Tails

To operate, maintain, or oversee a facility(ies) for the sheltering and care of domesticated, homeless, or injured Island or off Island pets while assuring that through the corporations best efforts, no adoptable animal be put to death.

A New Mission for T.A.I.L.S.: A Brighter Future for Pets and their People

In 2017, TAILS modified its mission statement to allow us to spread our wings to cover the needs of even more pets.

The face of animal rescue has changed throughout the last two decades and TAILS wants to be part of that change. We have worked hard to build a premier animal sheltering facility here in Grosse Ile, one that far exceeds the needs of our township.  Because one third of TAILS supporters are off-islanders, we would like to be able to help other animals in need with food, supplies or medical care while we continue to identify pet and pet-owner needs here on our own island.

Up until January 2019, T.A.I.L.S. continued to pay medical bills for Grosse Ile Animal Shelter and support all pets in need both in our own Township and beyond its borders.  Unfortunately, at that time, Grosse Ile Township decided that they no longer needed T.A.I.L.S. for animal shelter support and our relationship with the Township was severed.

In spite of being removed from our stewardship of 23 years, T.A.I.L.S. continued working to support homeless and domestic pets.   In June 2019, we celebrated the grand opening of our new facility in the business district of Grosse Ile Township.  We are open throughout the week for cat and kitten adoptions and also have pet friendly events, education for pet owners, clinics for the health and well being of pets. These programs hopefully enhance the pet/owner relationship and ultimately keep pets out of animal shelters altogether.

TAILS continues working within our community on programs that will help people keep their pets. We have already identified people here on the island who need help in order to keep their pets.  We have an active Kitten Foster Program with about a dozen volunteers caring for and fostering the homeless little one.  In 2019, 42 kittens along with several momma cats were in the program; in 2020, we adopted out 117 cats and kittens; and in 2021 we helped 163 cats and kittens.

Pets are what TAILS started out protecting — we will not abandon them now.

~ The Board of Directors of T.A.I.L.S.

T.A.I.L.S. was incorporated as a private 501(c)3 non-profit corporation in order to help the Township establish an animal shelter in Grosse Ile, Michigan. Prior to that, Grosse Ile shared a facility with Trenton.  1997, the Township of Grosse Ile purchased a 32 acre horse farm, Centennial Farm, for recreational purposes. T.A.I.L.S. worked with the Township to renovate the small horse barn at Centennial Farm in to an animal shelter. The new T.A.I.L.S. did fundraising to share the cost of this renovation and the first open house at the shelter was held in December 1997.

T.A.I.L.S.  initially provided care and comfort for the homeless pets of Grosse Ile Animal Shelter.  In 2018, we amended our mission statement to include helping other homeless and needy pets who don’t reside specifically at GI Animal Shelter.

From 1997 through 2018, the GI animal shelter housed over 4,000 pets.  During those years, T.A.I.L.S. paid nearly $250,000 in medical bills for spay/neuter surgeries, wellness care and treatment for illness or health conditions.

T.A.I.L.S. also made close to $100,000 in improvements to the original shelter building and for the community:

2003
T.A.I.L.S. added a vestibule area to the front of the building. This was a safety measure to help keep dogs from escaping on to the farm.

2004
T.A.I.L.S. worked with the Township to establish and construct a dog park on Centennial Farm. Fundraising by T.A.I.L.S paid some costs of the construction. The benches, bulletin board and signage were also provided by T.A.I.L.S.

2006
T.A.I.L.S. added a much needed 12’ x 30’ quarantine/medical room on to the north side of the building. This area was for the treatment and recovery of any cats or small dogs that needed medical care. It also provided space for mother cats or dogs with babies.

2012
T.A.I.L.S. accepted a memorial donation for the remodel one of the quarantine rooms into a safe kitten/puppy nursery which is also used for animal observation or recovery.

2015
T.A.I.L.S. accepted a donation which contributed to the construction of a Community Cat Room within the main cat room. Community cat rooms are the latest in shelter cat care. They reduce the cage stress on the cats and allow them to be “showcased” for prospective adoptors.

2016
T.A.I.L.S. modified the nursery by adding a full vision door so that shelter visitors could observe cats and kittens residing in that room.

2019

T.A.I.L.S. was removed from Grosse Ile Animal Shelter by the Township of Grosse Ile and went on to open their own facility in the Macomb Street business district of Grosse Ile.   Although not zoned by the Township and unable to house pets at our new facility, TAILS still placed 42 kittens through their Kitten Foster Care Program.

2020

T.A.I.L.S. received zoning approval from the Township to house felines only and received Animal Shelter Certification from the State of Michigan. We began taking in cats for adoption as well as continued our Kitten Foster Care Program.  In 2020, TAILS placed 117 cats and kittens in new and loving homes

2021

T.A.I.L.S. continues to accept cats and kittens that need help. Most come from  the Downriver community, many needing extraordinary help.  We have helped two cats who were found with frozen tails — both who were placed in safe and loving homes.  Another had a broken leg, requiring amputation surgery… again placed in a loving home.

 

 

 

President:  Gail Showler

Secretary:  David Monk

Treasurer:  Roberta Holl

Director/Founder:  Kurt Kobiljak

Director:  Barb Aben

Director:  Jody Morrow

Director:  Robin Benson

 

 

 

 

ON-LINE SIILENT AUCTION — going on now thru Nov 30th.

https::/www.32auctions.com/tails

Great items to bid on including a rare cat print, a week’s stay at a private cottage in Harbor Springs,  an afternoon party barge trip, a diamond ring!

And, check out the Tigers autographed baseball, the Yzerman Jersey, the autographed photo of Redwings player Rasmussen plus some fan grabs from the Pistons!

Plus great looking casual jewelry, dog and cat collections, a crocheted afghan, and much more!

PET PHOTOS WITH SANTA

Sunday, December 4th from 10 am to 4 pm.

At the TAILS house.  7796 Macomb St (at the corner of Macomb and Lyons Dr.)

Bring your camera, your pets, your children, your whole family for photo shoot with the jolly elf!  Donations gratefully accepted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

TAILS, Inc.

7796 Macomb Street
Grosse Ile, MI  48138

734-672-6366

email:  tails.grosseile@yahoo.com

HOURS:

1 to 3 pm
but closed on Friday and Sunday

Or by appointment