SAGINAW COUNTY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – In yesterday’s report about Michigan animal shelters, we documented how there’s been a huge drop in the euthanasia of cats and dogs in the past fifteen years.

However, despite the progress, challenges persist. Shelters in rural, urban and underfunded areas often lack the staff, resources, or space to care for the influx of animals. Open-admission shelters, which are required to accept all animals, face additional burdens compared to selective shelters that can implement waiting lists or limit intakes.

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Euthanasia rates are also affected by things like shelter conditions which include overcrowding, disease outbreaks, and staffing shortages which make it harder to care for animals properly. Economic hardships and housing issues also lead to more pet surrenders. Additionally, in many areas, unfixed stray animals continue to be a significant problem.

Turning challenges Into change: Saginaw shelter’s push for progress.

In reviewing the shelter’s numbers for 2023, Rachel Horton, Director of Saginaw County Animal Care & Control Resource Center, provided some clarification to Michigan News Source and gave us updated numbers. Because they moved to a different location during 2023, many of the numbers that appeared to give Saginaw County high euthanasia numbers reported to MDARD were incorrect.

Horton also told us that her findings revealed three major challenges: an extremely low number of animals returned to their owners, a backlog of over 500 animals in foster care and in the shelter awaiting spay/neuter surgeries for an average of eight months (who couldn’t be adopted out), and a concerning high length of stay for animals – most spending over a year in their care. Recognizing these urgent issues, she said that they launched multiple pilot programs and restructured their operations to address them.

First, they implemented a “Return to Owner Program” that emphasized education and community engagement over punitive measures. This included reducing barriers such as impound fees and improving outreach through door hangers and wellness checks. Next, they created a “Community Resource Program” to provide pet owners with critical support, including pet food, supplies, and essential care, ensuring fewer pets were surrendered.

On the veterinary care front, they expanded services by partnering with local vets, increasing contracted hours, and initiating plans for a low-cost, high-volume surgical center set to open in 2025. Finally, they focused on reducing the length of stay by improving enrichment, marketing, and collaboration with rescue partners. Horton says these efforts have already cut the stay for large breed dogs in half, and they aim for all animals to stay 100 days or less by next year. She also added that the staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly to transform Saginaw County Animal Care and Control into a resourceful, compassionate hub, and she’s excited to see even greater progress in 2025.

The role of rescue groups and foster homes.

Rescue organizations have been a lifeline for many animals. Unlike traditional shelters, rescues often rely on foster homes to care for pets until they are adopted. This model reduces overcrowding, provides animals with individual attention, and increases their chances of successful adoptions.

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Fosters and rescues have also stepped up during crises, saving animals from shelters on the brink of overcrowding or euthanasia. Their efforts complement shelters and provide a critical safety net.

Small shelter, big results: how Alpena’s “return to owner” efforts keep pets and families together.

Returning a lost pet to its owner is a big part of what animal control facilities and shelters are supposed to do. However, some are better at it than others. Alpena County Animal Control Shelter stands out for its exceptional Return-to-Owner (RTO) numbers, despite being a very small facility housed in a modified two-car garage.

This success is driven by a range of proactive strategies according to Deputy Michelle Reid, ACO (Animal Control Officer) at the Alpena County Sheriff’s Office. The shelter immediately posts incoming strays on social media, allowing quick sharing to alert owners. Dogs are promptly scanned for microchips, and if registered and up-to-date, the owner is quickly contacted. Additionally, Alpena maintains a detailed intake database with photographs of strays, enabling staff to identify repeat visitors and locate prior owner contact information. Dog licensing enforcement further supports reunification efforts, as licensed dogs can be traced immediately through the licensing database. Recognizing that affordability can be a barrier, the shelter also keeps impound fees low and allows volunteering time at the shelter as an alternative in special cases to reunite pets with families as quickly as possible.

Alpena also tackles the challenge of “owner drop-off strays,” where individuals unable to surrender pets legally may falsely claim to have “found” a dog. While not encouraged, this situation occurs frequently due to overcrowded shelters and unaffordable surrender fees. When identified, Alpena works with owners to surrender the pet legally. Charges may or may not be pursued in these cases.

Overall, Alpena’s combination of efficiency, compassion, and practical solutions ensures high RTO success, making a significant impact despite its limited size and resources.

Other shelters cited social media as a significant contributing factor to be able to help return pets to their owners quickly and that includes the independent Facebook “lost and found” groups that aren’t even affiliated with the shelters. Still other shelters cite their low (or no) charge to reclaim an animal when it’s lost and shows up at the animal shelter.

Helping lost dogs get home: Otsego county’s success strategies.

Melissa FitzGerald, Director and Animal Control Officer of Otsego County Animal Control/Shelter, credits their success in reuniting dogs with their owners to several key practices. These include scanning dogs

for microchips, posting their photos on the shelter’s Facebook page – where they are widely shared across local social media – and educating pet owners on the importance of tagging their dogs with a phone number. This allows finders to contact owners directly, often preventing the dog from entering the shelter in the first place.

A persistent challenge: low return rates for stray cats.

Unfortunately, one thing that hasn’t changed much over the years is cat RTOs. Most shelters have very low Return-to-Owner rates for stray cats. This can be due to lack of identification or the fact that an owner of a free-roaming cat doesn’t even know it’s missing. Additionally, there really are no laws governing stray cats in Michigan at the state level – which means an overworked and understaffed shelter might not prioritize getting a cat returned home or adopted out.

A brighter future for Michigan’s animals.

Fifteen years ago, Michigan shelters were euthanizing over 100,000 animals annually. Today, that number has dropped to just over 11,000. While the work is far from over, the progress is undeniable.

That said, animal shelters must raise the bar – not only in the care they provide for cats and dogs but also in their management of taxpayer dollars. There’s no need to start from scratch; many shelters already have successful policies and programs that can serve as a blueprint for improvement.

Communities also have a crucial role to play. Supporting shelters financially and taking responsibility for pets – rather than expecting the government to shoulder all of the burdens of the community – are vital steps. By embracing spay/neuter programs, fostering collaboration, and encouraging greater community involvement, Michigan can save more cats and dogs than ever before. It’s an effort that demands everyone’s participation.