About Us
At the Humane Society of West Michigan, we are dedicated to promoting the humane treatment and responsible care of animals in our community. Our mission is to build a healthy, safe, and compassionate community where all animals receive the care they deserve. We strive to achieve this vision through education, example, placement, and protection.
Our History
With over 135 years of service to our community, we have a long history of promoting humane treatment and responsible care of animals. Originally known as the Humane Society of Kent County, we were first organized in 1883 by a group of citizens who shared a concern about abused, neglected, and homeless animals. Over the years, we have evolved to better serve our community, moving to new facilities in 1969 and 2001. Our current location at 3077 Wilson Drive NW in Grand Rapids provides us with the space and resources needed to continue our mission.
Our Services
We offer a variety of services to help people and animals in need. Our services include:
- Animal Admitting: We take in owner surrenders as well as stray animals, ensuring that we manage admissions mindfully to provide the best care for our current animals. This includes scheduling appointments to ensure proper space availability.
- Community Vaccine Clinic: We provide low-cost vaccine clinics for pets in our community, particularly targeting low-income families. These clinics are held both onsite at our shelter and at offsite locations around West Michigan.
- Kibble Konnection: In partnership with the Access of West Michigan Food Pantry network, we operate the Kibble Konnection, a pet food bank program that helps low-income pet owners provide food for their pets.
- Low-Cost Euthanasia: We offer low-cost euthanasia services for pet owners, understanding that saying goodbye to a beloved pet is always difficult. Our pricing for euthanasia services includes $75 for rabbits and small critters, $75 for cats, $75 for dogs under 25lbs, $100 for dogs 26-70lbs, and $150 for dogs over 70lbs.
- Obedience & Behavior: We provide onsite dog obedience classes as well as in-home behavior assistance to help pets and their owners manage behavioral issues.
- P.E.T.S. Network: This innovative program provides emergency housing for pets affected by natural disasters, evictions, domestic violence, owner homelessness, and other temporary care situations.
Our Commitment
We are committed to ending pet overpopulation through spaying and neutering shelter animals and providing the best medical and behavioral shelter care possible. Our dedicated staff of 45 part-time and full-time employees work tirelessly to attend to the animals entrusted to our care. We are distinct from other regional animal organizations in that we do not euthanize animals based on space or time considerations and provide a full range of educational programs for the public.
Our Values
At the Humane Society of West Michigan, we believe in building a culture where our staff and volunteers can bring their whole, honest, unique selves together for the animals we serve every day. We are passionate about animals and their care, committed to ending pet overpopulation, dedicated to placing homeless animals in permanent homes, and advocates for the protection of animals. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is something we aspire to do each and every day, aiming to have a positive ripple effect within the West Michigan community that we support.
Why Choose Us?
We are your area's leading animal welfare organization, and our dedication to providing exceptional shelter care, behavior training, and support for adopters sets us apart. With over 135 years of service, we have earned the trust of our community by providing humane and responsible care for all animals. We strive to be an open book to any donor, potential donor, or other interested party, ensuring transparency in our operations and commitment to our mission.
Join us in our mission to build a compassionate community where all animals receive the care they deserve. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of countless animals and the people who care for them.
