GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The director of the Kent County Animal Shelter has resigned, less than a week after MLive published an article about the shelter’s startling euthanasia rate.
KCAS Director Carly Luttmann resigned from her position Tuesday, health department communications manager Steve Kelso confirmed. He wouldn’t elaborate on the reason behind her resignation, saying only that the Kent County Health Department does not comment on personnel matters. The agency also wasn't available to comment on its euthanasia rate.
MLive’s Sept. 6 article reported that KCAS euthanized two out of every five animals it took in in 2017.
State records show that in 2017, KCAS admitted 3,722 animals, including 2,070 dogs; 1,569 cats and 83 other animals, like ferrets, birds and reptiles.
Of those animals, approximately 39 percent were euthanized at the shelter’s discretion, not including animals euthanized at their owners’ request. Last year’s euthanizations totaled 1,451 animals, including 758 dogs, 679 cats and 14 other animals, state records show.
Genesee County and Macomb County, two Michigan counties similar in population size to Kent County, also have county animal control departments.
Not including owner requests, Genesee County Animal Control euthanized 262 of the 2,784 shelter animals it took in– a euthanasia rate of 9.4 percent.
Macomb County Animal Control took in 2,602 animals and euthanized 542 of them – a rate of 20.8 percent, not including euthanization requests by pet owners.
24 Hour News 8 is working to get more information. Check back with woodtv.com for updates.
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Online: Kent County Animal Control