This year's event will start at 6 pm at the Elkton Ackerman Park Pavilion #1. It will be a 2 mile walk throughout downtown Elkton. Get out of the house with your dog(s) for a fun night to support your favorite local Animal Shelter! Deen will have adoptable dogs from the shelter there as well! We will have various items from local businesses available for a silent auction. Our popular GRAB BAGS will be available again, FIRST COME FIRST SERVE.
T-shirts will be $18 & come with a matching bandana for your dog. They will be available at the following local businesses: Thumb Animal Shelter Walnut Ridge Kennels Pigeon Hardware Thumb Hardware (Elkton).
These businesses will also have pledge sheets available for you to donate on directly to the Thumb Animal Shelter or you can grab your own to collect donations yourself. All pledge money must be collected and turned in by Thursday, August 31st to Thumb Animal Shelter or Walnut Ridge Kennels or can be turned in on the day of the event.
*Water dishes for dogs will be provided during the event & vehicles will be following behind walkers during the walk, in case there are people or dogs that can't do the whole 2 miles!*
If anyone has any questions or has anything they would like to donate as a silent auction item please contact Kelsey at 989-551-8160. As always, thank you for supporting the Thumb Animal Shelter!! —
Join us in the Elkton Autumn Fest Parade on Saturday, September 2nd, as we walk as a group with dogs through the parade route wearing our Walk-a-Thon shirts!! Please be there by 10:30am, lineup will be at Saint Paul's Methodist Church of Elkton parking lot; parade starts at 11:00am sharp!!
Thumb Animal Shelter
Our Business Hours:
M-F: 9am - 4pm
Sat: 9am - 12pm
Sun: CLOSED
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989-375-4204
ABOUT US
The Thumb Animal Shelter, established in 1996, is located in a quiet country setting in the farming community of Elkton, Michigan. It is a small, county subsidized, dog only shelter consisting of 12 runs. The shelter is owned and operated by Deen Forster.
It was founded by Deen and her late husband, Ron Forster. Together they shared over 40 years experience with dogs in breeding, showing and training along with operating a boarding kennel for many years. Their son, Mike, is involved at the shelter as well, making it still a family endeavor. Their daughter, Missy, owns/operates Walnut Ridge Kennels, an all-breed dog boarding facility, located in Bad Axe, MI. So, it's safe to say that the Forster Family lives and breathes anything DOGS!
Harboring a lifetime passion for dogs, they are dedicated to saving the lives of as many of the homeless dogs in Huron County as they can. This experience enables them to expertly evaluate each dog for health, temperament, and trainability, helping to assure that each adoption is successful.
G E N E R A L I N F O R M A T I O N
For the most UP TO DATE available dogs, please call us
989-375-4204 or visit our FACEBOOK PAGE as we post available dogs & we try to reunite lost dogs with their owners.
Our PET FINDER PAGE is also up to date with available dogs.
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If you would like to make a monetary donation, you can do so, via VENMO, our username is @thumbanimalshelter127
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Donations from the public are always WELCOMED and APPRECIATED!
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Items we are in need of:
Adult Dry Dog Food
Puppy Food - Dry & Canned
Blankets of any size
Bleach
Toys
Milk Bone Biscuits
Paper Towels
HE Laundry Detergent & Softener
Ron Forster Memorial Dog Walk
benefitting the Thumb Animal Shelter
Friday August 29th, 2025
The FUN starts at 4:30 PM leading up to our DOG WALK at 6:00 PM along the Elkton Community Walking Path!
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Event Highlights include:
SILENT AUCTION
GRAB BAGS (available on a first come, first serve basis)
AGILITY EQUIPMENT *on-leash* course sponsored by Denise Simmons
VACCINATION CLINIC sponsored by Caseville Small Animal Clinic
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Commemorative Event T-Shirts are NOW AVAILABLE at the following locations: Thumb Animal Shelter, Walnut Ridge Kennels, Caseville Small Animal Clinic, Thumb Hardware & Pigeon Hardware.
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If you have any questions regarding our event, please reach out directly to Kelsey 989-551-8160 or tas.rfmdw@gmail.com
