Page 131 - Saginaw FY22 Adopted Annual Budget

CITY OF SAGINAW

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION
2021-2022

ANIMAL SERVICES

ANIMAL SERVICES DIVISION: This division maintains the animal shelter and is responsible for controlling
stray animals and investigating reports of stray domestic animals, loose livestock, wild animals, trapped
animals, sick or injured animals and barking dogs. They also have traps that residents can borrow to catch
nuisance animals such as skunks, raccoons, armadillos and stray/feral cats. They respond to reports of
animal bites and insure that the biting animal is quarantined according to state laws. They investigate reports
of “vicious animals” and conduct the necessary hearings for dangerous dogs or animals. Investigations also
include reports of animal cruelty, and seizures of animal based on the appropriate findings, and assist the
Police Department and Fire Department when animals are involved.

Animal Services currently has twenty four (24) dog kennels in the adoption facility, eight (8) cat condos in the
adoption facility, ten (10) holding pens for dogs, seven (7) of these pens in quarantine can be used for
quarantine of bite animals, and nine (9) cat cages in cat quarantine that are also used for stray holds and
quarantine of sick or cats that have bitten someone, and nine (9) cat cages in cat quarantine that are also
used for stray holds. Animals can be viewed from their pens on the City’s web page. Citizens can also list
lost and found animals on the web page. Animal Shelter staff also maintains the City of Saginaw Animal
Services Facebook page and posts animals to this page that are impounded, lost or found animals, in an
attempt to quickly reunite the animals with their owners, and answers questions that citizens may have
pertaining to Animal Services.

In October 2019, the City of Saginaw partnered with the City of Blue Mound to provide Animal Services for
that community. Animal Services goal is to find "forever" homes for all animals at the shelter whether that be
through adoption or rescue groups. Animal Services partners with rescue groups all over the US to find
homes for these animals.

Over the past 3+ years, our Animal Services staff have been constantly working to improve the Live Release
Rate at Saginaw Animal Services to move to become what is known as a “No Kill Shelter”. There is no such
thing as a true 100% no kill shelter. To become considered a no-kill shelter, your live release rate must be at
90 percent of animals are adopted, transferred to rescue groups, and/or returned to owner/guardian. An
advantage of these shelters is that they strive to keep animals alive and provide them a home. Over the past
3+ years, Saginaw Animal Services has worked diligently to increase the LRR to over 98% and qualify as a
"No-Kill-Shelter which is a great accomplishment.

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