No Kill Michigan

In 2007 when Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development began posting statistics from the annual shelter reports, almost 125,000 cats and dogs were being killed in Michigan shelters. Over the last decade, shelters have incorporated best practices; home/foster based rescue organizations have increased shouldering the responsibilities of homeless cats and dogs; the number of low-cost/high-volume spay/neuter clinics have dramatically increased and cover much of the state with transport services; and as a result the shelter killing has plummeted. Michigan has achieved becoming a no kill state – which is defined as saving 90% or greater.

The most important data set available is from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD):  the annual shelter reports submitted by licensed shelters.