“And they have some mutual friends of the shelter, who spoke very highly of us. “ had been here many years ago, around 1985,” O’Dell explained. Shelter Director Sandra O’Dell says the donation was quite unexpected. He brought with him a giant check worth $50,000. On Thursday Fried’s Cat Shelter received a visit from John Low, who represents the Low Family Foundation in Niles, Michigan. (Michigan City, IN) - A Michigan City animal shelter is ringing in the new year with a sizeable donation.