Who We Are and What We Do
Our background and mission
People and pets
Our focus is on saving at-risk pets in pound facilities. We save homeless pets, one at a time, give them medical care and a safe temporary home, and provide responsible adoption services to those seeking pets. We started as a group of about 50 skilled and experienced animal rescue volunteers in 2010, and we've grown to about 150 volunteers.
The mission is all about homeless pets, but it's also all about people: our volunteers, certainly, but also like-minded animal lovers who choose to give a second chance to a homeless pet. Together, we are addressing the problem of pet homelessness. If you'd like to join us, we welcome new volunteers, members, and other supporters.
The care we provide
We provide a lifetime safety net for the dogs and cats we rescue. If pets adopted through Animal Rescue Project aren't able to stay in their new homes, they can return to our rescue program to wait for a new home.
We euthanize very rarely — when a homeless pet has been diagnosed with an incurable disease that severely limits the quality and duration of life. Or when a rescued pet proves unadoptable because of unpredictable and harmful behavior toward people.
Some cats and dogs that we rescue need only minor medical care, while others may have needs that cost hundreds of dollars to treat. All these pets get the medical care they require. When they're ready to be adopted, they've had a health check and had any necessary treatment, and their medical records go with them at the time of adoption. Puppies and kittens have all their shots to date and a voucher to cover spaying or neutering if they haven't already been spayed or neutured.
Our commitments
Our rescue operation is built on four unshakeable organizational commitments:
We are a no-kill organization
We affirm every pet's right to life and to human care and companionship. We euthanize on a very limited basis — and never out of a need for space.
We provide a lifetime safety net
We will not submit our homeless pets to double jeopardy. If a pet loses its home any time after adoption, we readmit that pet into our rescue program and seek another placement.
We rescue without borders
Our rescue program gives due consideration to all homeless dogs and cats, irrespective of regional, state, or national origin. All homeless pets deserve to be saved!
Pets are our only priority
We rescue pets irrespective of their health status, and we give them the best possible medical care to cure their disease or reverse their condition. We pride ourselves on our stewardship. For every dollar received, more than 95 cents goes to the rescue, care, and placement of homeless pets. Volunteers provide all leadership and perform all administrative tasks in our organization, allowing us to hold administrative costs to a bare minimum.
Our pet rescue shelter
Since October 2010, we've been caring for adoptable dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens at our renovated 6,800-square-foot shelter at 219 Peekstock Drive in Kalamazoo. We've improved the building's drainage and ventilation. We've redesigned the layout and installed new equipment. We've given the building a facelift. And we've hired a great staff of animal caretakers. It is now a healthy and comfortable place for rescued pets to stay. It's also a warm and friendly place for people to visit.
We invite you become a volunteer to walk and socialize our dogs or to socialize our cats in our fun, free-range adult cat and kitten rooms.
Directions to our shelter can be found on our Contact page.
Pet shelter open hours
The Animal Rescue Project rescue shelter is open to the public for dog and cat adoptions and visits every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, from 3 to 7 p.m. Please stop by and visit! We're proud of our shelter and eager to meet you.
Related pages
Featured Cat
Sugar is a short haired adult Tiger cat. She is a medium size and is just perfect for someone to cuddle with! Although she’s a quiet cat, Sugar can usually be persuaded with a treat. Once she realizes she is in a safe environment, it doesn’t take long for this sweet girl to warm up to someone and roll over purring for a belly rub.
View Sugar's featured adoptable cat profile and Petfinder profile. To learn more about Sugar, contact us, or come to the shelter during open hours to meet him.
Featured Dog
Piglet is a beautiful white Pit Bull mix with hazel eyes. She is 50lb and can be expected to grow a little more since she is just 10 months old. Piglet would be happiest in a home with another dog as a playmate and would benefit from regular exercise. She behaves well on leash and responds well to commands. In the future, she will require consistent treatment for her skin allergies.
View Piglet's featured adoptable dog profile and Petfinder profile. You can meet Piglet at adoption events or by appointment. To learn more about Piglet, contact us.