Humane Animal Treatment Society

08/07/2026

We have moved! Please find us at our new page. We look forward to connecting with you!

HATS helps nearly 1,000 homeless or lost pets every year. We are their shelter, you are their future!

08/06/2026

🚨 IMPORTANT UPDATE: WE’RE MOVING TO A NEW FACEBOOK PAGE! 🚨

We don’t want to lose you! 🐾

Due to unforeseen technical issues with the way our current page was originally established, our capabilities are limited, making it difficult to connect with you the way we need to. Because of this, we are officially moving to a new page!

Our mission hasn't changed, and we still need your support every single day to care for our shelter animals. We can’t afford to lose our loyal community, so we need your help to make this transition a success!

👉 How you can help right now:
1️⃣ Follow our NEW page here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61592666948545

2️⃣ SHARE this post so all of our supporters and animal lovers see it before we switch over!

Thank you for sticking by us and helping us continue to serve the animals in our community. We look forward to seeing you over on the new page! 🐶🐱❤️

08/06/2026

STRAY DOG please share!

👉 Male. No collar, no microchip. Found near N Brown St & Crosslanes in Mt Pleasant.

Please send us a Facebook message or call our Canine Dept at (989) 775-0830 x4 to reclaim or provide information about this dog!

08/06/2026

STRAY DOGS please share!

👉 Female puppies. No collars, no microchips. Found between N School Rd & Bonanza Ln in Lake Isabella.

👉 Male. Black collar, no microchip. Found near W County Line & 1 Mile Rd in Blanchard.

Please send us a Facebook message or call our Canine Dept at (989) 775-0830 x4 to reclaim or provide information about these dogs!

08/05/2026

🧠 A tired pet isn't always a fulfilled pet.

When we hear the word enrichment, we often think of expensive puzzle toys or hours of exercise. But enrichment is really about giving your pet opportunities to use their body, brain, and natural instincts.

And here's the important part...

Every pet NEEDS enrichment.

Whether you have a dog, cat, rabbit, bird, or small animal, enrichment helps prevent boredom, reduces stress, builds confidence, and improves overall well-being.

For dogs, enrichment isn't just fun—it's incredibly important for their mental health. Just like people, dogs need opportunities to think, explore, and engage with the world around them. A dog whose mental needs are being met is often happier, more confident, and better able to cope with everyday life.

It can even help reduce many common "problem" behaviors, including:
🐶 Excessive barking
🛋️ Destructive chewing
🕳️ Digging
🚪 Restlessness
⚡ Hyperactivity!!!
😩 Frustration from boredom

These behaviors aren't signs of a "bad dog"—they're signs of a dog who needs more appropriate outlets for their energy and instincts, and it's our job to provide that as pet parents!

So what does enrichment look like?

🐾 Going on a sniffy walk where your dog gets to explore at their own pace.
🧩 Solving a puzzle toy—or making one by throwing treats in a cardboard box!
🎓 Learning a new trick or practicing basic cues.
🎾 Playing fetch, tug, or hide-and-seek.
🌳 Exploring a new hiking trail.
🏊 Swimming
🐕 Trying dog sports like agility, rally, scent work, dock diving, or Fast CAT.
👃 Hiding treats around the house or scattering kibble in the grass so they can use their nose!

✨ The goal isn't to keep your dog busy every minute of the day.

It's to give them opportunities to sniff, explore, solve problems, learn, move, and make choices.

Remember: A 20-minute sniff walk can be more enriching than a rushed 2-mile walk. Exercising the brain is just as important as exercising the body.

❤️ Enrichment doesn't have to be expensive or complicated—it just has to help your dog be a dog.

What's your dog's favorite way to stay enriched? Share your ideas below! 🐾

08/05/2026

📊 July Impact Report: A Busy Month for HATS! 🐾

July was a heavy month for shelter intakes, and our shelter is currently at full capacity across both our feline and canine departments. Here’s a quick look at our numbers for last month:

68 Animals Entered Our Doors: 31 dogs and 37 cats joined us in July.

59 Stray Intakes: The vast majority of incoming pets were strays.

10 Reclaims: Only 10 pets were reunited with their owners, leaving a large increase in homeless animals relying on HATS for medical care, food, and love.

462 Total Intakes in 2026: We’ve already welcomed 462 animals so far this year!

51 Adoptions: Thanks to our amazing community, 51 pets found their forever homes in July! ❤️

With our dog and cat departments completely full, we need our community's support now more than ever to keep tails wagging and purrs going.

Here is how you can help today:

Adopt: Meet our adorable adoptables and fill out an application at www.hatsweb.org/adopt

Foster: Open your heart and home temporarily by signing up at www.hatsweb.org/foster

Volunteer: Give the gift of time to care for our shelter pets at www.hatsweb.org/volunteer

Donate: Help cover medical care and daily essentials at www.hatsweb.org/giving

Thank you for standing with us and helping us save lives every single day! 🐶🐱

Photos below of just a few of our adoptable animals!

08/04/2026

❤️ Here's something that surprises a lot of dog owners...

Humans show love with hugs and cuddles.

Dogs... not so much.

In dog-to-dog communication, leaning on, hugging, or wrapping paws around another dog isn't a typical way they show affection. That's why some dogs look a little uncomfortable when we wrap our arms around them—even though we mean it with love.

So why do some dogs LOVE to cuddle?

Some actually enjoy it, but others do it because they are incredibly good at learning what makes US happy. ❤ Many have learned that snuggling on the couch earns pets, praise, treats, and quality time. Some truly enjoy the closeness, while others are happy to cuddle because they know it's something we love.

🐶 The key is to ask:
Is my dog choosing this?

A dog who's enjoying cuddle time will usually:
❤️ Lean into you
🐾 Stay close (even when they can leave)
😌 Have a loose, relaxed body
😊 Show soft eyes and a relaxed face
🙋 Come back for more if you stop

A dog asking for space may:
👀 Show whale eye (a wide-eyed look where you can see the whites of their eyes)
👅 Repeatedly lick their lips or lick your face to create space
🧍 Freeze or become stiff
🙈 Turn their head away
🚶 Get up and leave

The best kind of affection is the kind your dog enjoys, too. Learning their body language helps make quality time something both of you look forward to. 🥰🐾

08/04/2026

🐾 A Heartfelt Leadership Update at HATS 🐾

To our incredible community and supporters:

We’re sharing an important update regarding our leadership team. Our Executive Director, Sera, is stepping down to return to the senior living industry—a field she dedicated over 12 years to before joining us. While we are sad to see her leave this role, we’re thrilled that she’ll still be around as a volunteer and foster parent! Please join us in wishing Sera the absolute best in her next chapter. ❤️

As we transition, Board Member Tessa McNally will be stepping in as our Interim Executive Director!

Tessa brings years of non-profit experience and a lifetime of dedication as an animal rescuer and foster. With her passion and leadership, we know HATS is in great hands, and our mission to help animals will keep moving full-steam ahead.

Thank you all for your continued love and support as we welcome Tessa into this role! 🐶🐱