Learn about MDARD's four bureaus, including contact information, by clicking the above link, or view specific information below.
Want to know how to contact the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development? On this page you will find phone numbers, email addresses, snail mail addresses, and online contact forms for everything we do here at MDARD. We even have a complaint form for those of you with complaints.
Laws and Regulations pertaining to and governing the actions and policies of the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development.
This area contains information for press and media agencies. Press Releases, Pics, Podcasts & Videos
Animal ID and movement requirements in the State of Michigan
Animal health resources for veterinary professionals.
Diseases affecting, or potentially affecting, animals in Michigan
Information on how to acquire a feed license to manufacture or distribute commercial feed in Michigan.
Rules governing the disposal of Bodies of Dead Animals (BODA).
Materials developed to provide information on how an individual may become a qualified Animal Control Officer.
Information about how MDARD's Agriculture Development Division can help you grow your business in Michigan.
Michigan's Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) was created to help protect our environment and wildlife. Michigan is partnering with the federal government to implement conservation practices of great significance to the state, and valuable to the nation, in matters of soil erosion, water quality, and wildlife habitat.
Programs under the Private Forestlands Initiative, including the Forestry Assistance Program, Qualified Forester Registration, and Qualified Forest Program.
Good migrant labor housing is an essential element in securing an adequate supply of seasonal agricultural workers.
The Cottage Food law, enacted in 2010, allows individuals to manufacture and store certain types of foods in an unlicensed home kitchen.
Find a licensed firm in Michigan, from pesticide businesses to retail establishments, and more.
For the registration of horses, breeders and owners so as to render them eligible for racing and breeder/owner awards.
Retail Motor Fuel Outlet licensing information, applications and forms.
Information on Weights & Measures service person and agency registration, as well as weights and measures advisories.
Each new, existing, and proposed commercial pesticide or fertilizer bulk storage facility is required to register annually with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Fertilizer License and Registration Requirements, as well as Liming License Requirements
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A municipality that operates a housing facility for the impoundment and care of dogs, cats, and other specific animals that are:
A person, a business, or a non-profit organization that operates a housing facility for the care of dogs, cats, and other specific animals that are:
Housing facilities includes a separate room, building, or area used to contain a primary enclosure(s) such as cages, kennels, or community cat rooms. Organizations that operate solely through a network of foster homes where the animal lives in the home as their pet would do not qualify for a shelter registration as they do not have a housing facility.
Contact the Animal Industry Division at 517-284-5769, 800-292-3939, or via email: AnimalShelters@Michigan.gov for more information regarding operating an animal shelter and the specific facility requirements.
Complete the Animal Shelter Registration Application (Form AH-025) and submit to our Lansing Office. Once the application is found to be complete, it will be forwarded to program staff to initiate an inspection.
Your shelter must pass a facility inspection before a registration will be issued, therefore it should be reasonably ready at the time you apply for the registration.
*NEW* Public Act 287 was recently updated and changes were made to the importation requirements for dogs and cats going to animal shelters. There are now age-related, vaccination and treatment requirements.
For animal shelters that receive animals from other states, importation requirements for specific animals can be found on MDARD's animal movement pages. See the handouts below that summarize the specific import requirements for cats and for dogs.
Each registered shelter is required to annually report their animal statistics for the prior year by March 31st of the subsequent year. The statistics are a portion of the records that shelters are required to keep for at least two years. The report elements focus on companion animals by age and alteration status at the time of adoption. Other information includes total number of animals adopted, transferred to other registered shelters, reunited with their owners, and euthanized.
Forms for Registered Shelters
Individual Annual Reports
Animal Shelter Resources
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s (MDARD) Animal Industry Division manages the Animal Welfare Fund, which allows voluntary contributions from generous Michigan taxpayer to support animal shelters.
The most frequently-used laws and regulations regarding animal care, shelters, shelter animals, and animal control agencies:
Pet Shops, Dog Pounds and Animal Shelters: Public Act 287 of 1969, as amended
Defines control shelters, protection shelters, requires registration, identifies import requirements for cats and dogs to Michigan pet shops.
Regulation 151 (Pet Shops, Dog Pounds and Animal Shelters):
Contains animal care, facility, personnel, and recordkeeping requirements for operating an animal shelter. It covers the compliance areas that MDARD field staff review when visiting shelters.
Registration and Identification of Dogs; Public Act 309 of 1939
Requires reporting of stray dog to local animal law enforcement agency within 48 hours.
Michigan Penal Code (Chapter IX animals): Public Act 328 of 1931 (as amended)
Provides minimum standard of care for animals, defines animal neglect, defines animal cruelty, and provides penalties.
If you have concerns about the care of the animals and the conditions of an animal shelter, you may file an online complaint with MDARD. Please include the name and location of the facility, the time and date you were at the facility, and specific animal information (for example: black & white small dog in the adoption ward "Freddy.")
If you have an animal welfare complaint involving a pet store, kennel, breeder, or livestock animals, you need to contact the local animal law enforcement agency (animal control, sheriff, police) where the facility is located for potential penal code and/or local ordinance violations. For more information regarding animal control agencies in Michigan, please see the Michigan Association of Animal Control Officers
Please contact the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development directly at 800-292-3939 with additional questions.