By: Joseph Poulos

Operation Solo is a local canine welfare organization in Muskegon County with the expressed
focus of making lives better for outdoor dogs. Their goal is to prevent owners from having to
surrender their pets.

“We want to provide temporary assistance to dog owners to prevent them from surrendering
their pets to the shelter,” said Kendra Boos, founder and executive director at Operation Solo.
“We want to develop relationships with owners who leave dogs outside 24/7 to better their
conditions.”

The organization provides supplies for outdoor dogs, including food, leashes, toys, and
identification tags. In addition, they offer other implements for care, including dog igloos, straw
for insulation, and flea/tick medication.

With the cost of living at an all-time high, Boos recognizes the need that some owners have to
leave their pets outside.

“I developed this in memory of a dog that had been outdoors his entire life, and I worked for
animal control at the time,” Boos said. “I am aware it’s not against the law to have an outdoor
dog. My hope is to improve the lives of these dogs because we can’t change them living
outside. Let’s help educate the owners and get the dogs fixed so they are better protected.”
With the help and support of Operation Solo, many dogs and owners have had the opportunity
to live more comfortable lives.

“I think my favorite part is going into the community,” Boos said. “There are truly some owners
that we reach, and we can go in and tell them what we know, and we make them better pet
owners. The owners cling to it, and they take better care of their dogs because we have stepped
in.”

Since the reality of outdoor-dwelling pups is already established in the state, Boos feels the best
form of compassion for these animals is to continue to offer support and improve their quality of
life in any way possible.

“For the state of Michigan, dogs are considered property,” she said. “A lot of people don’t see
dogs like you or me as companions. They don’t want them inside the house.”

When economic realities force owners to make the hard decision on whether to surrender their
pet or keep them outside, it can cause undue stress and hardship on both parties.

“There is no statewide ban for it,” Boos said. “People have grown up that way, and they are
going to continue that process. The housing crisis is forcing people to either surrender their
dogs or keep them outside when they move to a new house.”

Operation Solo also does pop-up clinics and monthly food pantries to assist owners. In the past,
they have partnered with the Muskegon Police Department in an effort to help scan animals with
location-tracking microchips.

In July 2024, Boos donated 10 of these scanners to Muskegon Police so that they could utilize
them in the event of finding a stray that may belong to someone in the community. The
organization is currently very active in the community, especially on weekends, when owners
are more likely to be home.

“Every Sunday we go out into the community, and we host pantries,” Boos said. “We go out and
take care of the other dogs. We go to other stops and bring them igloos or straw. We bring them
warm meals and take them for walks.”

Other services offered by Operation Solo include assistance for setting up veterinary
appointments for spay and neuter, which helps prevent additional dogs from being surrendered.
“We try to find foster homes and doctors and get them an indoor home,” she said.

On Oct. 25, the organization will host a fundraiser at the Dirty Dog Bar and Grille at 2411 Hall
Road in Muskegon. Those interested can check their Facebook page as well as
operationsolo.org.

“We just want physical donations, and we share Amazon wishlists like dog treats and igloos and
items for the dog,” Boos said. “The community has really supported us in that sense.”
With this month marking the third anniversary of the company’s inception, they shared
some key statistics to show where their donations have gone:
● 122 spay and neuters
● 130 igloos provided
● $23,417.75 spent on vet care costs
● 469 dogs microchipped in Muskegon County
● 26 outdoor dogs surrendered
As the company moves into its fourth year of existence, Boos’ objective is to continue
expanding their community support network.

“Our hope is that we can reach as many people as we can.