Animals are required to be spayed and neutered to help lower population by law as well.Īustin Fry, a Grand Valley State University student, adopted a pit bull named Bella from the KCAS. Kittens under four months old are $40, and any cats that are older are $5. They then have to provide verification that animals are allowed in their homes. The adoption process begins with applicants having to fill out paperwork. However, in a 2012 interview with The Rapidian, she expressed her opinion of adoption being key to lowering rates. Regardless, according to the clerk, the shelter takes in mainly stray cats.Ĭarly Luttmann, program supervisor for the KCAS, declined to comment about euthanasia rates. She explained that there are laws for dogs but not for cats. The policy in place for the KCAS is that the shelter must take in every dog that comes there, the KCAS clerk said. Some, like the KCAS, have room for a few other small animals, such as birds or ferrets. This is how most shelters and humane societies function, specializing in dogs, cats or both. KCAS handles predominantly dogs and cats. While euthanizing animals and the reasons for it are controversial, adoption seems to be a common middle ground. “For people’s pets, the number is low enough to where we don’t keep count.” “Animals occasionally are hit by cars,” Byrne said. Gerald Byrne, deputy managing director of operations for the Kent County Road Commission, explained that animals being hit by cars isn’t extremely common, either. “When a dog has aggressive behavioral issues, it isn’t usually an issue with the dog-it is an issue of humans understanding the dog.” “In my training, I’ve seen the psychology of how dogs think, learn and their needs,” Walter said. However, Chris Walter, admissions counselor for the Animal Behavior College, expressed a different opinion. KCAS believes that euthanasia is justifiably for the greater good and for aggressive animals. “If an animal is too aggressive, it also has to be euthanized if it is at risk for biting someone.” “We have to take in all types of dogs and cats, and the main reason is that the owner has requested the euthanasia of their animal because it was hit by a car or too sick,” said a Kent County Animal Shelter clerk, who asked to remain anonymous. Some shelters, like the KCAS, believe that adoption and euthanasia are the left and right arms of keeping animal populations in control. The number of euthanized animals was obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request sent to KCAS.Ī long debate has existed about whether animal shelters should euthanize animals or not. Year after year, KCAS’s euthanasia rate continues to be two to three times higher than the Michigan state average, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. That number constitutes one of the highest euthanasia rates in Michigan. The Kent County Animal Shelter (KCAS) euthanized 2,002 animals in 2017.
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