Since 1994, MGM Dumpsters has been collecting trash for removal and recycling as part of an expanding business. Throughout February and March, the Ira Township business will be collecting items of a different sort for charity: Pet food and cat litter.
MGM Dumpsters is hosting a drive to benefit the Blue Water Area Humane Society through March 31. Items being collected include cat and dog food, as well as cat litter. Donations of both wet and dry food are being accepted. Clumping cat litter is preferred.
Donations can be dropped off from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays at MGM Dumpsters, which is located at 9571 Marine City Highway, west of Church Road.
The business has hosted the drive for the past two or three years, MGM Dumpsters President George Ullicny said.
"We have two animals," Ullicny said. "We used to have a cat in the office, as well — actually, two cats in the office. Everybody in our office is an animal lover."
Edward Brennan, an employee at MGM Dumpsters, is a volunteer with Blue Water Area Humane Society and a part of the society's board of directors. Brennan's involvement with the society was instrumental in bringing the two organizations together for the drive.
MGM Dumpsters has selected to assist a different charitable cause each month. The type of cause selected is often based on which organizations could use the help at certain times of the year, Ullicny said.
"Our organization has grown the past several years due to the hard work, dedication and team work of each member of our organization," he added. "We aim to serve the community and we pride ourselves in utilizing the most environmentally friendly methods available in the industry.
"Our goal is to expand our organization in the near future so that we can more effectively hit this goal."
The Blue Water Area Humane Society, located in St. Clair County's Clyde Township, is a no-kill shelter that promotes spaying and neutering. The facility serves as a temporary safe shelter to companion animals in an effort to find them permanent homes.
"The shelter is designed to hold more cats than dogs," Blue Water Area Humane Society Director and licensed veterinary technician Katie Phelan said. "The shelter has been here since the '70s, and this is how it was built. So in supplies, we always need cat litter, cat foods."
One item that is often needed is kitten milk replacement formula, as the society frequently gets calls about orphaned kittens, particularly in the spring and early fall.
"We have a crew of volunteers that hand raise baby kittens," Phelan said.
At any given time, the society has between 60 and 70 cats or kittens for adoption and anywhere from five to 10 dogs. The society also has a variety of smaller animals available for adoption including rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs.
The society's adoption fee is $150 for dogs or puppies and $100 for cats or kittens. A refund of $25 is available when an animal is spayed or neutered. Adoptable animals can be viewed online at awos.petfinder.com/shelters/MI18.html.
The Blue Water Area Humane Society accepts donations year-round. It is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information about the society, call 810-987-4357 or go to bluewaterareahs.org.
Nicole Tuttle is a freelance reporter for The Voice.
