One Year After Ozzy Miracle Rescue: A West Michigan Guide to Helping Any Animal in Need

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — A year ago in August, a woman driving through Battle Creek stopped at a stop sign and heard crying. It was coming from a plastic bag tied shut on the shoulder of Morgan Road. Inside was a puppy, barely alive, that rescuers believe had been thrown from a moving car.

That was Aug. 13, 2025. By the time he reached help, the puppy, soon named Ozzy, had maybe an hour left to live, according to rescuers.

Then, not long after, a second puppy was found dead along M-66. DNA testing has since confirmed what was suspected: the two pups came from the same litter.

One year later, no one has ever been identified in connection with the crime, according to Sophia DiPietro, co-founder and executive director of All Species Kinship (A.S.K.), the Battle Creek nonprofit that's cared for Ozzy since.

Rising Animal Cruelty in Michigan

Animal cruelty climbed statewide from 123 reports in 2017 to 913 reports in 2023, according to data from Michigan State Police.

Kalamazoo County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Getting, who has no connection to the Ozzy case, has said penalties for people found guilty of animal abuse can range from 93 days in jail to four years in prison, depending on severity.

DiPietro says what happened to Ozzy is the most visible example of the reality A.S.K. sees every week.

"After 25 years in the field, I can say that I've never seen such a demand for services as we do now," she said.

DiPietro said A.S.K. is increasingly hearing from people with steady jobs, who she described as "hitting a wall" financially, struggling to cover all of the necessities for their pet. On top of that, just as need is rising, DiPietro said those same economic pressures are also decreasing donations.

Nationally, adoption rates are down, DiPietro said, leaving shelters and rescues everywhere with less room, and more animals abandoned.

How to Help Animals in West Michigan

If you come across an animal that needs help somewhere in West Michigan, here are the resources available:

If You Find a Stray Dog or Cat

Contain the animal safely if you can do so without risk, then contact:

• Kalamazoo County Animal Services & Enforcement (KCASE) — the county's only stray-animal shelter. 1316 Lamont Ave., Kalamazoo. (269) 383-8775.

• SPCA of Southwest Michigan — a no-kill shelter serving Kalamazoo and surrounding counties. 6955 W. KL Ave., Kalamazoo. (269) 344-1474.

• Animal Rescue Project — a no-kill shelter and adoption center in Kalamazoo. (269) 492-1010.

If You're Struggling to Keep Your Pet

If the animal is your own pet and you're struggling because of cost, housing or something else, DiPietro said that's exactly the situation A.S.K. exists for.

• All Species Kinship (A.S.K.) — free spay/neuter, pet food and supplies for Calhoun and Kalamazoo county residents, no judgment and few questions asked. (877) 596-7776.

• Kalamazoo Humane Society — an emergency pet food bank (2272 River St., Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and free or low-cost spay/neuter open to the public. (269) 345-1181.

If You Find an Injured or Orphaned Wild Animal

Michigan law allows only Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) licensed wildlife rehabilitators to legally keep sick, injured or orphaned wildlife. The window to get an animal to one is generally about 48 hours.

• Michigan DNR Licensed Rehabilitator Locator — searchable list by species and county.

• A.S.K. Wildlife Resources — Send a message to their Facebook page.

• Birds & Beaks Rescue & Rehab — bird-specific rehabilitation based in Battle Creek. (517) 898-1577.

• KCASE will also evaluate sick or injured wildlife brought to their office to determine the best route for care.

If You Find a Baby Animal That Appears Abandoned

Wildlife rehabilitators say, first and foremost, give the baby space and time to make sure it is actually abandoned. Mothers will leave their young alone, sometimes for hours. If the baby is touched or moved, they may not come back.

If you're sure the parent is gone, or the animal is visibly injured, keep people and pets away from it and call one of the resources above before doing anything else.

Ways to Help That Don't Cost Anything

DiPietro said A.S.K. always needs:

• Foster homes (all expenses covered)

• Crafters, whose handmade goods are resold to help fund vet care

• Bakers, for pop-up bake sales

• Wildlife transporters

• A phone call or Facebook message flagging a dog you've noticed living outside, before it becomes an emergency

A year ago, one woman's stop at a stop sign made the difference for Ozzy. Whoever left him in that bag has still never been found. However, between the people who called, the ones who donated, the volunteers who offered to foster, and a community that showed up for a puppy shower for a dog with no guaranteed future, Ozzy became proof of what's possible when rescues have resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What happened to Ozzy the puppy?

A: Ozzy was found barely alive in a plastic garbage bag on Morgan Road in Battle Creek on August 13, 2025. He was rescued by All Species Kinship and has recovered. One year later, no one has been identified in connection with the crime.

Q: How can I help animals in need in West Michigan?

A: You can foster animals, volunteer as a wildlife transporter, donate handmade crafts or baked goods, or simply report animals you see living outside before it becomes an emergency. Contact All Species Kinship, KCASE, or the SPCA of Southwest Michigan.

Q: What should I do if I find a stray or injured animal?

A: Safely contain the animal if possible without risk, then contact KCASE for strays, A.S.K. for wildlife, or the Michigan DNR rehabilitator locator for injured wild animals. Do not touch wild mammals with bare hands.