Almost twenty years ago, a small group of dedicated, animal loving individuals came together with a common goal: to save the lives of companion animals in Isabella County. To accomplish this, they put together a comprehensive plan involving adoptions, fostering, volunteering, and a spay/neuter campaign. That was when the Humane Animal Treatment Society was born. In 2008, HATS joined forces with the local animal control in Isabella County, taking over all animal care for the shelter. Since embarking on this journey, HATS has been able to find homes for more than 12,000 previously homeless animals, built an outstanding network of volunteers and professionals willing to assist with day to day needs, and gained the life-saving support of the community through event attendance and donations. In 2014 alone, HATS was able to find forever homes for over 1,000 animals! It was a record breaking year and truly something to celebrate. In 2013, the HATS Health Clinic was proudly revealed. The clinic, which provides state of the art high-volume spay and neuter for individuals with limited financial resources, has proven to be a lifeline for the residents of Isabella County, along with its surrounding Mid-Michigan communities. Not only has the clinic saved community members thousands of dollars, but it has also prevented countless unplanned litters. Since the opening of the HATS Health Clinic, shelter euthanasia has been effectively reduced by 50%, proving without a doubt that spay and neuter saves lives. And although this journey has been one fraught with obstacles, the mindset has never wavered. HATS will forever work to enhance the human/animal bond by promoting adoption and responsible pet ownership through kindness and compassion for humans and animals alike.