Don't Call it Puppy Love

Linda Gottwald opened her shelter to take in animals no one would

By Al Parker | Oct. 23, 2021

Linda Gottwald's inspiration to start an animal shelter: a little brown dog with a jaunty red scarf. 

“I first saw Frannie many years ago when I was volunteering at an animal shelter in Oakland, California,” says Gottwald. “She was being dragged into the shelter by an elderly gentleman, who had a grip on her collar as he held a wooden drawer full of puppies.”

Kids had been throwing rocks at Frannie and her pups, the exhausted old-timer told her as he wiped his brow. “I chased 'em off and brought her to you.” 

The mama dog watched Gottwald's every move as Gottwald put her five chubby brown and black furballs into a box. The mother was gaunt and soaking wet, but her eyes never left her puppies.

“Don't worry,” Gottwald told her again and again. “We'll take good care of them.”

Gottwald soon came up with a name for the brave little mother. “I decided to name her Frannie, in honor of St. Francis, the patron saint of all animals,” she says.

Frannie grew to trust Gottwald, and the two — both patron saints of animals, you might say — developed a bond Gottwald couldn't bear to break. Knowing the puppies would have little trouble finding homes, Gottwald adopted Frannie from the crowded shelter and moved her home.

“She was mine, but it turned out actually, I was hers,” says Gottwald. “I came to love her in a hundred ways.”

Sadly, Frannie was later hit by a car and died.

“I cradled her in my arms and pledged that she would not have died in vain, that someday, I would make an animal shelter for all the beautiful little spirits like her that are lost or frightened, or confused and alone.” 

A PROMISE KEPT
Gottwald made good on that promise to Frannie. She now operates the Great Lakes Humane Society, a nonprofit that sits on 10 acres in rural Leelanau County, where she takes in dogs from across the country.

Her mission is to take in unwanted animals and find lasting, loving homes for them. She also educates the public about adopting rather than purchasing a pet and the importance of spaying and neutering. Adoptions and surrenders are by appointment only.

“We offer abandoned and unwanted animals shelter, medical care, and the opportunity to be adopted into a loving home,” says Gottwald, who has been awarded the Albert Schweitzer Community Service Award for her work with the Chicago Anti-Cruelty Society. “For some animals, our farm may be their home for life. We have heated kennels and plenty of room for animals to romp and play. All of our animals are vaccinated and sterilized prior to adoption.”

Gottwald and her team have conducted more than 1,100 adoptions since launching the shelter in 2010. The place relies on a cadre of six to eight dedicated volunteers to help her.

“We're helping these guys get balanced, so they can get along with other dogs and people,” says volunteer Tom Wilcox, a 69-year-old retiree who's been helping at the shelter almost daily for nearly two years. “They don't get enough exercise, so you have to get them outside moving around to purge themselves of that energy.”

Wilcox, who retired from Flexsteel after 44 years, is at the shelter just after 8am every Monday through Friday. 

“My goal is to make sure they eat,” he says while snuggling with a brown pit bull who looks to be easily 80 pounds of muscle. “I feed them breakfast and walk them. Then we'll do some training on the leash so they learn not to jump up. We work on all these things.”

LOVE, EXERCISE, ATTENTION
A lot of the dogs come in damaged, according to Judith Knupp, who originally stopped by the shelter to adopt a dog and has now been volunteering there for about five months. She stops by each Tuesday and Thursday to walk the dogs and help out with whatever's needed to make them feel comfortable and loved. “They come in sad and confused,” she adds. “They don't know why they're there.”

Pit bulls are the most common dog breed coming into the shelter, but Gottwald takes in all sizes and shapes. She picks some up from owners who can no longer care for their pets, while others are dropped off at the shelter. She's even taken in street dogs shipped into the country from Pakistan and Egypt, and some from other rescue groups.

“We'll take any dogs without asking,” says Gottwald. “Any dog can be a good dog — they all just need attention.”

Funding to keep the shelter operating comes through several sources. There are fees for adopting the dogs, of course, and donations are always welcome. Over the years they have landed a number of grants from animal lovers and organizations, including $3,000 — twice — from Hollywood star and famed animal rights activist Doris Day, founder of the Doris Day Animal Foundation, and $5,000 from Playboy magazine founder, Hugh Hefner. 

Gottwald also hosts a barn sale every spring to raise funds locally. She has plans to build a new barn and take in livestock. She is always looking for more volunteer help, especially a handyman type who could help with some projects.

To learn more, visit www.greatlakeshs.com or call (231) 846-8293 or greatlakeshumane@gmail.com.

PLUS:
READ MORE TAILS
Linda Gottwald has written “Once Upon A Shelter,” a heartwarming collection of stories based on adventures she encountered over her years as a shelter director. It offers a unique view and insight into the connection between animals and the human condition. It's priced at $20, including shipping, and proceeds help to fund GLHS.

BY THE NUMBERS
Did you know?

         63.4 million U.S. households own at least one dog.

         89.7 million pet dogs

         50 percent of the U.S. population owns a dog.

         85 percent of owners consider their dogs to be pets or companions.

         1 percent of owners consider their dogs to be property.

         $1,386 the average spent on vet care per year, per dog.

         78 percent of owned dogs who are spayed or neutered.

Data from the American Pet Products Association (APPA) and American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).