Animal Shelters & Rescues in Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids's own shelter takes in stray animals, and private humane societies and volunteer rescues rehome pets too. Many rescues are foster-based and have no public building, so their pets are often seen by appointment or at adoption events.

The city animal shelter

In Grand Rapids, the public animal shelter is the Kent County Animal Shelter, run by the county rather than the city. The county's shelter page and its dog licensing page list it in Grand Rapids. Kent County Animal Control is a separate service run through the Sheriff's Office; its page says its officers serve all of Kent County, including every city and township.

Found a stray or lost your pet

The shelter's lost and found page lets you view the stray animals currently at the shelter to see if your pet is there. If you think your pet is at the shelter, visit during office hours and bring proof of ownership, such as a photo or vet records. If you found a stray, the page suggests checking for a microchip at one of the shelter's 24/7 microchip scanning stations and emailing the shelter your contact information, a description and photo of the pet, and where and when you found it.

Licenses and microchips

The Kent County page says Michigan law requires every dog over four months old to be licensed, and every new dog to be licensed within 30 days. A dog's license is connected to its rabies vaccination, so a dog with a one-year rabies vaccination gets a one-year license, and a dog with a three-year rabies vaccination may have a one- or three-year license. The county page lists where to buy a license: online, at several local veterinary clinics that offer one-stop rabies vaccination and licensing, and at township and city offices.

Surrendering or rehoming a pet

The shelter's pet transfer of care page strongly recommends trying to rehome a pet yourself first, for example through friends, family or neighborhood apps. It says the shelter only brings in owned animals under certain situations, and only by appointment. Call the shelter before you go.

Adopting a pet

A February 2024 county release said the shelter's dog adoption includes spaying or neutering, a medical examination, a microchip and age-appropriate vaccinations at the time of adoption, and that dog adopters must obtain a dog license. Confirm what is included today with the shelter. Meet a pet more than once if you can, ask about its history and behavior, and have your landlord's pet policy ready before you apply.

About these listings

Many listings here were added from public business data and have not been claimed yet. Ask the shelter or rescue directly about opening hours, adoptable pets and whether it takes surrenders. If you run one of these shelters or rescues, you can claim or correct its listing from its page.