Schools and Community

Classroom Visits

Our Humane Educator, Lindsay Sandusky, loves to visit classrooms in the Tri-county area. We have a wide variety of programs designed to teach humane values. We are always interested in developing new ideas and our education team can assist teachers in developing specialized lessons. Each visit includes an optional special visit from a shelter pet. There is a $25 fee associated with these visits. Please contact our Humane Educator, Lindsay Sandusky at (517) 626-6821, ext. 130, or e-mail her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to schedule a visit.

Shelter Tours

We offer group tours and presentations for school field trips, Girl Scout Troops and other community organizations. Each tour consists of a presentation in our education room and a tour of our animal shelter. Each tour presents an opportunity to meet some of our shelter pets in a very safe, hands on experience. Our presentations can be tailored to meet the needs of individual groups. There is a $25 associated with shelter tours, but many groups choose to donate items from our shelter wish list. Please contact our Humane Educator at (517) 626-6821, ext. 130 or e-mail us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to schedule a time.

 
Community

The Capital Area Humane Society is moving beyond our shelter walls to provide important programs and services to people in a variety of neighborhoods of our mid-Michigan community.  Our goal is to increase accessibility for people in identified areas; making it easier to become connected to valuable programs and services. Now, in addition to hosting many programs at our shelter, we are taking our services on the road, directly to people who need our help.

Programs are already being offered and developed with the following community centers: Baker-Donora Community Center,  Southside Community Center, Foster Community Center, Lett's Community Center, Southside Community Coalition and Cristo Rey Community Center.

Pet Fairs

In 2006, the CAHS launched a pilot program called a Pet Fair at the Baker Donora Focus Center in Lansing.  Our staff visited the center to vaccinate dogs and cats against distemper and rabies and to administer a general de-wormer.  We also distributed free food, collars, leashes and educational information about our low-cost Spay/Neuter Clinic and our Youth Education Programs.

At the first Pet Fair, we saw pets from 111 families in less than 4 hours, vaccinating 124 dogs and 65 cats.  None of the animals were current on their vaccinations and only 38% had seen a vet in their lifetime.

The results of the pilot program clearly indicated that a more comprehensive program is needed in Lansing.  In 2007, we began planning to expand  to other community centers. Now, in 2013, we are pleased to be working with more than five community centers to educate, inform, and involve people in creating a more humane community.

Community CHAT

Children for Humane Animal Treatment is an after school club which welcomes kids ages 8-14 as members.  Through CHAT the CAHS aims to teach children to interact positively with and respect animals.  Examples of CHAT lessons include:  demonstrations of the right and wrong ways to handle animals, teaching the concept of respecting an animal's privacy and space, pets as part of the family, animal safety, bite prevention and inappropriate and aggressive actions towards animals.

The schedule of Community CHAT Club may vary by location; ask your community center if they have a partnership with the Capital Area Humane Society or call our Humane Educator at (517) 626-6821, ext. 130.