Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter

Samantha Kopacz

2024-04

Thank you UPAWS for letting my mans and I visit and adopt Smokie today. We love him and he is adjusting quite well to our home. I cannot wait to get him settled with the vet and to bond with him closer - he already rubs against us constantly! He is such a loving and sweet boy, we are honored to be his parents now. Thank you for letting us have this chance to adopt this senior boy, my heart is so full to give him a loving home and y’all were more than generous to donate a lot of his toys and products/food/medicine, to help us adjust to caring for him. Thank you again for loving him before he found his forever home.

MaynardHood

2023-10

Well after a few issues with my dog not being released back to me, the rightful owner, per their in house policy. Stating if your dog was surrendered by someone that has fed and watered them this makes them an owner and therefore legal for them to surrender the rights to UPaws making them legal owner of dog and therefore I would not have the right to reclaim my dog until they were processed and put back up for adoption to the general public. Even the sherriff stated they do not have much power when it came to this type pf situation and it would have to be dealt with through small claims court. A process in which could take a few weeks. So with even providing paperwork of proof of owership from buying my dog from a farm in Rock, Mi, as well has vet papers including paperwork of microchip in which was in my dog since a pup, I was again refused the right to reclaim my dog. So after having a report made of my dog being taking from my home without permission and a threat of a lawsuit, they had resinded and felt it was ok to release her back to me after paying shelter fees and vaccination fees. Now I can understand the idea of protecting the dog as it is what they do, protect the walfare and well being of animals, however these policys of ownership I do not agree with and feel as if they perhaps function above the law. The law being that it was my dog and I had proper paperwork showing this. To be turned away in such a matter was very dishearting and a blow directly to me. This was my dog since a pup raised as a emotional support dog for ptsd for me and my needs solely. With that, however they did see that it was best to return her to me, as she being released displayed full well that she owned me. I am glad that this matter was resolved without litagation and that it was the right decision for them to release her back to me for the sake of her and my best interest. We are again united and thriving and very happy.

Fly, You Fools

2023-05

Everyone is so nice and the place is clean and bright and cheery. And it’s not just dogs and cats! They have small pets too, even reptiles and fish.I saw a cat on their website that seemed a perfect fit for my family so I drove 90 minutes one way to go meet her and I’m so glad I did. She’s home with me now and I enjoyed the drive.

DerMeister812

2024-02

Set up a meeting to see Frankie, which went well, explained I have outdoor animals: chickens, goats, and a German Shepherd, as well as three kids. I was told the cat isn't good with children, and I said would schedule a visit when I had my children with me since the caretaker was satisfied with the arrangement of the outdoor animals.Fast forward a week: receptionist was very defensive I had children, not sure why, and very reluctant to let me meet Frankie (again) and tries to sell me on a "younger more active cat", which I said I did NOT want. A caretaker I hadn't t dealt with tries to pass Frankie by and show me....you guessed it..."more active cats". WHICH AGAIN, I said I DO NOT want due to having chickens and an indoor rabbit. So the caretaker allows us to visit Frankie, and is verbally surprised at how well the cat is doing with all three of my children. I am not surprised as my children raise various animals.I sign ALL of the requisite adoption paperwork, and then sit and wait for 20 minutes on top of already being their half an hour. I am then met with a morbidly obese woman who tries to explain to me that...the cat can't live with dogs and chickens. I explain (again....) that the cat isn't going to live in the chicken coop or the doghouse (does that really need to be explained a 2nd time?). She then goes on to attempt to inform me that the cat would be "stressed out" if it saw or heard a bird (chicken) from the window. Sure thing.... And then says SHE DOES NOT want the cat to live with a dog or "other animals" or with "children" despite TWO caretakers already screening that issue.Obviously, having morbidly obese people that are incapable of taking care of themselves properly try to tell me how to take care of animals that I've taken care of for 40 years has left just a tad bitter.So all in all, bitter women that are mad you have kids or something to that effect led me to waste 2 hours of my time. The first caretaker did NOT waste my time, so kudos to her. Hopefully she moves on to more professional organizations in her future.

Jolene Kunde

2024-01

this place is an amazing Humane Society. The animals are always treated great, they do amazing job, supporting the community by running different fundraisers to help the animals. Find new homes. Definitely recommend adopting from them!

Richard Mullens

2023-08

Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare located in Marquette, Michigan is a great organization. We were able to make a donation to this organization. They were very appreciative. If you are also able to help this organization we highly recommend that you do.

Kimberly Gilliland

2023-05

I transported two fur babies from South Texas to this facility and I am so impressed with everybody that I met these two will be staying there until they get adopted out. Update already been adopted❤️

camille szafran

2024-04

Would have loved to see the dogs but the cats were awesome as well.

Ruthanne Vincent

2023-08

Got the best, cutest little kitty. My perfect fit ♥️

Jill gasper

2023-08

These 2 have completed my family. Love them so much

Axel Acevedo

2023-10

Great place to adopt an animal. The staff genuinely care about what happens to their charges. Looking to help rather than adopt, they have a supplies drop off in the foyer: blankets, food, toys, cages, etc.

Anton Reinaas

2024-01

We have 2 cats from there and there employees are awesome and they deal amazing with there animals

Rich Jandron

2021-05

Glad to have been able to visit the bench dedicated to my mom here. Beautiful facility.

Bri Ziegner

2023-05

Very kind staff they make you feel at home. We adopted a feral cat that has turned into a loving and kind addition to our family. We will visit soon to buy some goodies and see everyone. Thank you.

vince Burt

2023-05

It is confusing that such a well-funded shelter could be staffed with so many oblivious people, half of which seem to have no interest in the well-being of the animals taken in. Showed up for first appointment after trying to adopt a cat, staff seem to have no idea why I was there for an appointment they scheduled? Over a month since I thought I had already adopted i received a voicemail for an appointment in" one or two"! business days from then which was on a work day a very rude woman there told me there would be a $50 fine if I couldn't bring the cat in on my workday. . Then I find out my ornery little friend must be taken in for a second time and transported several counties away for the procedure because they don't have a veterinarian to neuter pets at the facility?. if they were insistent on a pet being vaccinated, microchipped and neutered it should have been done so before being taken out of the shelter or during the first time pet was brought back to shelter for vaccinations and microchipping?

Taylor Shelafoe

2023-05

If I could give this place negative stars I would. I had an appointment to meet a dog at 12:30pm. We showed up at 12:20pm to make sure we were early for the appointment & two people ended up showing up at 12:30pm for their 12pm appointment that they showed up late for and ended up adopting the dog right then. We were literally sitting there waiting as these people showed up for our appointment. I’ll never go through adopting another animal from this facility ever again. This was the worst customer service.

Krysta Indish

2023-05

The staff was incredibly sweet and helpful. They clearly are very passionate and dedicated to getting animals into the best home for them. Any and all questions I had were answered politely and with educated responses. Truly a pleasure to have adopted from them.

Scott Sturzl

2023-07

Website clearly stated that rabies vaccine or a certificate to receive a rabies vaccine was included in the adoption process. After I adopted a cat I had a question about the date of the vaccine. At that point they told me that they don't even do rabies vaccines.

Trish D.

2021-05

Fantastic institution! I thank God everyday they're there. Too many stray dogs and cats out in the cold or mistreated.

Tia Fox

2023-06

Friendly staff, clean environment, quick to respond in emails for any questions. They take care of and really love the animals they care for. 💛

S DM

2023-05

Seems like a nice new place. I have not adopted from here however.

Danielle Bammert

2023-11

Beautiful facility :)Very kind people working with the adorable animals ♥ I wish I could take them all home. Everyone needs to visit here! 😊

Bobbi Pazolt

2023-08

Love how the staff dose every thing they can to help the animals. Also helps when you can't afford different services for your animals.

Carla Foster

2023-12

Love how much they care for the animals there.

Michelle Paajanen

2023-05

I have only been associated with Sally's Ride which I enjoy the fundraiser every year. Great time, great people, saving animals

Taryn Okesson

2023-09

A great service to the community. Thanks Upaws for all you do for the animals and being an option when life gets complicated.

Amy Bigger

2022-05

I went to UPaws to get a pug yesterday. He was having a very hard time breathing and coughing up foam. The workers well aware there is something not right ignored that fact and I took him home to foster with intentions of getting him to my vet in the morning. Needless to say the poor little guy didn't make it. 😢 today on my lunch hour I brought him back to the shelter complaining that he should have had medical attention and should not have been available for adoption. NOBODY was sorry, nobody seemed to care and now No one will return an email or call with an apology or explanation as to why this little guy had to suffer. I'm besides myself, sick to my stomach that this is the treatment happening to these innocent animals. Zero medical clearance before adoption.

Amber Findley

2022-05

They are always friendly. My daughter went there with her mindset that she was going to adopt Jazz and that is what she did. They went over everything with her and she walked out with her kitty. Please support any local shelter.

Birdie

2021-05

TERRIBLE. Came here to find a perfect match for my other furry friend and I ended up waiting an hour outside, and I still didn’t even get to meet any of the animals. They were not busy at all and no one answered the phone or door. Poor customer service. Spoke to a woman and she had low respect and her tone was absolutely rude, it’s obvious they don’t worry too much about finding homes for their animals. I have never experienced this much trouble at a shelter.

Malorie Couillard

2020-05

I went in there to see if my cat would be there when he went missing. Gave them my info posted him on their page and shared him everywhere like they told me too. 2 weeks later go by never get a call text or anything. Saw him on their page on Thursday. Left them a voicemail Thursday night. Went in on Friday to go get him and they adopted him out luckily they still had him in the shelter. They’re trying to fix their mistake. If I don’t get my cat back lawsuit is next