about
CHERRYLAND HUMANE SOCIETYABOUT US
We provide a safe harbor for the animals entrusted to us as we strive to find them responsible, loving and permanent homes while advancing the well-being of animals.
OUR VALUES
TO PROTECT OUR ANIMALS

An emphatic ethic of care:
We consider and accommodate, as much as possible, the physical, emotional, behavioral, and social well-being of each animal from that individual animal’s perspective.

A helping ethic:
We support people in making good adoption choices that meet their specific circumstances as well as helping people keep their companion animals by giving them the tools and resources to correct the issues that are driving their desire to relinquish their animal.

A community ethic
The well being of people and animals by fostering greater awareness and focus upon the role of various community institutions in creating solutions to the root causes of companion animal homelessness, neglect, cruelty and violence.
Meet Our Team
Before coming to Cherryland Humane Society, Heidi was the Executive Director for The Humane Society and Animal Rescue of Muskegon County(HSAR). The Michigan Pet Fund Alliance awarded HSAR the 2013 Outstanding Performance Award for most improved limited admission shelter in Michigan while Heidi was at the helm. She has been involved in animal welfare for over 22 years. She has two rescued pit bulls and one cat.
Fear Free Shelter Certified
Tia joined the CHS Team in 2016 after graduating from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in Zoology, Animal Behavior and Neurology. Her three rescue dogs at home enjoy the spoiled life. Mazie (Tia’s blind husky mix) assists her in raising kittens and teaching the shelter pups how to play. Tia loves to travel with her husband, do anything with her dogs, get out in nature, and paint rocks. Behavior is a passion that has led Tia to spearhead CHS’s behavior, training, and enrichment programs.
Rachel moved to Traverse City in 2021 from Yellow Springs, Ohio. She has a degree in Social Work and worked in schools for many years prior to joining the team at CHS. Rachel has always had a love for all animals and is very excited about combining her passion of working with people and animals into her role at CHS. She has a big fur family which includes two dogs, six cats and a flock of chickens. When she’s not cuddling her fur children she likes to explore all the beautiful outdoor places that Northern Michigan has to offer via hiking boots or kayak.
Fear Free Shelter Certified
Laurel has been on staff at CHS since 2009. Her job consists of managing donor software program, is responsible for acknowledging donor contributions and handling end of day bookkeeping keeping her busy! Although she dearly loves both cats and dogs, she has a real place in her heart for dogs. She and her husband have one dog who is very spoiled and loved very much.
Rachel has lived in Traverse City her whole life. She attended Northwestern Michigan College and has a degree in Engineering Technology. She has always shared a deep connection with animals and has an immediate affection and desire to care for them. She is excited to extend this care to all the animals at CHS. Rachel’s fur-family consists of three cats and two dogs. She loves to take her pup disc golfing and paddle boarding. If you ask Rachel what makes her happy, she’ll say a wagging tail and a sweet genuine purr.
Fear Free Shelter Certified
Rebecca was born and raised in Traverse City. She attended Northwestern Michigan College and joined the CHS team in October of 2016. Rebecca loves working at CHS and says her favorite thing is helping the animals find their “purr”-manent homes!
Fear Free Shelter Certified
Emma has been an animal lover all her life. She rode horses as a girl and even taught her goldfish tricks. She attended Michigan State University to further her passion by getting a degree in Zoology, with an emphasis in zoo and aquarium science. Today she strives to help every animal that walks through the doors find their Furrr-ever home.
Sherri has been working at CHS since October of 2018. She is part of the office staff, handling the bookkeeping and financials. She graduated from Northwestern Michigan College with a degree in Business Administration/Accounting and has been a volunteer since 2014. While she adores all animals, she has a special place in her heart for the kitties. She and her husband share their home with six puurrfect felines.
Jane previously worked in the dental field. First, as a dental assistant, then as a laboratory technician after earning and AAS in Dental Laboratory Technology. She retired in 2013 after 30 years in the dental field. Jane has been a life long lover of animals, having had horses, dogs, cats, birds and even a tarantula. She started as a volunteer for several years and is now delighted to be an official part of the CHS team!
Fear Free Shelter Certified
McKenzie joined our team in 2021 after moving to Traverse City from Alpena, where she was the assistant manager of Huron Humane Society. Kenzie has had a deeply seated love for all animals her entire life. She enjoys spending her free time with her horses, rock hounding, and gardening. Her fur-crew consists of three dogs and four cats, all of whom were rescued.
Fear Free Shelter Certified
A mother of six children – two human and four furry, Naomi joined the CHS team with a passion for all. She loves camping with her family, cooking, eating and traveling to expand her worldview. With a bachelor’s degree from Hope College and nonprofit marketing experience, she is determined to be a strong advocate for all of the animals at CHS.
Fear Free Shelter Certified
Christa was born and raised in the Detroit area. She has always been an animal lover and upon graduating high school, pursued a career working with horses. After some years working for several horse trainers in Texas, Wisconsin, and Colorado, she began work with the DDFL Harmony Equine Center in Colorado. She helped to rehabilitate, retrain, and eventually place into new homes, horses in transition. She moved back to Michigan in 2018 to work on Mackinac Island and finally found herself settling down in Traverse City, where she lives with her rescue pitbull, Juno. Aside from horses, she has a passion for both dogs and cats and her dream is to help as many as possible find their forever homes.
Fear Free Shelter Certified
Grace was born and raised in Kingsley where her love for animals started. She was a part of 4H for 12 years showing lambs and even raised her own flock. After graduating high school Grace moved to lansing where she lived for 2 years, there she began shelter work at Capital area humane society. She has had lots of foster babies and has a special place in her heart for hospice patients. Grace’s fur family consists of 4 cats, 2 dogs, 1 turtle and a leopard gecko. Grace loves helping all of the animals find their forever homes and giving them plenty of love until then!!
Billie arrived as a stray in 2017. She was skinny, sick, and managed to charm her way into the office, where she is now a permanent member of the staff. Her duties include working with the behavior team to see how other pets respond to cats, and sometimes even helping socialize animals. Billie’s ever positive attitude and love of all creatures make her a natural at what she does. In addition to her work with the behavior team, Billie does PR, provides humane education, visits nursing homes, and “assists” her coworkers with their emails. She especially loves “helping” the accountant and executive director. If you stop in, please thank Billie for all her hard work!
INTERESTED IN ADOPTION
Fill out an application for a dog or cat, and CHS staff will be in contact with next steps to come to the shelter and meet the adoptable animals!





AMAZON WISH LIST
It takes a village. Without your generous help, we wouldn’t be able to do it.
On an average day at Cherryland Humane Society, we provide care for many dogs and cats at a cost of nearly $1,200. Your dollars pay for food, medical attention, vaccinations — all the things needed to care for these animals until we can unite them with their fur-ever families.

CHEWY AFFILIATE PROGRAM
CHS is happy to be part of Chewy’s affiliate program! When you become a Chewy customer, CHS will receive a $15 commission to help the pets here! New customers also receive 30% off their first Autoship order. And, did you know you can even order your prescription food through them?
Our Chewy affiliate links do contain cookies. We do not receive donor information from Chewy. Please let us know if you donate through Chewy so we can thank you!
Huge thanks to these sponsors for their continued support!



