Michelle's HAP Shelter Slumber Pawty :)

I’ve loved dogs for as long as I can remember. Growing up, they weren’t just pets to me—they were family, best friends, and constant sources of comfort and joy. That love never faded… it just grew into something bigger than I ever imagined.

In 2017, I walked into the shelter for the first time, not realizing it would completely change my life. What started as a job quickly became a passion and a purpose. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of serving in so many roles—Volunteer Coordinator, Dog Department Manager, and now, Dog Foster Manager. Each step has brought me closer to the heart of what we do: giving every dog the chance to feel safe, loved, and truly home.

But here’s the part most people don’t see.

Behind every wagging tail is a story. Some of our dogs wait days… others wait weeks or even months. The shelter can be loud, overwhelming, and confusing for them. And while we do everything we can to make them feel cared for, it’s not the same as a home.

That’s why fostering is so incredibly important.

Fosters give dogs a break from the shelter—a chance to decompress, to learn what it means to be part of a family, to sleep on a couch instead of a kennel floor. They help us learn more about each dog’s personality, making it easier to find their perfect forever home. Quite simply, fosters save lives.

Now, I’m taking that commitment one step further.

Our shelter is participating in a National Shelter Sleepover Pawty on April 18th, some of our amazing staff and volunteers will spend 24 hours living at the shelter—just like our dogs do every day. They will experience the sounds, the routines, and the long nights, all to help shine a light on what life is really like for the animals in our care.

This isn’t just an event—it’s a chance to make a real difference.

Your donation will help provide food, medical care, enrichment, and support for our foster program so we can continue giving these dogs the second chances they deserve. Every dollar brings us closer to more wagging tails, more happy endings, and more dogs finding their way home.

If you’ve ever loved a dog (and I know you have), you already understand why this matters so much.

Thank you for supporting me, our shelter, and the incredible dogs who are still waiting for their story to change.