Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter (UPAWS)

Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter (UPAWS) is a partner of Best Friends, working together to save the lives of dogs and cats in communities like yours across the country

The Best Friends Network is made up of thousands of public and private shelters, rescue groups, spay/neuter organizations, and other animal welfare groups — all working to save the lives of dogs and cats in communities like yours across the country.

From Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter (UPAWS)

The Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter (UPAWS) is a non-profit, community-supported, open admission animal welfare organization. Our mission is to "Aid in the sheltering and adoption of animals, Promote responsible pet ownership, Actively educate and promote the importance of spaying and neutering to help alleviate pet overpopulation, and Assist in strengthening the human-animal relationship.

Gwinn, MI 49841-8782
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How is your community doing when it comes to lifesaving? 

Our partners support each other and inspire their own communities to increase lifesaving of dogs and cats across the country.

Every partner has one common goal: to save the lives of homeless pets.

How Is Your Community Doing?

Animals in Michigan need your help

You can make a world of difference in the lives of cats and dogs in your community when you work with Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter (UPAWS) and Best Friends to support homeless pets and save more lives.

woman smiling with a dog

Adopt a pet

When you adopt a homeless dog or cat you’re saving the life of a loving and loyal animal. You’re also making space for other pets to find families of their own.
Adopt a Pet
woman holding two kittens

Foster a pet

Fostering a pet is a short-term commitment with long-term impact. By opening your home to a dog or cat for even a few days, you can save lives.
Foster a Pet

Heartwarming stories from our partners

Just like , shelters and rescue groups around the country are saving the lives of homeless cats and dogs. Read more about their lifesaving work. 
Andy the dog being adopted by two people

Waived adoption fees help dogs and cats go home sooner

When a group of New England animal shelters decided to take part in a fee-waived event, the eye-opening result was more than 150 adoptions in a week.
A win for adopters and shelters
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Pumba the dog with mouth open in a smile

Watch: Heartwarming reunion between dog and his person

Pumba’s person never intended for him to end up in a shelter, and everyone could feel the love when the two were reunited.
See the love
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Kansas City Chiefs player Derrick Nnadi in his football uniform at a game

KC Chiefs star scores big off the field for homeless pets

Derrick Nnadi’s love for animals shines as he supports Best Friends for My Cause My Cleats.
Wearing his passion on his feet
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Best Friends logo

Who we are

Best Friends Animal Society  works alongside thousands of animal shelters, rescue groups, and other animal welfare organizations to save the lives of cats and dogs across the country and to make the entire country no-kill in 2025.

The Best Friends Network is comprised of thousands of animal welfare groups from every single state, all working to save the lives of pets in their own communities.

Ranging from animal shelters and rescue groups to spay/neuter and trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) organizations, they collaborate with Best Friends to save even more lives in every corner of the country.

Best Friends provides marketing help, fundraising events, webinars, grants, and other resources so that, together, we can Save Them All.

Interested in becoming a partner? Visit bestfriends.org/network »