Huron Humane Society reports steady adoptions amid funding, insurance hurdles
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ALPENA – The Huron Humane Society told Alpena city leaders Monday that it has taken in 168 animals so far this year and found homes for 145, while grappling with the lingering effects of ice storms, rising insurance costs tied to breed restrictions and the loss of a potential $30,000 county grant.
In its semi-annual update presented to the Alpena Municipal Council, the nonprofit, no-kill shelter reported 152 cats and 16 dogs entered its care in 2026 through late July. Adoptions totaled 14 dogs and 131 cats as of July 29. The average stay was 20 days for dogs and 54 days for cats. Animals from the Alpena continue to receive priority admission under the shelter's longstanding service contract with the city.
"It is an honor to serve the people and pets of the City of Alpena," the report states.
The Huron Humane Society (HHS) has operated as a no-kill animal shelter for more than 40 years and remains the only registered shelter in Alpena County that cares for animals 365 days a year. It is open to the public six days a week and currently employs 12 staff members.
The second ice storm in the past year left the shelter without power, heat and water and caused flooding that made it difficult to reach the animals. The organization set a $25,000 fundraising goal for a generator and said it still needed about $8,500.
In a recent email, Huron Humane Society President Cindy Johnson said the shelter is moving ahead anyway.
"We continue to seek donors to help cover the cost of the generator so that our available funds can be directed toward animal care," Johnson wrote. "However, we are moving forward with installation in August. The risk of the shelter and the animals being without power for an extended period is simply too great."
Insurance restrictions have created another financial and operational hurdle. A June 22 letter from the shelter's insurance agent at Alpena Agency Inc. explained that carriers have tightened underwriting on certain dog breeds because of rising liability claims involving dog bites. The agent said the market had been searched for a full year without finding a carrier willing to cover all breeds.
The policy's "Certain Animal Exclusion" lists more than a dozen restricted dog types, including Akitas, Alaskan Malamutes, American Staffordshire terriers and other pit bull-type dogs, Cane Corsos, Chow Chows, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, Great Danes, Mastiffs, Presa Canarios, Rottweilers and Siberian Huskies, along with mixes of those breeds, attack or fighting dogs, and dogs with a history of injuring others. The exclusion does not apply to certified service dogs that assist people with physical disabilities.
Johnson said the changes are already adding to the shelter's expenses. "These policy changes are costing HHS an additional $600 per year just to maintain insurance coverage," Johnson wrote in an email. "Erin, our insurance agent, continues to search for a carrier that will provide coverage without these breed restrictions."
Those restrictions led Alpena County officials to reverse an earlier vote awarding the shelter up to $30,000 from the county's Opioid Remediation Committee. The money was intended to reimburse the actual costs of housing dogs and cats belonging to Alpena County residents who seek detoxification or inpatient rehabilitation services. Because the insurance would not allow 12 specific dog breeds at the shelter, commissioners instead directed the funds to a different rescue that rehabilitates dogs weighing 35 pounds or less.
"Unfortunately, this means people with cats and larger dogs will have few resources to house their pets while they seek lifesaving care," the shelter's report said. "We are disappointed with the County's decision."
The organization has received grants from the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan to help care for animals belonging to people using the services of Hope Shores Alliance and the Sunrise Mission. It is finalizing a memorandum of understanding with Hope Shores while continuing to provide temporary shelter informally for animals whose owners are experiencing homelessness or domestic violence.
Johnson described the broader pressure on the shelter in an email.
"HHS's biggest challenge continues to be the overwhelming number of animals in need and securing the funding necessary to provide care for as many as possible," Johnson wrote. "We are the only local animal shelter that is open six days a week and staffed daily to care for the animals in our community. We currently employ 12 staff members, and with kitten season in full swing, our resources are stretched more than ever."
Despite the pressures, the shelter has made several facility improvements. It spent about $15,000 on a new bank of kennels to increase capacity, is upgrading outdoor access areas known as "catios" for cats, received donated shelving and cleaning supplies from The Home Depot, painted needed areas, upgraded a laundry-room sink and converted space from its retail boutique into an exercise room for cats.
Johnson encouraged community support. "Donations are always appreciated, and we continue to hold our year-round bottle and supply drives," she wrote. "We also have a fundraiser underway with Feral Cat Tattoo. More information can be found on our Facebook page."