Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/856090
10 August 3 • 2017 jn Detroit Dog Rescue saves the city's stray dogs through adoption, retraining. Dog-Gone K ristina Millman-Rinaldi had a rough childhood that included episodes of abuse and being shuttled from house to house. "I bounced around in my childhood, but wherever I was there was a dog," she said. "Now, when I rescue one, I see a piece of myself in them." As executive director of Detroit Dog Rescue (DDR), Millman- Rinaldi, 34, does a lot of rescuing. Last year, the nonprofit rehomed 396 dogs and helped another 1,500 with free vaccinations, food for needy owners and spaying/neutering to stem the proliferation of stray dogs roaming the city. Detroit Dog Rescue is the city's first and only no-kill shelter. That's no small feat when you consider Detroit is estimated to have more than 50,000 stray dogs, some of which have been cruelly abused, neglected and/or used in fighting. The city's 23 animal control officers can't begin to keep up with the problem; nearly 90 percent of the dogs they pick up are euthanized. Millman-Rinaldi, who lives in West Bloomfield, is one of several Jews involved with the organization, which, she said, fits squarely with traditional Jewish values of giving back. "I had an amazing Jewish grandma who instilled my faith and taught me that being Jewish means that giving back is always a prior- ity. That's what led me to animals and helping others," she said. "At Detroit Dog Rescue, we see so many people from the Jewish commu- nity becoming interested and involved with the dogs of Detroit. It is a great feeling to have the community I come from support the organi- zation I belong to." DOG DAYS One of those supporters is Samuel Finn, 20, who is currently doing a four-month internship with DDR. The student of public policy at the University of Michigan and a former president of Michigan Region BBYO calls the internship "the most fun I have ever had working." JOYCE WISWELL CONTRIBUTING WRITER JERRY ZOLYNSKY PHOTOGRAPHER ABOVE: Sam and Kristina and Cookie. o n t h e c o v e r jews d in the continued on page 12