Michigan Pet Alliance

09/03/2026

Win a custom CRIJO Pet Products cat tower! Everyone who registers for the 2026 One Voice MPA Conference & Expo will have the chance to win. It's disinfectable and perfect for shelters and rescues.

This CRIJO tower includes one round comfort bed, two brand-new, double-sided hammocks and a pyramid to top it off. This tower provides four sleeping options for cats. The hammocks can be flipped to show either sisal or fleece. This tower also has two platforms on both sides, providing more places for cats to scratch and jump. This is a custom build and the first tower to feature CRIJO's new hammocks. This tower is high-quality, 100% disinfectable, mobile and durable.

Dimensions are 55”H x 38”L x 24”W // 185 lbs
Delivery available to the lucky winner.

REGISTER TODAY:
https://michiganpet.org/2026conference

Conference registration closes September 20.

https://youtu.be/uOd4LTlsqck?si=4_l34ofSPgg7-Wmd

Join us on October 2-3 for your chance to win this custom-built CRI...

09/01/2026

For the people working hard to help dogs thrive, there's a perfect breakout track for you at our upcoming conference!

The 2026 One Voice MPA Conference & Expo is coming up October 2–3 in Clinton Township, and this year’s breakout tracks are designed to help animal welfare professionals, volunteers, and advocates bring practical ideas back to their organizations.

The Gone to the Dogs track will dig into practical ways to support dogs while they’re in your care, from playful puppies to long-timers still waiting for homes. Attendees will explore enrichment, behavior support, stronger adopter and foster matches, and better outcomes for dogs of all ages, personalities, and needs.

(More of a cat person? Focused on operations? Passionate about community or improved outcomes? Take a look at the full lineup and find the track that fits you best!)

Register now for two days of learning, connection, and inspiration as we work together to take animal welfare in Michigan to the Next Level. https://www.michiganpet.org/education-and-training/2026conference/

08/30/2026

MPA REPLAY CREW: in case you missed our August Lunch & Learn, "Intro to Community Cat Caretaker Certification," the replay is now available. Please share!

Want to make a real difference for outdoor cats in your neighborhood? Learn what it takes to be a Certified Cat Caretaker. This overview will assist in understanding how to stop the cycle of feline homelessness through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), gain expert tips on humane trapping, winter sheltering, responsible feeding and colony management. If this Lunch & Learn piques your interest, the All About Animals Rescue certification course is offered monthly in-person and online.

There will also be a full four-hour certification course in-person at the 2026 One Voice MPA Conference & Expo at Macomb Community College on Thursday, October 1 (the day before the conference). Also, on Saturday at the conference, Angelica will give a one-hour hands-on session on how to build an outdoor shelter for community cats.

https://youtu.be/MGxWwrwm0sQ?si=SIz7od7kB5C7DJ66

Want to make a real difference for outdoor cats in your neighborhoo...

08/29/2026

The 2026 One Voice Conference & Expo is more than a conference. It’s a chance to step away from the daily rush, connect with others who understand this work, and bring back new ideas that can make a real difference for the animals and people you serve.

Whether you work in sheltering, rescue, advocacy, animal control, veterinary support, community outreach, operations, or volunteer leadership, this weekend is designed to help Michigan’s animal welfare community learn, grow, and move forward together.

This year’s theme is Next Level, and we can’t wait to gather with professionals, volunteers, and advocates from across the state for two days of training, networking, and inspiration.

Early bird registration ends August 31 - just two days from now. Don’t wait!

https://michiganpetalliance.wildapricot.org/event-6618980

08/27/2026

Have you seen our incredible speaker lineup for the 2026 One Voice MPA Conference & Expo?

This year’s conference will feature a phenomenal group of animal welfare leaders, experts and changemakers, including:

Stacy Rogers, Regional Director at Best Friends Animal Society
April Huntsman, Senior Director of Animal Welfare at Adopt a Pet
Angela Miedema, Director at National Animal Care & Control Association
… and more than 25 others!

From shelter operations and community programs to animal care, advocacy, leadership and improved outcomes, this year’s sessions are designed to help attendees bring practical ideas and fresh inspiration back to their organizations.

Check out the full speaker lineup and make your plans to join us October 2-3 in Clinton Township: https://www.michiganpet.org/education-and-training/2026conference/speakers/

Early bird registration ends in just a few short days (August 31)!

08/26/2026

Want a behind-the-scenes look at shelter operations during the 2026 One Voice MPA Conference & Expo?

Conference attendees will have four opportunities throughout the event to take part in a shelter tour at Macomb County Animal Control.

These tours are a great way to see animal welfare work in action, learn from a local agency, and bring new ideas and perspectives back to your own organization, team or community.

If you’re planning to attend the conference, be sure to watch for more details and make time in your schedule for this special opportunity.

https://www.michiganpet.org/education-and-training/2026conference/

Early-bird registration ends on Monday, August 31!

08/22/2026

Michigan’s new animal welfare fundraising license plate is coming, creating a new opportunity to support spay/neuter efforts for companion animals across the state … and our conference attendees will be among the first to learn more this fall!

The plate will be discussed during the welcome message at our 2026 One Voice MPA Conference & Expo on October 2-3, and attendees can also stop by the booth in the expo hall for more information.

Want to be in the room for this exciting update? Join us at the conference in October!

Register now before prices increase after August 31st: https://www.michiganpet.org/education-and-training/2026conference/speakers/

Macomb Community College

08/20/2026

Congratulations to Representative Joseph Aragona and Senator Kevin Hertel, recipients of the 2026 Michigan Pet Alliance Legislator of the Year Award!

Representative Aragona and Senator Hertel will be recognized at the 2026 One Voice MPA Conference & Expo, taking place October 2-3 at Macomb Community College in Clinton Township.

This award honors leadership and commitment to advancing animal welfare in Michigan, and we are proud to celebrate their work alongside animal welfare professionals, advocates, volunteers, partners and supporters from across the state.

Join us at the conference as we recognize these leaders and continue working together to take animal welfare in Michigan to the Next Level. https://www.michiganpet.org/education-and-training/2026conference/

Early bird registration ends August 31, so don’t wait!

08/18/2026

Don’t miss your chance to save your spot at the 2026 One Voice MPA Conference & Expo - before early bird registration ends!

Join us on October 2-3 in Clinton Township for two days of learning, connection, collaboration and forward-thinking conversations focused on taking animal welfare in Michigan to the Next Level.

This year’s conference will bring together shelter staff, rescue teams, volunteers, advocates, industry partners and animal welfare leaders nationally and from across the state and to share ideas, explore best practices and strengthen the work we’re all doing for companion animals in Michigan.

Early bird registration ends August 31, so don’t wait to reserve your spot! https://www.michiganpet.org/education-and-training/2026conference/

08/17/2026

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Adopt a Pet Shelter Plus

Animal shelters everywhere face an ever-growing list of challenges, from rising pet food costs, leading to a greater demand for community pet food pantries, to the need for veterinary resources and more support for the people who dedicate their lives to animals.

Adopt a Pet Shelter Plus brings together a range of resources and benefits to address the many needs shelters face while helping them better serve the animals and communities that depend on them.

Expanded Support for Shelters
Adopt a Pet Shelter Plus expanded its sponsorship benefits this year, giving participating shelters up to $10,000 per year to use toward a variety of support options. Shelters can choose from benefits such as pet food pantry support, conference attendance, Kitten College participation, and event and fundraising sponsorships.

The expanded sponsorship package builds on the program's previous support while giving shelters greater flexibility to direct resources where they are needed most.

Pet food pantry support is particularly important as shelters report growing demand from community members who are struggling to afford food for their pets. These community-based pantries provide free or discounted pet food to families experiencing financial hardship, helping them keep their pets at home rather than surrendering them to a shelter.

"Almost every single shelter that we partner with has some form of pet food pantry now," said Kirsten Shaffer, Adopt a Pet Shelter Plus program manager. "The need is just growing every year."

Significant Food Savings
Adopt a Pet Shelter Plus is currently available to eligible brick-and-mortar animal shelters in the United States, provided the program's distributor can deliver to the facility.

Participating shelters receive 75% off Pedigree products and 90% off Iams products for in-shelter feeding programs. Shelters also receive free adopters' bags, including three-pound bags of Pedigree or Iams food, to send home with adopters and their newest family members.

In return for these benefits, participating shelters agree to exclusively feed and recommend Pedigree and Iams products and to encourage adopters to take advantage of the program's Adopter Portal.

The portal provides additional resources for new pet parents, including a free bag of PrettyLitter, a free first office visit at Banfield or VCA and up to $250 in eligible sick-pet veterinary care following adoption.

Support That Goes Beyond Food
The program's benefits extend beyond feeding.

Adopt a Pet Shelter Plus connects participating shelters with discounts through Mars' veterinary network, including Banfield, VCA and BluePearl. The program also partners with Fear Free to provide expanded continuing education, one-on-one coaching and quarterly webinars designed to give shelter professionals practical guidance to implement Fear Free practices.

Recognizing the emotional demands of animal welfare work, Adopt a Pet Shelter Plus also provides mental health resources for shelter employees and volunteers through its partnership with Kindly Human.

Together, these benefits reflect the program's larger goal: supporting shelters as comprehensively as possible.

"The idea was, let's bring everybody together and try to put together a package that solves more than just food costs," Shaffer said. "We actually want to address as many of the shelter pain points as we possibly can."

Working With Public Shelters
Adopt a Pet Shelter Plus is also committed to working with government-operated shelters, including those that may face additional purchasing, bidding or legal requirements.

Rather than excluding these organizations because of those challenges, the program works with individual shelters to help establish partnerships that meet their specific requirements.

Ongoing Support for Participating Shelters
Another key component of Adopt a Pet Shelter Plus is the ongoing relationship with participating organizations.

Each shelter has an account manager who works directly with the organization to help ensure the program is running smoothly, connect the shelter with available benefits and provide support along the way.

The goal is to make participation as seamless as possible while giving shelters access to a broad range of resources through a single program.

Adopt a Pet Shelter Plus is continuing to evolve, with additional benefits expected to be announced in 2027.

For shelters looking for ways to stretch their resources, strengthen support for their staff and volunteers, and help more pets remain healthy and with their families, Adopt a Pet Shelter Plus offers an increasingly comprehensive collection of tools and resources.

Michigan Pet Alliance is proud to have Adopt a Pet Shelter Plus as a member. Visit with them at their exhibitor booth in October at the 2026 One Voice MPA Conference & Expo!