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.