74 Years of Helping Animals in Need
Cascades Humane Society is Jackson County's independent, no-kill humane society — community-funded, transparently operated, and accountable to the neighbors who make our work possible. We've been here since 1952, and we're not going anywhere.
More Than 74 Years of Showing Up for Jackson County
How It Started — and What It Grew Into
Cascades Humane Society was founded around 1952 on a straightforward idea: every animal in Jackson County deserves compassionate care, and every family deserves a trustworthy place to find one. What began as a local shelter operation has grown into one of the region's most established nonprofits, helping more than 5,000 animals each year through adoption, community programs, and direct support for pet owners in need.
We have never received government funding — not because we couldn't pursue it, but because we never wanted to. Remaining entirely community-supported means we answer to Jackson County first, last, and always. That independence is something we take seriously.
What We're Here to Do
Mission and Vision, Plainly Stated
Cascades Humane Society exists to improve the lives of animals in Jackson County through shelter, compassionate care, and programs that connect people and pets. We hold ourselves to a standard of transparency and accountability this community has every right to expect.
Our Mission
Our mission is to give every animal in our care the time, treatment, and support needed to find a safe and lasting home — and to ensure that no healthy or treatable animal is ever euthanized for space.
Our Vision
Our vision is a Jackson County where every adoptable pet finds a family, every owner in need has somewhere to turn, and the gap between animals and the people who love them keeps getting smaller.
The People Behind CHS
Staff Who Chose This Work and a Board Rooted in This Community
CHS is staffed by people who came to animal welfare on purpose and governed by a volunteer board of directors drawn from across Jackson County. Every decision we make — which animals we take in, which programs we run, how we spend what this community gives us — reflects their shared commitment to getting it right.
2026 Board of Directors
Patrick Batterson, Attorney – President
Alec Herr, City of Jackson – Vice-President
Erin Supinsky, American 1 Credit Union -Treasurer
Michelle Huttenlocker, Consumers Energy – Secretary
Kerry Klee, Spring Arbor University – Immediate Past President
Directors
Teri Ogg, Manpower
Kim Sayles, Orbitform
James Edgar, Dream Vacations
Kegan McMichael, America 1 Credit Union
Dr. David Halsey, MD – Retired
Dr. Erin Howard, DVM – Baker College
Aaron Pressel – Wayne RESNA
Staff – 517-787-7387 plus extension
| Position | Name | Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Executive Director | Stefanie Riggs | ext. 111 |
| Director of Shelter Operations | Evan Zigler | ext. 113 |
| Medical Director, DVM | Dr. Sarah Patrias | ext. 129 |
| Community Engagement Coordinator | Hayley Golightly | ext. 116 |
| Marketing Coordinator | Michelle Koszegi | ext. 130 |
| Adoptions and General Inquiries | Staff | ext. 110 |
| Admissions Coordinator | Makenzie Winters | ext. 115 |
| General Accounting Coordinator | Joan Egeler | ext. 125 |
| Jackson Crossing Location | ext. 112 |
74 Years of Work, Measured in Animals and Accountability
The Numbers That Define What We Do
Cascades Humane Society holds a 4-star Charity Navigator rating with a 93% accountability score — one of the highest ratings an animal shelter can earn — and carries the GuideStar/Candid Seal of Transparency. We don't share those credentials to impress anyone; we share them because this community funds our work and deserves to know exactly how we use it. Every dollar raised in Jackson County stays here, directed toward the animals and programs in our care.
5,000+
animals helped each year through our shelter, SNAP, Pet Food Pantry, and Forgotten Felines programs
1,200+
animals taken into our care annually, each one evaluated, treated, and matched with the right family.
