Humane Society of Huron Valley volunteer Megan Hildebrant, center, a School of Art & Design (A & D) junior, breaks up a mock fight between A & D senior Erin Horton, in a dog suit, and theatre student and junior Mary Shelly, dressed as a cat. The conflict was staged to encourage Diag passers-by to vote their preference—dogs or cats—and to donate money to the Humane Society. “The Battle of the Pets” event was the brainchild of students of Holly Hughes, associate professor of art in A & D. The day featured performance, puppetry, audience participation and sculpture as the means to draw attention to the work of the Humane Society. Students in Hughes’ course, “Where the Wild Things Aren’t,” worked as volunteers at the shelter and conducted research to examine the role of animals in contemporary American culture. (Photo by Marcia Ledford, U-M Photo Services)
