MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – For 51 years, the Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter, better known as UPAWS, has been driven by love, hope, and a deep commitment to animals in need.
“Every day, remarkable people and extraordinary animals grace us with their presence here in the Marquette community,” said UPAWS Fundraising Coordinator, Nicole Swewnson.
Now the shelter is asking the community to help recognize extraordinary pets and selfless people through the 2026 UPAWS Awards. First up is the Assisi Award.
“Which is a human with long standing commitment to animal welfare,” said Swenson.
Up next, the silver tag award.
“Is for an animal that has committed lifelong service to a human,” Swenson said.
Then the purple paw award.
“Is for an animal that has shown courage and life-changing devotion to a human,” explained Swenson.
And finally, the gold heart award.
“It honors a Marquette County person who performed an outstanding act of compassion in 2025 that had a powerful impact on an animal or animals.
I’m sure there are many people and animals out there that we aren’t aware of the extraordinary and compassionate things that they are devoted to for their entire lives,” said Swenson.
Nominations are open now through March 1, with winners announced on March 20. All recipients will be honored at the Cause for Paws gala on April 18, where they’ll personally accept their awards during the annual fundraiser.
U paws says these awards are about celebrating the quiet heroes, both two-legged and four-legged, who make our community stronger
