General Information

This page was developed to provide information on registration of Michigan Animal Shelters and Dog Pounds. Copies of applicable state laws are included via links to alert you to Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) requirements concerning the registration of an Animal Shelter or Dog Pound. A registration form is also included, among other pertinent pieces of information.

Application Procedure

To register an Animal Shelter or Dog Pound, you need to submit your registration form.  You will also need to arrange for veterinary services for the pet shop and include the name and address of the veterinarian on the registration form. 

1. Look over the Animal Shelter/Dog Pound registration form and additional materials found here (see below). Familiarize yourself with the laws and regulations governing Animal Shelters and Dog Pounds (see below).  Fill out the registration form making sure to be complete. 
   
   
2. Submit the registration form (there is no fee) to the Michigan Department of Agriculture, Animal Industry Division, P.O. Box 30017, Lansing, MI, 48909. 
   
   
3. An MDA Inspector will then contact you and visit the shelter/pound to conduct a pre-registration inspection.
   
   
4. After your application has been approved and processed and a satisfactory pre-registration inspection has been completed and filed in the Lansing office, an animal shelter/dog pound registration confirmation will be issued. 
   
   
5. After receiving the registration, you may then conduct business as a registered Michigan Animal Shelter/Dog Pound.
   
   
6. As a requirement of maintaining registration, you are required to submit an annual Shelter Activity form by March 31 of each year.
   

MDA strives to provide a timely response to Animal Shelter/Dog Pound registration application. You can help by being sure your application is complete. You can also help by thoroughly reviewing the linked laws, regulations, and other documents before your pre-licensing inspection. If you have any questions or concerns, please call our office at (517) 373-1077.

Additional Materials

• The Animal Shelter/Dog Pound Registration Form
  This application form must be filled out and submitted to the department to initiate pre-licensing procedures.
  
  
• An Overview of Regulations Governing Animal Shelters and Dog Pounds
  This sheet summarizes requirements of Public Act 287 of 1969 and Regulation 151.
  
  
• Annual Shelter Activity Form
  This form must be completed by every facility on an annual basis and submitted to the Michigan Department of Agriculture Animal Industry Division by 3/31 of the following year.
  
  
• Proper Disposal of Animal Carcasses Brochure
  Summarizes state requirements for disposal of dead animals.
  
  
• Ferret Health Advisory Sheet Memorandum
  Explains requirements for the Ferret Health Advisory Sheet as required by Public Act 358 of 1994.
  
  
• Ferret Health Advisory Sheet
  Must accompany every ferret sold or transferred in the State of Michigan.
  
  
• Chlamydiosis (Psittacosis) Brochure
  This brochure explains the disease chlamydiosis and how it effects birds and humans.
  
  
• Turtle Health Advisory Sheet
  This sheet must be distributed with every turtle sold in Michigan.
  
  
• Salmonella in Reptiles
  This fact sheet explains the disease salmonella and how it effects reptiles and humans.
  
  
• NASPHV Psittacosis Compendium
  Requirements for chlamydiosis/psittacosis control.
  
  
• NASPHV Rabies Compendium
  Requirements for rabies control.
  
  
• 2000 Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia
  
  
• For a copy of the 1999 guidelines for animal bites and rabies, please contact the MDA Animal Industry Division at (517) 373-1077
  
  

Laws and Regulations

The laws relative to Animal Shelter/Dog Pound registration are (follow the links):

• Pet Shops, Dog Pounds and Animal Shelters: Public Act 287 of 1969, as amended:
  The primary law pertaining to pet shops. Among other things, this law specifies who does and does not need a pet shop license and it includes requirements for importing and selling puppies and kittens.
  
  
• Regulation 151 (Pet Shops, Dog Pounds and Animal Shelters):
  Regulations and requirements for operating a licensed pet shop, dog pound or animal shelter. This is a very important regulation to read and understand, as it covers areas that MDA Inspectors review when visiting these facilities.
  
  
• Regulation 112 (Importation of Dogs):
  This describes the specific regulations governing the importation of dogs into the state.
  
  
• The Animal Industry Act: Public Act 466 of 1988, as amended:
  Requirements for importing wild and exotic animals such as birds and reptiles.
  
  
• Regulations for The Animal Industry Act:
  This describes the specific regulations operating under the Animal Industry Act.
  
  
• Public Act 33 of 2001
  An excerpt from the amended Animal Industry Act (PA 466 of 1988).
  
  
• Large Carnivore Act: Public Act 274 of 2000
  An Act to regulate the ownership, possession, and care of certain large carnivores.
  
  
• Wolf-Dog Cross Act: Public Act 246 of 2000
  An Act to regulate the ownership, possession, and care of certain wolf-dog crosses.
  
  
• Bodies of Dead Animals: Public Act 239 of 1982
  An Act to license and regulate animal food manufacturing plants, transfer stations, dead animal dealers, rendering plants, and certain vehicles.
  
  
• Regulations for Public Act 239 of 1982
  Bodies of Dead Animals
  
  
• Use of Dogs and Cats for Research: Public Act 224 of 1969
  An Act to license and regulate dealers in and research facilities using dogs and cats for research purposes; and to repeal certain acts and parts of acts.
  
  
• Regulation 150: Use of Dogs and Cats for Research
  
  
• Dog Law: Public Act 339 of 1919
  An Act relating to dogs and the protection of live stock and poultry from damage by dogs; providing for the licensing of dogs; regulating the keeping of dogs, and authorizing their destruction in certain cases, etc.
  
  
• Liability of Owner for Dog Bite: Public Act 73 of 1939
  An Act providing for the recovery of damages by persons bitten by dogs; and creating a liability of the owners of such dogs.
  
  
• Regulation 129: Governing Dog Kennels
  
  
• Registration and Identification of Dogs
  An Act to provide for the regulation, registration, identification and licensing of dogs.
  
  
• Michigan Penal Code (Chapter IX animals): Public Act 328 of 1931 (as amended)
  
  
• Animals Running at Large: Public Act 328 of 1976
  An Act to regulate animals running at large; to provide for compensation for damage done by animals running at large; to prescribe penalties; and to repeal certain acts and parts of acts.
  
  
• Dangerous Animals: Public Act 426 of 1988:
  An Act to regulate dangerous animals; to provide for the confinement, tattooing, or destruction of dangerous animals; and to provide penalties for the owners or keepers of dangerous animals that attack human beings.
  
  
• The Turtle Act: Public Act 424 of 1988:
  State requirements for the sale of small turtles. (Federal law covers to whom turtles may be sold, state law covers specifics about the sale.)
  
  
• The Ferret Act: Public Act 358 of 1994 :
  Legalized and controls the sale and breeding of ferrets.
  
  
• Sale of Baby Chicks, Rabbits, Ducklings, or Other Fowl or Game: Public Act 163 of 1945 :
  Prohibits the sale of dyed chicks, rabbits, ducklings, etc.
  
  
• Pseudorabies and Swine Brucelosis Control and Eradication Act: Public Act 239 of 1992:
  Swine laws, pertinent for stores selling pot-bellied or other pet pigs.