Kent County Animal Shelter to Return to Fuller Avenue Facility Following Renovations
Urgent Need for Residents to Foster And Adopt as Move Approaches
GRAND RAPIDS, MI. (April 21, 2025) - After a 12 week renovation, the Kent County Animal Shelter (KCAS) is preparing to return to its primary facility at 740 Fuller Ave NE. The move will start today, April 21, and comes as the shelter concludes a major building renovation, including updated flooring, aimed at enhancing animal care and community services.
This week, KCAS will be relocating from its temporary site at 2055 Oak Industrial Dr. NE and will reopen at its permanent location at 740 Fuller Ave. on Thursday, April 24. They will continue to operate at reduced capacity, with only 38 kennels available while remaining kennels are relocated from the temporary site. In the past week, the shelter has taken in more than 20 dogs, creating an urgent need for foster families and adopters to help make space for incoming animals.
“It has been a very difficult few months with only 38 dog kennels,” said Angela Hollinshead, Animal Shelter Division Director. “We are incredibly grateful for the support of our partners - the Humane Society of West Michigan, Harbor Humane, and many others—who stepped up to help us house animals. These partnerships were truly lifesaving.”
While in the temporary facility, the shelter had to scale back some services, including community dog food distribution. With the return to Fuller Ave, the KCAS is excited not only for the updated space but also for the opportunity to restore services and continue its mission of supporting pets and their owners trough compassionate care, community resources, and education.
As the shelter works through its reduced capacity, the KCAS is asking residents to:
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Consider fostering or adopting a pet to free up space.
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Plan ahead for pet emergencies or rehoming needs.
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Utilize KCAS-provided care supplies, behavior support, and rehoming resources.
The KCAS remains committed to its lifesaving philosophy - not euthanizing healthy, adoptable animals due to space or length of stay - and continues to rely on the community’s help to maintain this standard.
A community grand re-opening celebration is being planned for late May, offering residents a chance to tour the newly renovated space and learn more about how they can get involved.
For more information on how to adopt, foster, or access resources, visit kentcountymi.gov/animalshelter or call (616) 632-7300.
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