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Welcome to Livingston County Animal Control and Shelter! We provide rescue and humane care to protect the health, safety and welfare of animals and people in Livingston County, Michigan and enforce state laws that pertain to domestic animals.
We currently rescue and assure safe, temporary shelter, veterinary care for approximately 2,200 stray, unwanted, abandoned, neglected and injured animals each year. We’re YOUR community shelter and we’d love to have you visit us or join us as a volunteer!
Livingston County Animal Shelter's adoption process
Additional adoption info
If you would like to adopt a pet please visit the shelter or take a look at the adoptable animals on our website. It is important that you visit the shelter and spend some time with the animal that you are thinking about adopting.
Once you’re sure that the animal is a good fit for your family and lifestyle, you can fill out the paperwork and take the pet home the same day (if it is spayed/neutered and fully vetted). If the animal you want has not been “fixed” yet, we will schedule the surgery once you fill out the adoption paperwork and you can pick it up the day after the procedure.
We do have an adoption guideline document for you to review in our adoption section.
When you adopt, we provide an animal’s medical history including vaccines, de-worming, heartworm or feline leukemia /FIV testing. Animals adopted from Livingston County Animal Control and Shelter will be micro chipped, and if it is a dog, it will have a Michigan dog license.
Adoption Fees:
Dogs (over 4 months) $140
Puppies (under 4 months) $175
Cats (over 4 months) $80*
Kittens (under 4 months) $90*
* A second cat or kitten is only $1
All pets are altered (fixed), tested for Heartworm or Feline Leukemia/FIV, have age appropriate vaccines, de-wormed, microchipped and, if it's a dog, it has a MI dog license.
Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are accepted.
If you would like to adopt a pet please visit the shelter or take a look at the adoptable animals on our website. It is important that you visit the shelter and spend some time with the animal that you are thinking about adopting.
Once you’re sure that the animal is a good fit for your family and lifestyle, you can fill out the paperwork and take the pet home the same day (if it is spayed/neutered and fully vetted). If the animal you want has not been “fixed” yet, we will schedule the surgery once you fill out the adoption paperwork and you can pick it up the day after the procedure.
We do have an adoption guideline document for you to review in our adoption section.
When you adopt, we provide an animal’s medical history including vaccines, de-worming, heartworm or feline leukemia /FIV testing. Animals adopted from Livingston County Animal Control and Shelter will be micro chipped, and if it is a dog, it will have a Michigan dog license.
Adoption Fees:
Dogs (over 4 months) $140
Puppies (under 4 months) $175
Cats (over 4 months) $80*
Kittens (under 4 months) $90*
* A second cat or kitten is only $1
All pets are altered (fixed), tested for Heartworm or Feline Leukemia/FIV, have age appropriate vaccines, de-wormed, microchipped and, if it's a dog, it has a MI dog license.
Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are accepted.
The Livingston County Animal Shelter receives rescued animals and provides them with the care they need to get adopted into loving homes. Surrendered, abandon, stray, neglected and abused animals are cared for here. The shelter provides a safe and loving environment, along with veterinary care.
Adoptions
Adoptions are done on a first come, first served basis. All adopted animals will be spayed or neutered, heart worm or feline leukemia tested, micro chipped, and given age appropriate vaccinations prior to leaving the shelter. You must be over 18 years old to adopt an animal from the shelter and a valid ID is required. All fees must be paid in full before an animal can leave the shelter. If you rent, approval from landlord is required.
Stray Animals
In accordance with Michigan state law, strays are held for four to seven days in order to help the owner find and claim the animal. We work to post descriptions and pictures of stray animals on our website as soon as we are able to. Our website also has a database of lost and found animals. If you have lost an animal, we strongly encourage you to visit the shelter in person and read these tips on how to recover a lost pet.
After four to seven days the animal becomes the property of Livingston County Animal Control and Shelter and may be available for public adoption.
Surrendered Animals
Animals that are surrendered to Livingston County Animal Control and Shelter by their owner may be available for immediate adoption, after they receive proper veterinary care. Surrender reasons are usually noted in the pets profile.
Dog Licenses
Michigan State Law requires that all dogs over four (4) months old be licensed. To obtain a dog license, you will need to provide proof of current rabies vaccination and proof of spaying/neutering (if applicable) at the time you purchase the license. In accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan, this information must be provided every time you renew your dog license. Livingston County Animal Control and Shelter sells one year and three year dog licenses throughout the year. Please visit our Dog License page for additional requirements and details.
Bite Reports
All animal bites should be reported to Livingston County Animal Control and Shelter and Livingston County Health Department. If medical attention has been received after a bite, please read the How to File a Bite Report page, download the bite report and fax it to (517) 546-0232.
Abuse and Neglect
Please visit our Abuse and Neglect page to see what constitutes animal abuse or neglect. Our Animal Control Officers will respond to calls and complaints and investigate to see if animal cruelty statutes have been violated. If a violation has occurred, the officer may work with the owner to educate them on how to correct the violation or we may immediately prosecute.
Feral/Wild Cats
Increasing numbers of feral/wild cats are an issue in many areas of Livingston County. While Livingston County Animal Control and Shelter does not have the resources to trap feral cats for you, we can offer you assistance through our TNR (trap, neuter and return) program. TNR offers a humane and effective solution to feral cat overpopulation.
The Livingston County Animal Shelter receives rescued animals and provides them with the care they need to get adopted into loving homes. Surrendered, abandon, stray, neglected and abused animals are cared for here. The shelter provides a safe and loving environment, along with veterinary care.
Adoptions
Adoptions are done on a first come, first served basis. All adopted animals will be spayed or neutered, heart worm or feline leukemia tested, micro chipped, and given age appropriate vaccinations prior to leaving the shelter. You must be over 18 years old to adopt an animal from the shelter and a valid ID is required. All fees must be paid in full before an animal can leave the shelter. If you rent, approval from landlord is required.
Stray Animals
In accordance with Michigan state law, strays are held for four to seven days in order to help the owner find and claim the animal. We work to post descriptions and pictures of stray animals on our website as soon as we are able to. Our website also has a database of lost and found animals. If you have lost an animal, we strongly encourage you to visit the shelter in person and read these tips on how to recover a lost pet.
After four to seven days the animal becomes the property of Livingston County Animal Control and Shelter and may be available for public adoption.
Surrendered Animals
Animals that are surrendered to Livingston County Animal Control and Shelter by their owner may be available for immediate adoption, after they receive proper veterinary care. Surrender reasons are usually noted in the pets profile.
Dog Licenses
Michigan State Law requires that all dogs over four (4) months old be licensed. To obtain a dog license, you will need to provide proof of current rabies vaccination and proof of spaying/neutering (if applicable) at the time you purchase the license. In accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan, this information must be provided every time you renew your dog license. Livingston County Animal Control and Shelter sells one year and three year dog licenses throughout the year. Please visit our Dog License page for additional requirements and details.
Bite Reports
All animal bites should be reported to Livingston County Animal Control and Shelter and Livingston County Health Department. If medical attention has been received after a bite, please read the How to File a Bite Report page, download the bite report and fax it to (517) 546-0232.
Abuse and Neglect
Please visit our Abuse and Neglect page to see what constitutes animal abuse or neglect. Our Animal Control Officers will respond to calls and complaints and investigate to see if animal cruelty statutes have been violated. If a violation has occurred, the officer may work with the owner to educate them on how to correct the violation or we may immediately prosecute.
Feral/Wild Cats
Increasing numbers of feral/wild cats are an issue in many areas of Livingston County. While Livingston County Animal Control and Shelter does not have the resources to trap feral cats for you, we can offer you assistance through our TNR (trap, neuter and return) program. TNR offers a humane and effective solution to feral cat overpopulation.
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Support adoption and rescue. Why go to a dog breeder, cat breeder or pet store to buy a dog or buy a cat when you can adopt?
Why should you adopt?
Dog adoption and cat adoption saves lives. Adopt a dog or adopt a cat and you'll have a friend for life.
What is the difference between adopting a dog, adopting a cat, adopting a kitten or adopting a puppy versus getting dogs for sale, cats for sale, puppies for sale or kittens for sale from a dog breeder or a cat breeder?
When someone is breeding puppies or breeding kittens, they are creating new dogs and cats who need homes. Some people are interested in a very specific breed of dog, cat, puppy or kitten and they think the only way to find that specific breed is to buy a dog for sale or buy a cat for sale from a puppy breeder or a kitten breeder. Yet animal shelters are filled with dogs and cats who must find homes.
So rather than buying a dog or puppy for sale from a dog breeder or buying a cat or kitten for sale from a cat breeder, we encourage people to adopt a dog, adopt a cat, adopt a puppy or adopt a kitten at their local animal shelter, SPCA, humane society or pet rescue group.
