SANDS TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WZMQ) – If stand-up comedy and raising money to help homeless pets sound good, then UPAWS has the perfect evening.
It’s called Raise the Woof, a comedy tour that travels the area, raising money for local animal shelters.
“Brought to you by an actual company called Raise the Woof, that brings up comedians from downstate, and they come here on Friday night, and then they go up to the Copper Country on Saturday night,” said UPAWS Fundraising Coordinator, Nicole Dewald Swenson.
This year’s Raise the Woof event is an important fundraiser for UPAWS, because they are currently housing a higher-than-average number of pets. Many of these animals are on special hold and are being housed at UPAWS after being brought in by local law enforcement.
“It’s been a tough, tough 2025 with neglect cases and different situations where we have to hold animals,” said UPAWS Outreach Coordinator Ann Brownell.
All the proceeds from the comedy show will go directly to the operation of the U.P.’s largest no-kill shelter.
“So this was the first time we were bringing the show to Gwinn. It’s been in Ishpeming in the past, and we hope to bring it to other communities in Marquette County as well,” said Swenson.
Aside from raising money, the tour hopes to raise awareness about animal adoption and what to do with an unwanted pet.
“And we couldn’t do this without, obviously, the community, and we’re very grateful that we can help and get the help that we need to do this,” said Brownell.
Tickets are available online@upaws.org
