Dog Outreach

A.S.K. inspires improved caretaking standards & strengthening of the human-animal bond through distribution of free relief supplies to underserved families and their dogs in Calhoun County, Michigan. We prioritize outreach in the cities of Battle Creek and Albion.

Reaching dogs that are 24/7 outside is our passion, and A.S.K. accomplishes this by driving city streets searching for dogs forced to call a doghouse “home.” 90% of our cases are found through this proactive, direct-outreach approach– most are not reported. Our non-judgemental engagement meets guardians where they are to provide them with the resources they need.

A.S.K.’s outreach van is a mobile relief unit packed with seasonal essentials like dog houses to replace dilapidated shelters, straw bales to properly insulate dogs’ houses, and hundreds of pounds of dog food. We provide comfortable collars to replace choke and/or pinch collars and illegally wrapped log chains. Short, heavy chains are replaced with light-weight cable tie-outs. Our van is filled with treats, chews and toys to alleviate boredom and brighten lives. We also carry preventative parasite medications. All of these in-kind items leave dogs in a better state than we found them in.

Free positive training advice, spay/neuter offers and even fence builds are offered on a case by case basis to clients who are ready to take their caretaking standards to the next level. And most importantly, A.S.K. is there to help, no matter how long it takes while offering every single resource for free!

Help Us Help Outside Dogs

All relief supplies and vet care services are made available thanks to generous donations. All products are purchased at regular rates; nothing is free unless you donate it!

one bale of straw to keep a dog insulated for 2 weeks

$5
Bag of chews

$15
Two prescription intestinal parasite treatments to achieve a state of good health

$32
20ft cable tie-out

$24
A tank of gas to keep the outreach van rolling

$125
Pack the van full of straw

$60
48’’ dog crate to help train dogs transitioning into inside lives

$70
Female dog spay to prevent the birth/deaths of hundreds of future dogs

$110
Male dog neuter

$80
Large Petmate Igloo doghouse for “pitbull”-type dogs and Shepherds

$150
XL Petmate Igloo doghouse for Rottweilers, Mastiffs and large breed dogs

$200

Pet Food Support

A.S.K. operates the only free, straight-to-doorsteps companion animal food bank in Calhoun County and beyond. No companion should have to face hunger due to unexpected hardship or financial struggles faced by their caretakers. Many of A.S.K.’s clients live at or below the poverty level with multiple animals. Instead of insisting that human bonds be severed and animals sent to already over-crowded shelters and rescues, A.S.K. enables the family to keep their companion in a state of good health through family hardships,

Dog food is also distributed to locations where our street team volunteers see the need for bodyweight improvement. Some of the most severely in-need dogs do not have guardians willing to ask for help. That’s what makes our direct-outreach services so fundamental–we see a family struggling and provide help on the spot, removing all barriers to them receiving assistance.

A.S.K. is always looking for more corporate donors willing to donate large quantities of companion food and treats

Spay-It Forward

Accidental or intentional backyard- and basement-breeding of dogs places an additional burden on families already struggling to feed their companion animals. And many of these– as well as other, otherwise healthy dogs are still euthanized in our community due to lack of shelter space and poor adoption rates.

The most straightforward response to addressing homelessness and shelter overcrowding is FREE spay/neuter to high-risk, 24/7 outside dogs. A.S.K.’s free spay/neuter service is the only of its kind in Calhoun County and on-the-street offers are made directly to clients with dogs being backyard bred either intentionally or “accidentally.” Our typical client doesn’t want to get their dog fixed until they’ve met A.S.K. This community service is funded 100% by generous donations from the general public.

Last Resort Rescue

It’s a “last resort” rescue if a dog’s guardian is unwilling to reform their caretaking standard, or has a legitimate barrier to transitioning their dog inside. Emergency rescue services are also conducted for dogs found in life-threatening condition. Our dog outreach isn’t about traditional dog rescue–it’s instead about guardian retention unless there is an extenuating circumstance making it critical to remove the dog.

All dogs are found through street outreach and rescued through guardian-surrender. A.S.K. partners with adoption-focused nonprofits to transfer dogs that are easily adoptable and able to pass shelter evaluation assessments. A.S.K. maintains a small number of special-needs foster homes for dogs that require socialization and adaptation to inside living. Foster homes and more adoption partners are constantly in-need. Check out our adoptable listings to see who is currently available through A.S.K.: https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/mi/battle-creek/all-species-kinship-ask-mi889/

Adopt a Dog

A.S.K.’s dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and parasite-free prior to adoption. Adoption fees help offset the costs of vet care. A.S.K.’s adoption process involves the following steps:

Complete our online dog survey (CREATE ONLINE FORM) so we can help you find your match! You can also print the dog survey and email your completed document to allspeciesk@gmail.com or snail-mail to A.S.K., PO Box 4055, Battle Creek, MI 49016

A.S.K. will contact you upon receipt of your completed dog survey. We cannot guarantee an adoption match but will give you the courtesy of follow-up contact.

3. If there’s a dog available that matches your interest, we will arrange a meet-n-greet at a public location in Battle Creek, Michigan wherever possible. It’s important that all members of the household attend the meet-n-greet.

To gauge a potential adoption match, A.S.K. will collectively discuss your case with you and the dog’s foster parents. If we collectively choose to proceed, we will request a meet-n-greet in your home, with your animals present. If you have no companion-animals already, we still require an in-home meet-n-greet.

If the match seems like a good fit for all parties involved, we’ll sign an adoption contract!

Due to our in-home meet-n-greet requirement, adoptions are restricted to within 150 miles of Battle Creek, Michigan, unless special circumstances exist. If you are out of state we encourage you to adopt from your local animal shelter or rescue!

Dog Outreach

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