FGCAS's ultimate goal is to reduce the amount of animals being euthanized at the Genesee County Animal Shelter/Animal Control. While our goal may seem simple, it's not. There is a long road ahead of us and in order to succeed, we will need every pet owner and animal lover in Genesee County to join with us on our journey.

Our group will only be effective if we have enough members to influence the Chief of Animal Control and the decision making of the Genesee County Board of Commissioners. While we doubt the Genesee County Animal Shelter could ever become a "no kill" facility, we have steps that we believe would help it become a "minimal kill" facility. Many of these steps are simple and could be implemented almost immediately. Others, like updating the outdated way of keeping track of the animals that come to the Shelter, will take longer.

A few of our steps are outlined below. This page is still very much under construction, since we take suggestions and ideas from all our members.

1. FGCAS wants to work with Animal Control to increase animal adoptions. This step will need to involve major Shelter reform in several areas, including but not limited to: recordkeeping, adoptable animal marketing, revising and clarifying the adoption process for the public and the Shelter's policies for qualified and reputable rescue adoptions.
2. Animals at the shelter need to be evaluated and temperament tested. One of the best ways to do this is with walks, playtime, grooming and other tasks. This will ensure that each animal is understood and at his/her best for a better chance at adoption.
3. Developing and promoting spay/neuter programs to reduce the amount of animals flooding the shelter. We will work to see all adopted animals spayed/neutered before they leave the Shelter to cut down on future litters of cats and dogs. The Shelter has an operating room that they're unable to use it at this time. There are a few local Veterinarians who are willing to provide low cost spay/neutering, heartworm testing, feline leukemia testing for animals at the Shelter, it's our goal to either develop a plan with them and/or get the Shelter O.R. up and running.
4 It is our immediate desire to have a program that would Place EVERY adoptable animal up for adoption for a minimum of 5 days, or more if space permits. If the animal isn't adopted after 5 days, we would like to see them offered at a reduced rate to rescues for a chance at a new life rather than have the Animal Control staff euthanize them. We believe all of the adoptable animals there deserve a chance to find the home they should have had from the beginning. 

Since reputable rescues do not place animals up for adoption until they've been spayed or neutered, the $50 spay/neuter deposit should be waived for all non profit rescues who have such guidelines. This would contribute to part of the "reduced rate" to rescues. Right now, it's waived only for rescues who are "licensed" with the MDA.  This license allows the rescue to become an "Animal Rescue". However, in order to obtain this license, the rescue must have a kennel where the animals are kept.

Another way to reduce the fee for dogs would be to not force people who live in other counties to purchase a Genesee County dog license. Our county is one of the few in the state who does this. It states on the Genesee County Treasurer's page that "You must be a resident of Genesee County to purchase a dog license in Genesee County." This adds an additional $20 for unaltered dogs to the price. If this can not be negotiated, then at least give the option for rescues to bring back proof of spay/neuter within 2 weeks and refund the difference between the unaltered license and altered one. This one step alone would help to save many more animals  at our shelter.

Reducing the fee for cats would also include the waiving of the spay/neuter deposit. Another way would be to do away with the requirement of a rabies shot for all cats over the age of 4 months. It is a county law, the State of MI does not require cats to receive rabies shots.