerous animal welfare organizations, individual advocates and concerned animal lovers rallied for Ace to be released. Calls were even coming in from out of this country. Detroit’s phone lines were being taxed from the flood of calls trying to save Ace. I read a report stating that Michigan Humane Society’s request to transfer Ace out was also denied.
At the time (2011), DAC had a no-pitbull-policy, so if the owner did not show up with verifiable proof of ownership, and pay the fees (which were often exorbitant and often cash-only), the dogs would die, 100% of them. Owners retrieving them was not an easy task and stray holds were often not followed.
The mayor’s office and city council were all fully aware of this situation, but sadly, in spite of an unprecedented local, national and international push to save one sweet, skinny, little dog, Mayor Dave Bing and the city council looked the other way while Detroit Animal Control killed Ace.
Please forgive my language, but the collective response at the time was, “You motherf**kers, how could you?!”
That day, animal welfare in Detroit changed forever. The big push that started with Ace in 2011 grew into a crescendo that culminated in the major changes that eventually occurred at DAC in late 2015; changes brought about not by a man, not by a woman or organization, but by one little dog.
Director Harry Ward was out and the new Director, Melissa Miller, was in. The dark clouds parted and the magnificent sun shone through so brightly as we all reveled in the glory. I literally cried when I saw the first pitbull of many being transferred out of that dungeon of despair, by the curiosity and joy on their furry faces as they went from the dark to the light, led by local 501c3 groups to not only a better life, but literally to life itself.
Yes, DAC, now DACC, is way better than it was, but there’s so much more to be done. What hasn’t changed are the problems in the community that lead to dogs like Ace leaving this world too soon. Since Ace’s untimely death, there are literally thousands of dogs in Detroit that have suffered similar fates. Until drastic changes are made within the community, we may not see another glorious day in Detroit for the animals. We have capped out and the city administration continues to look the other way. DACC has been averaging a 65% Live Release Rate. If that’s acceptable, then there it will stay, give or take, or it may drop further backwards. We all know that we can’t foster, adopt, transfer and volunteer ourselves out of this. Changing the community, through education AND enforcement is the only way to get to a lower, more manageable, shelter intake level.
History has shown us that the city isn’t going to make changes voluntarily, it will need another push. A another collective push. A lot of people today don’t know how big the past push really was to get us to where we are today. It was the push for Ace. And for some of us, Ace’s story is not over, and neither is that push. Keeping his memory alive also requires us to keep that collective push alive. RIP Ace, and thank you for the fire that continues to burn in your honor.🔥🐶
PUSH!
