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CITY OF SAGINAW
DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION
2024-2025
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 cats 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 other social media accounts 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 contracted 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 94% and qualify as a "No-Kill-
Shelter" which is a great accomplishment.
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