My personal journey with wildlife rehabilitation has spanned over five transformative years. The work is not always glamorous - we help injured, sick, or orphaned animals, and even those that inhabit people's homes uninvited. Our goal is a synergistic one: rehabilitating the creatures to release them in rural areas away from cities and communities. The outcome is twofold – keeping wildlife safe and away from people, and the other way round.

In the city of Lincoln Park, Michigan, we do not have adequate facilities or an acceptable level of recognition for our noble cause. This is where you, dear signatory, and your signature can be monumental. A public call for more recognized rehabilitation centers in Lincoln Park is not just a plea for animal welfare, it’s a call for a better, balanced ecosystem.

The Humane Society of the United States estimates that millions of animals are hit by cars every year. Professional rehabilitators like us are the first responders in a crisis, providing a valuable public service. Furthermore, rehabilitators in Michigan do not receive state or federal funding, relying solely on donations and volunteers (Michigan Wildlife Rehabilitators Association).

This integration of rehabilitation within city limits is not unprecedented. Over time, cities around the U.S have shown improvement in cohabitation with wildlife due to the establishment of rehabilitation centers (The National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association). Lincoln Park, Michigan, could benefit from similar rehabilitation initiatives.

My personal experience as a rehabilitator is not always glitter and rainbow. This year, 2024, I met an amazing little guy Optimus Prime, a raccoon. He was found in someones storage unit in the downriver area. The renter of the unit I imagine was just as scared as he was when they saw each other. Sadly they decided to harm him instead of finding another way to evict him. I imagine he was just looking for a safe and warm place and perhaps something to eat. Optiumus Prime was beaten to the point his mouth was swollen and deformed, he was unable to walk or even eat. A sweet lady found him in the parking lot and brought him right in. He was given meds, love and knew he was safe for his last 12 hours of life. Its ones like Optimus Prime that stay with us for years to come, the ones that keep us fighting and in his name we will fight but we can't do it alone. This is going to take the community too make a difference for raccoons like Optimus Prime, possums like Webble and squirrels like Lydia, just to name a few. 

I urge you to lend your support to establishing recognized and properly equipped rehabilitation centers in Lincoln Park, Michigan. Let's help these scared, injured, and misplaced animals together. Please, sign this petition today and share it widely amongst your peers.