Michigan Humane Society Provides Grant to WA2S.org for American Strays: DETROIT Research

Oct. 27, 2011 - PRLog -- Earlier this year the World Animal Awareness Society began a landmark “stray” (aka free-roaming) dog census & film study: American Strays. This project provides a video census of the stray dog issues and needs within 5 – 20 cities across the USA documenting apparent issues with free-roaming dog populations. The first population center the WA2S.org members, directors, citizen-scientists & video-journalists will encompass is the City of Detroit, Michigan. The output from this project will provide data driven information that will better enable all individuals and organizations who are working hard to make a difference within the city on behalf of the animals and its citizens.

The World Animal Awareness Society has set a baseline goal for funds required to complete the American Strays: Detroit Research at $125K. The Michigan Humane Society, along with a second anonymous granting organization have helped WA2S get to the half-way point with our financial needs on this important community program. Additional funds or grants are still needed.

The Michigan Humane Society is Michigan's oldest & largest animal welfare organization and one of the largest animal welfare organizations in the country based on the number of animals cared for and the scope of programs and services. MHS is a private, nonprofit organization which cares for over 100,000 animals each year out of 3 centers for animal care: Detroit, Rochester Hills and Westland. The Michigan Humane Society also investigates more than 5,000 animal cruelty complaints each year in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park. The mission of MHS is to end companion animal homelessness, provide the highest quality service and compassion to the animals entrusted to our care, and to be a leader in promoting humane values. Learn more on their website: http://www.michiganhumane.org/

The American Strays Research Program is a true census combined with a scientific film study. The first step in solving a problem is understanding the problem. American Strays research is the systematic documentation of the "free-roaming" (aka stray) dog population to assist in forever removing opinion and provide substantive data by which rational decisions may be made and funded. American Strays aims to define the number of stray dogs in each City, profile the organizations actively working with the stray dog population, and assist in the plan to resolve the situation by providing detailed, visual rich information gathered from the entire City.  ED Tom McPhee is lead Director of the documentaries, while COO Michelle Way leads the research. WA2S volunteers are conducting actual headcounts of "free-roaming" dogs, as well as connecting with the community to learn more about the existing conditions that may be contributing factors to the "free-roaming" population. Interviews and survey data will be documented with community residents & businesses, existing animal shelters & rescues, animal cruelty investigators, as well as City service workers such as the U.S. Postal Service to help the WA2S define the "stray" dog population and how it relates to the community within each City we visit. A team of volunteer citizen scientists are currently compiling data within the 143 square miles that make up the City of Detroit. Look for this program to be the template by which we roll out a national initiative to more US cities over the next 5 years. Donate, Partner, & Learn more http://www.wa2s.org/american-strays-research.html

The World Animal Awareness Society - WA2S.org specializes in filming contemporary events at the human-animal intersection. Headline stories such as the proliferation of puppy mills including raids by national and local animal rescues; Dolphin, Shark and Whale wars; animal hoarding; and animals affected by man-made disasters are filmed. Recent expeditions produced stories of animal rescue and relief efforts in earthquake ravaged Haiti, dozens of stories focused on the catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico and the effect on wildlife as part of the ALL EYES ON THE GULF Expedition, most recently an excursion to earthquake and tsunami ravaged northeastern Japan to put a lens on animal/human rescue and relief efforts & American Strays: DETROIT an unprecedented dog census & film study. For more about the expeditions and work of the World Animal Awareness Society, please visit our website to view our videos and learn more: http://www.WA2S.org

The VISION of the World Animal Awareness Society (WA2S.org) is to focus a lens on a wide spectrum of interactions at the human-animal intersection and curate a detailed filmed archive of behaviors in expectation of observing human evolution.

The World Animal Awareness Society is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity as determined by the IRS. Contributions to the the Society are tax deductible under section 170 of the Code. EIN: 27-1918794 Please visit our website and donate to support this or other missions http://www.wa2s.org/donate.html

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World Animal Awareness Society - WA2S.Org, a non-profit, incorporated in the state of Michigan for the purpose of filming contemporary human-animal interactions at the point of intersection, to be shared with the world.