 
Note from the Director
Dear Community Members,
It has been a busy summer so far and as school resumes and we start to think about.. dare I say it.. sweater weather, and those crisp mornings, I want to take a moment to reflect on what an amazing year we’ve had so far here at our Animal Shelter. If you look at the numbers from our Mid-Year Snapshot, to the right, our team has been hard at work caring for our animals and getting them into loving homes!
Looking ahead, many shelters experience predictable seasonal changes when it comes to animal intake and KCAS is no different. July through August is generally when we see most animals in need of our services and intake increases until slowly declining as we head into the colder months. Puppies and kittens generally arrive earlier in the year and we start to see less and less of this age group when the temperature starts to drop.
Regardless of the season, our amazing staff and volunteers show up each day to help walk and provide care for the animals that temporarily call KCAS home. We appreciate their hard work and dedication!
Angela Hollinshead
Director, Kent County Animal Shelter
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Adoptable Pet Spotlight: McMurty
Meet McMurty! This playful girl is ready to find her forever home. McMurty is a Shepherd/Retriever, Labrador mix with plenty of energy and a fun-loving personality. Whether she’s showing off her playful side or soaking up some attention, she’s sure to bring lots of joy to the right family.
Stop by our Animal Shelter see if she could be your new best friend!
For more information about McMurty and images, visit here.
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Community Support Model
 When you think about KCAS, you may picture wagging tails, hopeful faces, and animals finding their forever homes, and we love those moments, too! But the work we do together goes far beyond adoption. Every day, KCAS helps lost pets find their way home, providing medical care, supporting families with resources, educating our community, and creating opportunities to keep pets and the people who love them together.
Just as importantly, we’re building connections throughout our community. From participating in events like Kent County Community Fest to working alongside other Kent County departments, local organizations, schools, businesses, volunteers, fosters, and community partners, we’re finding new ways to connect people with resources and with one another. These relationships help us better understand the needs of our community and strengthen the network of support available to both people and pets.
None of this happens in isolation. It takes dedicated staff, volunteers, fosters, adopters, community partners, county colleagues, and supporters who believe that every animal deserves a chance. Together, we are doing more than finding homes, we’re building relationships, strengthening our community, and creating a more compassionate place for people and pets.
KCAS is excited to be making a difference beyond adoption, and, most importantly, how our community makes that difference possible.
Love Animals? Join Our Team!
If you’re passionate about animals and want to make a difference, we are hiring a Part-Time Animal Shelter Technician.
This position will help provide daily care for shelter animals, including feeding, enrichment, health monitoring and maintaining clean, sanitary kennels. Technicians also assist clients with questions and adoptions and support other shelter operations.
Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent, one year of animal care and feeding experience, and one year of clerical experience. Basic computer and communication skills are required, and bilingual ability is preferred.
Ready to make a difference for animals and their future families? Learn more below.
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What Happens After A Pet Enters Our Animal Shelter?
 Have you ever wondered what happens after a pet arrives in our care? There are many steps between arrival and adoption that are important but often unnoticed. We are excited to share a walkthrough of the typical shelter journey for an animal.
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Intake and stray hold - Each animal that arrives as a stray is held for a period of time to try to be reunited with its owner. Pets that are surrendered by their owners are not required to be held for any specific amount of time before starting their journey towards adoption. Every pet is scanned for a microchip and checked for identification. If a microchip or ID is found, staff call, text, email and send a letter to the owners, alerting them we have found their pet.
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Medical assessment - Each animal then gets looked over for any injuries or health issues. Basic vaccines are given along with flea and tick preventative. Any signs of illness or injury are noted, and a care request is generated to be checked on by the shelter veterinarian.
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Behavior and health assessment - During the animal's hold period, staff and volunteers continually assess and document the animal’s health and behavior, making notes in the animal's record.
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Spay/neuter and vaccinations - After the stray hold, if the animal is not claimed, it is scheduled for spay/neuter surgery, a full health exam and any remaining age-appropriate vaccinations.
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Adoption preparation - At this point, the animal is ready for adoption! Adopters fill out an adoption survey, not an application, working with a skilled Animal Shelter Technician to help find their purr-fect match! The average time from intake to being adopted is 12 days.
Our Animal Shelter makes the adoption process easy and accessible. We find homes for more than 1,800 animals each year, including dogs, cats, rabbits and even chickens!
Learn more about our services here.
Food Assistance For Animals
Having a hard time keeping up with your pet’s food needs? Our Animal Shelter can assist with temporary food assistance so please contact us at 616-632-7300 to request food.
Otherwise, there are additional resources below.
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There Are Cats In My Yard! Now What?
Seeing a cat hanging around your yard doesn’t necessarily mean it needs to be rescued. Many outdoor cats are healthy, happy and right where they belong. They’re resilient, adaptable and can make a home in all kinds of places, as long as they have food, water, shelter and protection from the elements.
If you find a cat outside your house, take a moment to observe before assuming it needs help. They may choose a variety of places as their “home” as long as they have access to food, water, shelter and protection from the elements.
Look for signs that the cat is healthy and thriving, and check whether it has an ear tip, which can indicate it has been spayed or neutered through a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program. A healthy outdoor cat may already have a caregiver and may be exactly where it belongs. For more information, visit here.
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Pets Available for Adoption
Be sure to visit our website if you are interested in adopting a pet. We have dozens of dogs and cats looking for forever homes and even have some smaller furry and feathered friends as well. To view our full list of adoptable pets, please visit here.
Thank You & How You Can Help
We are incredibly grateful for our community, donors, adopters, fosters, and volunteers alike.
Right now, your support is more important than ever.
· $25 helps vaccinate incoming animals
· $50 supports kitten care supplies
· $100+ helps cover critical medical treatment
Please consider donating today. Whether it's a one-time donation, a monthly contribution, or volunteering your time, your support is invaluable.
Animal Shelter Closed in Observance of Labor Day
We will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day. The shelter will reopen and resume regular business hours on Tuesday, September 8.
If you’re planning a visit, adoption, or need assistance from the shelter, please plan accordingly. We appreciate your understanding as our staff take time to observe the holiday.
For more information about the Kent County Animal Shelter and other County services, visit www.kentcountymi.gov.
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