The 2025 Better Together Awards and Grants program recognizes those who can demonstrate their ability to accomplish more and how their programs and operations are Better Together. Congratulations to this year’s winners.
Better Together Creative Programs Award of $2,000 is awarded to Tyson’s Place Rescue in Holland for its People and Their Pets Together program, helping terminally ill people care for and find new families for their pets.
Better Together Saving and Raising Funds Award of $2,000 is awarded to Little Traverse Bay Humane Society in Harbor Springs for its Resource Room / Community Pet Pantry program.
Better Together Removing Barriers Award of $3,000 is awarded to Capital Area Humane Society in Lansing for its Test Drive Adoptions program, which is designed to improve adoption outcomes and to reduce animal returns by giving potential adopters the chance to welcome a pet into their home on a trial basis.
Officer Ashley Sanchez of Eastpointe earns the Animal Control Officer of the Year Award for her innovative, proactive initiative and tireless hard work to save lives.
Thais Teixeira, who donated 859 volunteer hours to Ingham County Animal Control, earns the Joel Penny Volunteer of the Year Award.
Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue in Belleville earned the Scentwork in a Shelter training grant as they seek cost-effective ways to train staff and to provide enrichment activities to dogs.
Alpena County Animal Control in Alpena earned the On-site Cat Training grant to improve the lives and adoptability for cats in its care.
Berrien County Animal Services in Benton Harbor earned the On-site Dog Training grant to improve the lives and adoptability for dogs in its care.
Thank you to everyone who applied and nominated animal welfare organizations and advocates for this year’s awards and grants. We look forward to your submissions in 2026.