WARREN, Mich. – The city of Warren is putting out an urgent call for the community to help with the overpopulation of animals in its shelters.
Rocky, a friendly and energetic Pitbull, has spent seven weeks in the kennels underneath the Warren Police Department. Found severely underweight — about 15 pounds under normal — he represents the growing challenge of stray dogs in Warren.
Rocky and his kennel neighbor Ace were the only two dogs present during a morning visit to Warren Animal Control. However, the facility’s 10 kennels won’t stay this empty for long. By day’s end, every kennel will be full — a pattern that repeats daily.
Officer Austin Tomlin of Warren PD Animal Control reports a dramatic increase in stray dogs. “On any given day, it could be anywhere from two to six that we can get a call for to come get a dog,” Tomlin says. “Every single day.”
Lt. John Gajewski of the Warren Police Department explains the surge: many people who got dogs during COVID are now back at work, and with tighter finances, some can’t properly care for their pets. This has led to a heartless solution — abandonment.
“If you’re struggling with getting resources, food, you know, bedding, certainly immunizations, that’s not cause to abandon your dog,” Gajewski says. “If you reach out to us, we have opportunities available to give you some resources. We do low-cost veterinary immunizations. We do microchipping at events.”
Warren’s no-euthanasia policy means they rely heavily on shelters, which are also at capacity. “We can call up to 40 to 50 within two hours, and everybody says they’re full,” Tomlin says. “We go as far as two, three hours away just to place one dog.”
The dogs’ daily life in the facility is restricted, with only three opportunities to leave their kennels each day. “The dogs definitely need more attention than we’re able to give them,” Tomlin acknowledges.
The facility seeks two solutions: more shelters and rescues willing to help, and more volunteers. “If you’re interested in animals, are passionate about animals and want to help, you can help,” Tomlin says. “Whether it’s volunteering to walk the dogs once a day, that’s a weight off of our animal control shoulders. If you’re a shelter out there and can offer some sort of resources, that’s weight off our shoulder.”
