July 18, 2025

All,

A dear volunteer passed away recently.  Michael Bate used to do the photos for Paws in the Park many years back. He was a foster parent and an adopter too. Michael was a staunch advocate for human and animal rights and he put me in touch with some key legislators when we were fighting the MDAR long ago. I’ll never forget how I met him. He came in to the shelter and asked if we would take a dog that another shelter was going to put down. It was a cute 3 year Pom mix and Michael went and got him and we found the dog a great home. The last time I spoke with Norma, his partner, she said that he loved having their little terrier, Benji, adopted from Save A Dog sit on his lap. Some of you long-time volunteers will remember him. I will never forget Michael and his heart for the animals. 

Shirley