The Michigan Pet Fund Alliance has announced on multiple platforms that Michigan has been deemed a “No Kill” state in terms of animal shelters. The no kill status was achieved by the 90 percent live release rate on animals taken in, which means 90 percent of all animals michigan shelters took in last year were either returned to their owners, adopted, or transferred.

According to the MPFA founder and chairperson Deborah Schutt, Michigan achieving the new “No Kill” status is an amazing first for our state. In 2009, more than 120,000 animals in shelters died and according to MPFA in 2018 there was only 13,000 that died.

Schutt says although this is a huge step, there are still many areas that need improvement, “While it’s exciting to see Michigan as a state achieve no kill status by reaching the 90 percent goal, we still have a few communities struggling to save lives, especially with cats, we will continue to work with shelters and rescue organizations to implement best practices, decrease overall length of stay in the shelter and improve the quality of life for homeless pets while they are in shelter,” Shutt said.

Sophomore Reagan Philbeck explains her positive view on this news and states how its making Michigan a more animal-friendly place, “Not having animals in shelters being hurt makes it feel like Michigan is more of a humane place, and I feel better if I find a stray taking it to a shelter if there’s no abuse or killing,” said Philbeck.

Sophomore Anthony Wehner states he doesn’t know much about Michigan’s animal shelter progress but it makes him feel better that the state is improving its standards, “I had no clue Michigan received this title but it makes me happy that animals are being saved and taken into homes,” said Wehner.