Here we have collected a selection of documents that reflect some of the recent events and historical background of animal welfare and Animal Control in Eaton County and Michigan. There are some things here that contain important information for anyone with an interest in how public policy affects animal welfare. A task force was formed in 2008 to seek changes at Eaton County Animal CONTROL to become a SHELTER. Unfortunately ECAC is not a shelter as of this date.
Task Force Recommendations
Sheriff Response to Task Force
1. EATON COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL TASK FORCE
In March 2008, three Eaton County residents attended a Public Safety Committee meeting, asking what they could do to help Eaton County Animal Control. Minutes March 2008
Eaton County AC sold to research.
FOIA MSU EC Cats
FOIA MSU EC Dogs
In April 2008 a Task Force was set up and two of the Eaton County residents attended. Minutes April 2008
In May 2008 pictures of some of the animals in the Eaton County Animal Control started being posted online.
ECAC Animal Photos
On May 20, 2008 the Sheriff issued an order to stop the sale of animals to research.
Sheriff Order
On September 4, 2008 the Task Force presented 18 recommendations. Task Force Recommendations
On September 10, 2008 the Eaton County Sheriff responded to the 18 Task Force recommendations.
Sheriff Response to Task Force
On October 1, 2009 it was requested at the Public Safety Committee meeting that they act on #10 of the Task Force recommendations, maintaining by County Board of Commissioners’ Resolution the Sheriff’s order to end the practice of selling or releasing animals for research.
On November 5, 2009 the Public Safety Committee meeting approved forwarding the resolution to stop the sale of ECAC animals for research to the full Board of Commissioners. Minutes November 2009
On November 18, 2009 a resolution was approved by the Eaton County Board of Commissioners to ban the sale of animals to research. They can now be released to the owner, adopted, released to rescue, and then euthanized. Please click on this link and see page 101 for 2009. http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mda/Michigan_Animal_Shelter_Activity_Reports_2009_319597_7.pdf
Eaton County is listed as number 136 out of 153 shelters on the 2009 Michigan Shelter by Save Rate. http://www.michiganpetfund.org/special-events.php
2. EATON COUNTY DECISION-MAKING BODIES
All meetings of the Eaton County Board of Commissioners and their Committees are subject to the State of Michigan Open Meetings Act MCL15.261 – 15.275. This means that anyone is entitled to attend each meeting as a visitor. Visitors are not welcome to participate in the meeting except during a 5-minute Public Comment period. Otherwise visitors are expected to sit quietly at a considerable distance from the meeting members. Michigan State law provides that a visitor may be ejected from a meeting for a breach of the peace.
Eaton County Board of Commissioners meetings are held in the Board of Commissioners Meeting Room in the Eaton County Courthouse, 1045 Independence Blvd, on the north side of Charlotte. The Commissioners’ usually meet on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m.
Board of Commissioners Agendas and Minutes
The Eaton County Public Safety Committee meets in the Eaton County Sheriff’s Department training room, 1025 Independence Blvd, on the north side of Charlotte. This is where we discuss is where we discuss Eaton County Animal Control concerns. The Public Safety Committee usually meets on the first Thursday of each month at 4:00 p.m.
3. LAWS & ORDINANCES
The State Laws regarding animals are with few exceptions found in Chapter 287 of the Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL). This regulates things like service dogs and leader dogs, identifying tattoos, sale of homeless cats and dogs as research subjects, dangerous animals and dog bites, etc. Interestingly, State Law is nearly silent on the issue of licensing, capturing and euthanizing cats, which is therefore always a decision made at the county or local level. Here are a couple of important pieces of State Law for people concerned with animal welfare:
MCL 287.261 – 287.290 — also known as “The Dog Law of 1919″ and “Act 339 of 1919″, these laws form the core of Michigan’s public policy on animal control.
MCL 287.331 – 287.340 — Act 287 of 1969 has some important things to say about pet shops and animal control shelters.
Please see the AVAILABLE PETS on the Eaton County Animal Control website.
SAVE A LIFE — ADOPT !!!
Please SPAY or NEUTER your pets !
