A Look Inside Dearborn's New Animal Shelter

DEARBORN, MI — Dearborn has a new, state-of-the-art animal shelter bringing together families and their new furry loved ones in special ways. The new shelter is more than a decade in the making and opened to the community Tuesday, with dozens of cats and kittens, dogs and puppies living in new “suites” and “lofts” while awaiting adoption through Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit.

The inspiration behind the new shelter

The new facility, located at 16121 Reckinger Road (near the Henry Ford Centennial Library), was unveiled Tuesday morning with a name reveal after a prominent animal welfare advocate in the community. Phase one of the Maryann Wright Animal Adoption & Education Center includes the adoption facility with larger cases, community spaces for animals to play with others of their kind, and meet-and-greet rooms for people to see if they are a match with the animal they fall in love with at the shelter.

The AAEC replaces the adoption function of the Dearborn Animal Shelter, the 30-year-old facility on Greenfield Road, which will now be used just as administrative offices. Phase two of the AAEC will move administration, an education center and other new offerings onto the campus on Reckinger Road.

The land for this facility was donated by the city of Dearborn and more than $5 million was raised in the community to fund the opening. The 10,000-square-foot adoption facility has 23 doggie dorps, 12 lapdog lofts, 12 puppy lofts, 8 kitten suites and 48 cat suites.

Why it's a special place

Dogs and cats have their own kitchens and communal spaces to roam free in (think cat trees across the walls and a doggy pool outside) and natural light pours into the building, which volunteers say reduces the animals’ stress. Even the floors are designed to be warmer underneath paws and more sanitary than a hospital floor, organizers said.

Cats have their own bedroom corners and separate spaces for their litter box. Every dog has their very own bed. Every detail was thought of in bringing together families and animals, and it’s a journey 15 years in the making.

“After more than 15 years, the dream of a facility like this has become a reality for the community, but most of all, the animals we care for,” Elaine Greene, executive director of FAMD, told Patch. “This center will provide a happy and healthy environment the animals deserve and the community will enjoy visiting.”

How it's already impacting the community

Mayor Jack O’Reilly reminisced at the opening about his first family dog for his sons and how much it changed their lives. But he also remembered a time when the city wasn’t as friendly toward stray animals.

He recalled the days his father was police chief years ago and would collect stray animals, where they would go to the facility on Greenfield Road, and wait to be euthanized.

“There wasn’t room to do more,” he said. “But then we started to think, what else can we do? ... This organization (FAMD) is ahead of everyone. They are committed to the animals and to the idea that there are people who could benefit from having a pet in the household.”

Maryann Wright, the activist who spearheaded the new facility, teared up as she realized a lifelong dream. She thanked her parents for helping her reach this point.

“This is my passion,” she shared with the group of community members gathered for their first look inside the facility. “Thank you Dad, and mom, for instilling values of respecting life and giving back.”

FAMD has nurtured more than 52,000 animals over the last 25 years. For more information about the organization or their capital campaign, visit metrodetroitanimals.org

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Photos by Jessica Strachan