Our Mission Statement

Our mission is to promote the adoption of shelter cats and dogs, educate the public regarding the benefits of spaying and neutering their pets, and support efforts and initiatives which benefit the welfare of companion animals.

Who are we?

Help Furry Friends was formed in 2009 by a few concerned citizens of Gratiot County who wanted to make a difference in the lives of shelter animals. We are now incorporated as a nonprofit and recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization.

Our hope is that one day all cats and dogs will have loving homes and that there will no longer be a need for animal shelters to house homeless pets.

Stay Informed

Humane legislation currently in the Michigan Senate, SB 423 and SB 424 "Grant's Bill", would outlaw gas chambers as a legal euthanasia method for dogs and cats in Michigan. Lethal injections of sodium pentobarbital would replace gas chambers as the only legal means of cat and dog euthanasia. No Michigan shelter pet is safe until gassing is banned. There is no excuse to gas animals - a more humane and less expensive euthanasia method is resdily available. 19 states - most recently Alabama - have already banned this practice. Gratiot County is one of only a few shelters in Michigan that still perform euthanasia via gassing.

For more information check out "Grants Bill" from the Michiganders for Shelter Animals web site.

Additional legislation currently in the Michigan Senate and House, HB 5230 and 5231, SB 891 and 892, is "The Puppy Protection Act" (puppy mill bills). These bills would enact standards of care and limit the number of breeding dogs. The bills are currently supported by Michigan Humane Society, Michigan Association of Animal Control Officers, and the Michigan Veterinary Medical Associateion. Had these bills been in place they may have prevented the recent Allegan county cas involving more than 350 dogs.

What can you do? Contact your senator or representative and ask them to support these bills. Lets protect all of Michigan's pets! (Click here for who to contact and more information.)

Shelter Statistics - 2010

Shelter statistics for Gratiot County Animal Control for 2010 have greatly improved. Help Furry Friends (HFF) with the help of volunteer transporters have found rescues for 319 dogs which is 72% of the 441 dogs adopted/transferred. Of the 286 cats that were adopted / transferred in 2010, 244 or 85% went to rescues or MDA licensed shelters.

This would not have been possible without the help and support of the wonderful rescue groups, foster families and other shelters. We thank them all so very, very much for all they have done for our animals!

Animal Control has contributed to this success by changing and expanding their hours of operation at the shelter and by holding animals to accommodate transport to rescues.

(For additional statistics click here. For PDF file of statistics for 2005-2010 CLICK here.)

Lost Your Pet in or Around Gratiot County? Act Immediately!!

If you have lost a dog or a cat in or around Gratiot County, VISIT the shelter to see if your pet is there. Call the shelter at (989) 875-2221immediately!. When they are closed - leave a message on their answering machine (doesn't say to leave a message but it will record after the recorded message). Go to the shelter and POST a note on their door and they will contact you. It is critical that you notify Animal Control immediately if you want to get your pet returned to you! You only have days to recover your pet before it is too late! DO NOT WAIT...

The best way to have your lost pet returned to you is to put an identification tag on their collar or at least write your phone number on their collar. Ask your vet about microchipping too!

Gratiot County Animal Control - Adoption Information

Gratiot County Animal Control is located at 2675 W. Washington Road, 3 miles west of Ithaca, Michigan.

NEW HOURS: They are open Monday 4:00pm - 6:00pm, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00 until 6:00pm and Friday 4:00pm - 6:00pm.

If you have any questions about the availability of an animal you see on our Adoptable Pet link or if you have lost a pet in or around the Gratiot County area, please call the shelter at (989) 875-2221.

The pictures on our Adoptable Pet link are animals at the Gratiot County Animal Shelter. Visit the Gratiot County Animal Control Petfinder site too. There may be more or fewer animals available at the shelter. The cost of adoption for dogs:

NOTE: If you must surrender an animal to Gratiot Animal Control please be aware that our county gives shelter animals to research. If you do not want your pet to be given to the Class B dealer for research you MUST REQUEST that it is NOT GIVEN TO RESEARCH when you release it to the county.

If you have lost a dog or a cat in or around Gratiot County, call the shelter at (989)875-2221immediately!. Leave a message. It is critical that you notify Animal Control immediately if you want to get your pet returned to you! The best way to have your pet returned to you is to put an identification tag on their collars. Ask your vet about microchipping too!

Gratiot County is only remaining Michigan county with a contract
with a Class B Dealer who can take shelter pets to sell for research.

Please consider adopting a pet from Gratiot County.