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By Liz O'Connell
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As a blizzard buried a Michigan shelter’s front doors, two staffers unrolled sleeping bags on the floor to make sure every pet would get breakfast and medication at dawn.
Two staff members at the Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter (UPAWS), Theresa and Addie, decided to spend the night to ensure all the animals would be fed, medicated and let outside the next morning, as a blizzard ripped through the area and left it nearly impossible to travel. Ann Brownell, community outreach coordinator for UPAWS, told Newsweek via email that the two brought camping mats, sleeping bags and food, making the most of the overnight stay.
"It wasn’t about comfort—it was about being there for the animals," Brownell said. "They rested where they could, checked on the animals throughout the night and made sure everything stayed on schedule."
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Touched by Theresa and Addie's dedication, the animal shelter shared news of the sleepover on Facebook, which has since received over 5,600 reactions, 926 comments and 242 shares. The post stated the two worked their regular shift before spending the night. Another staff member, Laura, drove about 20 minutes one way to help care for the animals before heading home through the storm.
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Not only did their stay keep the animals safe, calm and cared for, but it also helped keep everything on schedule, while many staff members remained snowed in at home. The wintry mix made getting the dogs outside safely more difficult, and all the other tasks around the shelter required extra time and planning. Morning rounds moved slowly, but remained consistent.
"That consistency really matters to us, and it was also comforting for the rest of the staff—many of whom were unable to get in due to the snow—knowing the animals were safe," she said.
The shelter building was nearly buried in snow, including the front entrance, and as of Wednesday, the team was still digging out. Brownell said the "historic" storm brought wind gusts of around 50 mph and well over 3 feet of snow in Marquette County.
UPAWS later posted on Facebook that Addie stayed a second night to keep the routine steady as roads remained impassable. Other staff members arrived in the following days to help shovel and continue tending to the animals.
"Our staff truly sees these animals as family," Brownell said. "They’re not here for the money—they’re here because they care deeply about every single animal in our shelter."
'Heartfelt Thank You'
Facebook users flooded the UPAWS page with messages of thank-yous and admiration for the team stepping up, even in dangerous conditions.
"A heartfelt thank you to all of you who braved the storm and stayed overnight to care for the UPAWS souls. Animal people are extra special," wrote one viewer.
Another said: "Thank you!! What a lovely example of 'being as good of humans as our dogs think we are.'"
A third person commented: "You are angels! Thank you for taking care of all the pets. We need more people like you in this world."
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