Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) oversees animal shelters in Michigan.
Each registered shelter is required to annually report their animal statistics for the prior year by March 31st of the subsequent year. The statistics are a portion of the records that shelters are required to keep for at least two years. The report elements focus on companion animals by age and alteration status at the time of adoption. Other information includes total number of animals adopted, transferred to other registered shelters, reunited with their owners, and euthanized. Click here to see the actual report.
Who Needs an Animal Shelter Registration?
A municipality that operates a housing facility for the impoundment and care of dogs, cats, and other specific animals that are: strays, lost, or surrendered by their owners, or `impounded or otherwise being held for animal law violations.
A person, a business, or a non-profit organization that operates a housing facility for the care of dogs, cats, and other specific animals that are: surrendered by their owners, or transferred or adopted from other shelters and otherwise homeless.
Housing facilities includes a separate room, building, or area used to contain a primary enclosure(s) such as cages, kennels, or community cat rooms.
Organizations that operate solely through a network of foster homes where the animal lives in the home as their pet would do not qualify for a shelter registration as they do not have a housing facility.
Animal Welfare Fund – Did You Know?
The Animal Welfare Fund Act, Act 132 of 2007, allows Michigan taxpayers to voluntarily contribute to the fund via Income Tax Form 4642. MDARD oversees the fund and annually offers grants to promote:
- Increasing the number of Michigan shelters’ dogs and cats that are spayed or neutered prior to adoption
- Educating the public on the proper care of animals
- Anti-cruelty training for animal law enforcement personnel
- Michigan’s homeless shelter animals are the primary beneficiaries of these donated dollars.