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| Paws for Life "Pop up Adoption Center" at the Oakland Mall (2019) |
I am often asked “Do you keep track of good dog breeders in Michigan?” or “Is there a list out there?” Unfortunately, I don’t and there is no list, but I can tell you where to begin your humane search to find a pet.
Shelters are the best route!
The best way to humanely find a pet is to adopt through your local shelter (See list below). When you adopt a shelter pet, you not only save one life, but two when you make room for another animal in need.
Oakland County alone has 16 animal shelters! Most counties have municipal shelters funded by tax payers, while others are operated under non-profit organizations (private shelters) or can be found at a veterinary clinic like Greenfield Animal Hospital or Gasow Veterinary Clinic. My favorites are those that work hard to ensure animals are “easy to meet” and that families have a good experience during the adoption process, like the Catfe Lounge in Ferndale.
There is a big financial benefit as well with adoption fees ranging from $50-$350 -significantly lower than the cost of purchasing a dog or cat from a pet store or breeder. (Note, pet stores are not a recommended option in any state!) Adoption fees typically include sterilization, rabies and other core vaccinations, veterinary health checks, behavior evaluations, and microchips to protect public health and safety. Some shelters also offer adopters education/counseling and post-adoption support services to encourage responsible ownership and will take the animal back if the adopter can no longer care for the animal.
Here is a general list of places to find pets in Michigan:
1. Start first at your local shelter!
- There are 174 shelters licensed across the state. (See list below).
- Municipal County or City
- Non-profit shelters
- Veterinary Clinic Shelters
- Sanctuaries too. Some do adopt out animals.
- Shelters may also have small animals, birds and reptiles for adoption, including rabbits, parrots, chinchillas, ferrets, hamsters and gerbils. Over 700 pet rabbits were taken in by 38 shelters across Michigan in 2018!
2. Don’t forget about home-based rescues with foster homes in your area.
- Contact a Michigan Certified Rescue. Michigan is the only state offering a certification program for foster-based rescues that promotes best practices and a code of ethics.
- Some offer Foster-to-Adopt Programs
- Look for pet store adoption centers and weekend events. Paws for Life (Troy, MI) now offers “pop up adoption centers” in selected shopping malls.
- Including rabbits, birds, ferrets and pocket pets.
- Midwest Rabbit Rescue & Rehome (Plymouth, MI)
- Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary (Saline, MI)
- Motor City Ferrets (Hazel Park, MI)
- West Michigan Ferret Connection (Grand Rapids, MI)
- Home Avian Rescue (Westland, MI)
- Tiny Paw Rescue & Sanctuary (Warren, MI)
- While many rescues can be found on PetFinder.com and Adopt-A-Pet.com, I recommend working with rescues that are either certified in Michigan or have a relationship with their local shelter.
3. Local breeders
- Obtain referrals through local veterinary clinic and local breed clubs.
- Use the “How to Find a Responsible Breeder Guide”
- Never use out of state breeders or have a puppy shipped.
- Avoid online sellers.
- Prepare to be on a waiting list!
Do you know someone who prefers using breeders?
If you or someone you know are set on trying to find a “good” breeder, I would recommend contacting your local veterinary clinic and ask which breeders they work with often and are receiving veterinary care regularly. If you have already found a breeder and want to do more research, check with the local breed clubs. They often are well aware of the “bad breeders”.
While referrals may be helpful, knowing how to conduct your own research and ask the right questions is always very important. Just because your co-worker purchased a puppy from a specific breeder, does not mean they properly vetted them or the kennel may have deteriorated since then.
Start with the Humane Society of the United States “How to Find a Responsible Breeder Guide”.
While most Michigan dog kennels may be licensed by the county, annual inspections do not guarantee animals are humanely breed or raised, in addition kennel licenses are optional if the dogs are licensed individually. You can always check with the local animal control to see if the kennel or dogs are properly licensed and inspections have been conducted.
Large-scale dog kennels in Michigan must be licensed by the state and it appears most of them are not coming forward to obtain their license. Only 8 were licensed in 2018, while our Puppy Mill Awareness of SE Michigan kennel study indicated there were approximately 50 kennels in 2010 that may have over 15 intact dogs used for breeding.
Of course, avoid large-scale kennels, never shop online or have an animal shipped. It is very easy to be fooled by fancy websites. Insist on visiting the kennel, seeing the conditions, and meeting the puppy’s parents. Look for the red flags and listen to your gut.
Michigan Licensed Shelters by County
Alcona
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Alcona Humane Society
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Alger
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Alger County Animal Shelter
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Allegan
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Allegan County Animal Shelter
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Alpena
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Alpena County Animal Control
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Huron Humane Society Inc.
|
Antrim
|
Antrim County Animal Control
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Antrim County Pet and Animal Watch
|
Arenac
|
Arenac County Animal Control
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Barry
|
Barry County Animal Shelter
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Bay
|
Bay County Animal Shelter &
Care Center
|
Benzie
|
Benzie County Animal Control and
Shelter
|
Berrien
|
Berrien County Animal Control
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Humane Society of Southwestern
Michigan
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Branch
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Branch County Animal Shelter
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Humane Society of Branch County
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Calhoun
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Calhoun County Animal Center, Inc.
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Companion Cats Inc.
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Humane Society of South Central Michigan
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Irwin Ave Animal Hospital
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Cass
|
Cass County Animal Control
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Charlevoix
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Charlevoix County Humane Society
|
Cheboygan
|
Cheboygan County Humane Society
|
Chippewa
|
Chippewa County Animal Shelter
|
Clare
|
Clare County Animal Shelter
|
Clinton
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Capital Area Humane Society
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Clinton County Animal Shelter
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Crawford
|
Au Sable Valley Animal Shelter
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Delta
|
Delta Animal Shelter
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Dickinson
|
Almost Home Animal
Shelter-Dickinson County
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Eaton
|
Eaton County Animal Control
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Emmet
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Emmet County Stray Center
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Little Traverse Bay Humane Society
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Genesee
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Adopt-A-Pet, Inc.
|
Genesee County Animal Control
|
Humane Society of Genesee County
|
Gladwin
|
Gladwin County Animal
Control/Shelter
|
Gogebic
|
Help Orphaned Pets Everywhere
|
Grand Traverse
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Cherryland Humane Society
|
Gratiot
|
Dalis to the Rescue
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Gratiot County Animal Shelter
|
Hillsdale
|
Greater Hillsdale Humane Society
|
Houghton
|
Copper Country Humane Society
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Huron
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Thumb Animal Shelter
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Ingham
|
Ingham County Animal Control
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Ionia
|
Ionia County Animal Shelter
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Mackenzie's Animal Sanctuary
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Iosco
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Iosco County Animal Shelter
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Iron
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Northwoods Animal Shelter
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Isabella
|
Isabella County Animal Control
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Jackson
|
Cascades Humane Society
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Jackson County Animal Shelter
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Kalamazoo
|
Kalamazoo Animal Rescue
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Kalamazoo County Animal Services
& Enforcement
|
Kzoo Cat Rescue
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SPCA of Southwest Michigan
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Kalkaska
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Kalkaska Animal Control Shelter
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Kent
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Carol's Ferals
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Crash's Landing (INCLS BIG SIDS)
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Focus on Ferals
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Happy Cat Café (foster for Carol's
Ferals)
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Humane Society of West Michigan
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Kelley's Heart-to-Heart Adoption
Center
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Kent County Animal Shelter
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Kitty Koop Cat Rescue &
Adoption
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Vicky's Pet Connection (The Critter
Cottage, LLC)
|
Lake
|
Lake County Animal Control
|
Lapeer
|
Lapeer County Animal Control
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Pardise Animal Rescue
|
Leelanau
|
Great Lakes Humane Society Animal
Shelter
|
Lenawee
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Addison Veterinary Clinic, PC
|
Lenawee Humane Society
|
Tecumseh Police Department Animal
Shelter
|
Livingston
|
Humane Society of Livingston County
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Livingston County Animal Control
|
Mackinac
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Mackinac County Animal Shelter
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Macomb
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City of Warren Animal Control
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Detroit Animal Welfare Group (DAWG)
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Humane Society of Macomb Animal
Shelter
|
I Heart Dogs Rescue and Animal
Haven
|
Macomb County Animal Control
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Serenity Animal Hospital, P.C.
|
Sterling Heights Police Department
|
Manistee
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Manistee County Animal Shelter
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Manistee County Humane Society
|
Marquette
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Ishpeming Township Animal Control
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Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare
Shelter, Inc.
|
Mason
|
Mason County Animal Shelter
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Mecosta
|
Animal Rescue Coalition of Mecosta
County
|
AuCaDo Rescue Mid Michigan
|
Menominee
|
Menominee Animal Shelter
|
Midland
|
Humane Society of Midland County
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Missaukee
|
Missaukee Humane Society
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Monroe
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Friends of Companion Animals
|
Humane Society of Monroe County
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Monroe County Animal Control
Shelter
|
Monroe Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty of Animals
|
Northbound Hound
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Montcalm
|
Montcalm County Animal Control
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Peke A Tzu Rescue
|
Montmorency
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Elk Country Animal Shelter
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Muskegon
|
Cat Tales Rescue
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Faithful to Felines (West Mich.
SPCA)
|
Golden Years Alaskan Malamute
Rescue, Inc
|
Humane Society & Animal Rescue
of Muskegon County
|
Noah Project
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Pound Buddies/Muskegon County
Animal Control
|
Newaygo
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Bellwether Harbor
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McCloud's Lake Haven
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Newaygo County Animal Shelter
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Oakland
|
Almost Home Animal Rescue League
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Animal Welfare Society of
Southeastern Michigan
|
Bark Nation
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Bloomfield Twp Animal Shelter
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Catfe Lounge
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City of Madison Heights Animal
Shelter
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City of Oak Park Pound
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Gasow Veterinary Hospital
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Greenfield Animal Hospital
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Hazel Park Animal Control Shelter
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K-9 Stray Rescue League Inc.
|
Michigan Humane Society (Rochester
Center for Animal Care)
|
New Beginnings Animal Rescue
|
Oakland County Animal Control &
Pet Adoption Center
|
Royal Oak Animal Shelter
|
Michigan Animal Rescue League
|
Oceana
|
Oceana County Animal Shelter
|
Ogemaw
|
Ogemaw County Humane Society
|
Ontonagon
|
Ontonagon County Animal Protection
|
Osceola
|
Osceola County Animal Control
|
Otsego
|
Otsego County Animal
Control/Shelter
|
Ottawa
|
Bestpals Animal Rescue Center
|
City of Holland Department of
Public Safety
|
Harbor Humane Society
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Headin' Home Pet Rescue
|
Roscommon
|
Roscommon County Animal Shelter
|
Saginaw
|
Amazing Grace Animal Rescue
|
Pet Angel Adoption & Rescue
Inc.
|
Saginaw County Animal Care Center
|
Sanilac
|
Sanilac County Animal Control
|
Sanilac County Humane Society
|
Schoolcraft
|
Eva Burrell Animal Shelter
|
Shiawassee
|
Shiawassee County Humane Society
|
St. Clair
|
Blue Water Area Humane Society
|
St. Clair County Animal Control
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St. Joseph
|
St. Joseph County Animal Control
|
Tuscola
|
Tuscola County Animal Control
Shelter
|
Van Buren
|
Al-Van Humane Society
|
Van Buren County Animal Control
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Washtenaw
|
Ann Arbor Cat Clinic
|
Happy Hearts Feline (combined with
Jackson numbers)
|
Humane Society of Huron Valley
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Tiny Lions Lounge and Adoption Center
|
Wayne
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Brownstown Animal Shelter
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City of Romulus Animal Shelter
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City of Wayne Animal Shelter
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Dearborn Animal Shelter
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Detroit Animal Care and Control
|
Detroit Dog Rescue
|
Downriver Central Animal Control
(see Wyandotte AC for
|
Flat Rock Animal Shelter
|
Friends for Animals of Metro
Detroit
|
Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue
|
Grosse Ile Animal Shelter
|
Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption
Society
|
Grosse Pointe Animal Clinic
|
Michigan Anti-Cruelty Society
|
Michigan Humane Society (Berman
Center for Animal Care)
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Michigan Humane Society (Detroit
Center for Animal Care)
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River Rouge Animal Shelter
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Shelter to Home Pet Adoption Center
|
Taylor Animal Shelter
|
Woodhaven & Trenton Animal
Shelter
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Wyandotte Animal Adoption Center
|
Wexford
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Wexford County Animal Shelter
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