Friends for Life, Inc
of Otsego County
Help Save Lives...Have Your Pets Spayed or Neutered
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Friends for Life, Inc of Otsego County has been actively involved in making sure the county continues the no-kill of adoptable pets policy. On January 1, 1999, Otsego County became the first municipality no kill shelter in Michigan. On May 11, 1999, Otsego County made this no kill "policy" an official resolution. This resolution was founded on the basis that Otsego County believed it to be in the best interest of the citizens to enhance the quality of life of dogs, cats and other companion animals. An effective, humane way of solving the homeless and unwanted pet problem and overpopulation was desired. This resolution was also founded on the belief that ONLY those animals received in a condition of terminal illness or mortal injury that are beyond clinical redemetion should be humanely destroyed. In addition, those animals that are deemed aggressive and/or dangerous and cannot be successfully rehabilitated with available resources should be humanely destroyed. By aggressively pursuing sterilization of cats and dogs, they will be more desirable as adoptable pets. In effect, this will decrease the pet opverpopulation problem. Keeping these principles in mind, Otsego county reached the following resolution: Otsego County supports the concept of adoption of all eligible cats and dogs and other companion animals and of a "No Kill For Adoptables" policy with an emphasis on sterilization in order to most effectively and humanely solve the problem of homeless or unwanted pets and pet overpopulation in Otsego County. (this information was taken from the Otsego County Resolution NO.1999-31) |
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Otsego County was successful with a reclaiming/adoption rate of 99.5% in 1999 and 98.75% in 2000. We feel our success is greatly due to our aggressive sterilization (spay/neuter) program. More people are willing to adopt those animals that have been spayed/neutered. In conjunction with Friends For Life and Dr. Simons, citizens are able to receive low cost sterilization for their adopted pets. Animal Control is spending more money on spays/neuters than we were prior to our no kill policy; however, our number of animals received has decreased. We believe the decrease is greatly due to our emphasis on spaying/neutering. Although we are spending more money on spaying/neutering, we are not spending as much on maintaining as many animals or on disposal of euthanized animals. If you are involved with animal control and/or a shelter in your community, we encourage you to find out more about our no kill facility. Please contact us via e-mail or telephone. |
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Animals Received 1998: 1224 (litters received was 155) 2000: 857 (litters received was 16) 2001: 858 (litters received was 26) 2002: 899 (litters received was 46) |
Death of Animals(includes death from euthanasia, aggressiveness, medical, unknown and roadside deaths) 1998: 961 2000: 77 2001: 86 2002: 78 |
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Average Dog Days 2000: 37.5 2001: 12 2001: 10 |
Average Cat Days 2000: 11 2001: 25 2002: 22 |
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Animals in Foster Care 1999: 43 2000: 23 2001: 0 2002: 0 |
Adoption/reclaim Rates 1999: 99.5% 2000: 98.75% 2001: 95.5% 2002: 98.1% |
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Dollars Spent on Sterilization 1998: $0 2000: $4,289(Otsego Couty) $16,200(Friends For Life) 2001: $5,396(Otsego Couty) $15,237(Friends For Life) 2002: $0(Otsego Couty) $15,237(Friends For Life) |
Average cost per animal $58 |