Basic HTML Version
A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
4
December 6, 2012
B
ELLEVILLE
- R
OMULUS
Dogs’ best friend
Volunteers provide needed
help at Romulus Animal Shelter
Driver in double fatality
is sentenced by judge
Michael Green, Rae Lipkowski, Jequita
Rivers, Alice and Sarah Felty and Phyllis
Casper have at least one thing in common:
They all love animals so much that they're
driven to volunteer regularly at the Romulus
Animal Shelter.
The six Romulus area residents give as
much time as they can to perform various
chores at the shelter, help make life more
comfortable for the dogs and cats that stay
there and do their best to find permanent
homes for the array of stray pets.
The shelter, located at 12300 Wayne Road,
opened in June 2011 and operates on money
raised in the community. To date, bingos and
other fundraising activities have brought in
more than $177,000, according to Romulus
City Councilman William Wadsworth - but a
tight budget requires the efforts of volunteers
tomake endsmeet.
“Without their help, this building would
not be an outstanding place,” Wadsworth
said. “Their time and dedication is beyond
what I ever expected. And I thank themall.”
The volunteers work at the direction of
animal control officers Annie Hall and Kim
Ratcliff, who spend much of their day
patrolling the city and impounding stray dogs
and cats. The two - who have 32 years of
experience between them - count on the pub-
lic to be the eyes and ears of the shelter. The
duo also is responsible for addressing com-
plaints and taking care of the shelter.
That's where the volunteers come in. They
take photos of the animals and post them on
Facebook and websites for adoption. They
clean cages, play with the animals, feed and
bathe the pets and take the dogs for walks.
They pick up supplies and even clean the
restrooms.
“We couldn't do it without them,” said
Ratcliff, who has been an animal control offi-
cer for 20 years.
“They come in and go right to work,”
added Hall. “We depend on them a lot. They
help run the place.”
The Romulus animal control team also
houses stray animals from Garden City and
Inkster in a contract with those cities - and is
on call 24 hours a day, sevendays aweek.
Each volunteer has a unique story, but all
agree that the volunteers and staff members
are like one big family.
Green, 19, started volunteering as part of
his senior project at Romulus High School.
He actually interviewed Ratcliff and Hall for
his written report and in the process learned
all about the shelter.
“I like animals,” he said. “I started work-
ing with the dogs. I came back every chance I
could get. I clean up the dog cages, bathe the
dogs and feed andwalk them.”
Like the other volunteers, Green volun-
teers when he can. He is taking classes at
Baker College, but manages to visit the shel-
ter regularly.
Green and the other volunteers talk to
potential adoption families, hoping the ani-
mal fits the household. The times to meet
and visit the available animals are 9 to 10:30
a.m. and 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. weekdays.
Appointments also are available.
Adoptions are open to people who are 18
and older. It costs $10 to adopt a spayed or
neutered animal from the shelter. All unal-
tered animals are $35. However, $25 is
refundable once the owner provides proof of
spaying or neutering.
Lipkowski grew up on her family's farm in
Romulus and has been around goats, horses,
pigs, chickens, ducks and rabbits all of her
life. While working full time, she started vol-
unteering at the shelter in 2010 by taking
home baby kittens and bottle feeding them.
Along the way, she cleaned cages, helped get
animals adopted and even became certified
to become an animal control officer in the
State ofMichigan.
Now she runs the Romulus Animal
Shelter page on Facebook, which has nearly
2,300 fans. The website posts news about
available animals and helps people find
their lost pets. She also owns four cats and
two dogs - all rescues.
“My passion is for animals and I thought
what better way to do it,” Lipkowski said. “I
alwayswanted to be a vet tech. I love it.”
Romulus resident Rivers has been volun-
teering at the shelter since 2009. A flight
attendant, she visits the shelter and helps out
onher off days.
Rivers has walked dogs, cleaned cages,
fed cats “and, of course, spoiled them.” She
also adopted a puppy, a dog, a kitten and two
guinea pigs fromthe shelter.
For more information on volunteering at
the shelter, donating goods or adopting an
animal, call (734) 942-7591. To make a finan-
cial donation to the shelter, contact
Wadsworthat (734) 941-0616.
Rufus Thomas Brandon II will serve 120
days in jail and two years on probation for
his part in the death of two Belleville teens
last July.
Brandon was driving Brooke Kennedy, 18
and Danielle Beavers, 19, in his Chevrolet
Cavalier south on Canton Center Road
when he ignored a flashing red light at
MichiganAvenue andwas struck on the pas-
senger side of the vehicle by a Monte Carlo.
That car was driven by a 21-year-old
Westlandman who was not cited in the acci-
dent.
Brandon was driving the Belleville teens
home from Ruby Tuesday's restaurant
where all threewere employed.
Judge Ronald Lowe allowed Brandon to
delay serving his time until he finishes his
semester finals at Eastern Michigan
University.
Neither alcohol or drugs were a factor in
the accident, according to police reports.
Brandon was ordered to begin his jail term
beforeChristmas.
the recovery of the forgotten history of
WillowRunAirport.
The event is open to the public at no
cost.
For more information, contact the
Western Campus at (734) 699-7008 or visit
www.wcccd.edu.
College
FROM PAGE 1
Animal Control Officer Kim Ratcliff (kneeling, left) and volunteer Michael Green are proud of
the Romulus Animal Shelter, where volunteers like Sarah ( standing, left) and April Felty, 7-
year-old Kendall Curtis, Jequita Rivers and Phyllis Casper are crucial to the care of the ani-
mals. Animal Control Officer Annie Hall and volunteer Rae Lipkowski are at right.