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Saginaw council adopts revised animal ordinance and shelter management plan
Summary
The Saginaw City Council unanimously adopted amendments to Chapter 6 of the city code and a shelter management plan that change hold periods, encourage microchipping and TNR practices, tighten trap procedures and formalize colony‑caretaker registration. Council approved the ordinance after presentations from the advisory committee and shelter staff.
The Saginaw City Council on Nov. 24 adopted an updated animal control ordinance and a shelter occupancy management plan intended to shorten shelter stays and improve animal care and outcomes.
The ordinance and management plan were presented by Animal Services Advisory Committee chair Joe Stow and Animal Services Manager Jose Whelan, who described revised hold times, intake and disposition practices, and new operational policies. "We do not euthanize unless we absolutely have to," Whelan told the council, adding that the shelter's average length of stay has fallen from 34 days to about 30 days for dogs and from 34 to 18 days for cats since implementation of the new plan.
The changes formalize several practices: a 72‑hour stray‑hold period for unclaimed animals, a 10‑day mandatory hold for seizure‑warrant cases, a 15‑day appeal window for dangerous‑dog declarations, and a requirement that animals brought into custody be microchipped where possible to help reunite pets with owners. Whelan also described trap‑loan procedures: residents who trap animals must check out humane traps from animal services, receive training, and meet checking and temperature‑safety rules rather than using personal traps that can injure animals.
The advisory committee recommended mandatory registration and training for colony caretakers under the city's TNR (trap, neuter, vaccinate, return) approach; Whelan said caretakers must ensure animals are vaccinated, sterilized, ear‑tipped and tracked. He noted cooperation with regional partners including SPCA and Operation Kindness for transfers and neonatal care.
Council members raised enforcement and practical questions about nuisance animals, evidence for repeated violations, and limitations imposed by state law. City Attorney and staff explained that House Bill 1750 (cited in the meeting) preempts certain local regulations related to agricultural or barnyard animals and constrains local limits on livestock and some backyard poultry; the ordinance retains local provisions where state law still permits enforcement.
After questions and additional clarifications from Whelan and advisory committee members, Council Member Mary (motion maker) moved to approve the ordinance as presented; the motion was seconded and the council voted to adopt the ordinance. Council members said they appreciated the months of work by the advisory committee and stressed that staff should provide requested follow‑up data (for example, euthanasia breakdowns by reason) to the council.
The ordinance becomes part of the city code with the updates described in the adopted document; staff will circulate the finalized ordinance and the management plan to council and the public. The council also asked staff to continue reporting metrics about shelter outcomes and to provide the requested euthanasia breakdown and other operational data at a subsequent meeting.
