H.E.A.R.T.
Helping Eaton Animals Resource Team
P O Box 206
Charlotte  MI  48813

E-mail:  HelpingEatonAnimalsRT@gmail.com

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The next H.E.A.R.T. Public Meeting will be held on

March 15, 2010 at 7 p.m. at the Charlotte Public Library

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H.E.A.R.T, the Helping Eaton Animals Resource Team, is a non-profit all-volunteer organization dedicated to providing resources for the improvement of animal welfare in Eaton County, Michigan.

H.E.A.R.T. does not operate a shelter or animal care facility. Our committment is to promote animal welfare in our community through special programs and to improve conditions for shelter animals.

Because H.E.A.R.T. is an all-volunteer organization, every dollar that is donated goes directly to animal welfare resources.

H.E.A.R.T has received non-profit organization approval from the State of Michigan, and is awaiting 501(c)3 approval from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

We invite all interested parties to join us in this cause. You can contact us by E-mail or by regular mail; the information appears at the top of each of our webpages. We do not maintain an office with a phone or FAX.


H.E.A.R.T. MESSAGES

What can you do to help the cats and dogs at ECAC?

1.  Thank you to everyone that wrote letters, contacted your commissioners or supported stopping the sale of animals to research in Eaton County.

At the November 18, 2009 EC Commission meeting the resolution to ban the sale of animals to research was unanimously approved by the eleven commissioners that were present.  This is a huge Victory!  A copy of the resolution is attached.

Thank you so much for all your support!

Resolution
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2. Please encourage people to adopt directly from Eaton County Animal Control. 
Eaton County Humane Society is rescuing what they can, but there are many others left behind that need homes too. Networking with other rescue groups will help save the lives of more animals. Not all the cats and dogs are posted on the ECAC website, and a number of their photos are of animals already rescued. The larger and older dogs are often overlooked and don't get much of a chance at being rescued. Approximately 75% of the cats and kittens are being euthanized in county shelters because there are not enough homes.  Please spay and neuter your pets.

ECAC Animal Photos
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3.  You can be a volunteer by becoming familiar with the history of Animal Welfare and Animal Control in Eaton County.  We are supportive of the Public Safety Committee's 18 task force recommendations, and wish to pursue these with your support.

This is the sequence of events that have taken place since March 2008.

1.   March 2008 three Eaton County residents attended a public safety meeting asking what they could do to help Eaton County Animal Control.

http://www.eatoncounty.org/Assets/Board+of+Commissioners/Committees/Current+Year/Public+Safety/2008-3+Public+Safety+Minutes.pdf

2.   April 2008 a task force was set up and two of the Eaton County residents attended.

http://www.eatoncounty.org/Assets/Board+of+Commissioners/Committees/Current+Year/Public+Safety/2008-4+Public+Safety+Committee+Minutes.pdf


 3.   May 2008 pictures of some of the animals on the Eaton County Animal Control Website started being posted.

ECAC Animal Photos


 4.   May 20, 2008 the Sheriff issued an order to stop the sale of animals to research.

Sheriff's order


 5.   September 4, 2008 the 18 task force recommendations were presented.

Animal Control Task Force Recommendations


 6.   September 10, 2008 the Eaton County Sheriff responded to the task force recommendations.

Sheriff's Response to the Animal Control Task Force
 

7.  April 2009 Helping Eaton Animals Resource Team, H.E.A.R.T., was formed.


8.  October 1, 2009 it was requested at the Public Safety Committee meeting that they act on #10 of the task force recommendations.

ECAC Documents & Photos

"Maintain by County Board Resolution the Sheriff's Order to end the practice of pound release (sale or transfer) of animals for research."


9.  At the November 5, 2009 Public Safety Committee meeting it was approved by the majority of the Public Safety Committee to forward the resolution to stop the sale of animals at ECAC to research to the full board;  to be discussed at the November 18th Commissioners meeting with a possible vote.

http://www.eatoncounty.org/Board_of_Commissioners/Committee_Assignments/Public_Safety_Committee.htm


10.   November 18, 2009 a resolution was approved by the Eaton County Commissioners to ban the sale of animals to research.  They can now be released to the owner, adopted or released to rescue and then as a last resort be euthanized.

Resolution to Ban the Sale or Release of Animals for Research

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4.  Attending County government meetings keeps you informed first-hand about what is going on, and helps you get to know the key players.  After you have been to a couple of meetings and see how thing work, you can speak during the public comment times.

 You are welcome to attend the Eaton County Board of Commissioners meetings.  These are open to the public.  People can speak during the public comment time. The Board of Commissioners Meeting Room is in the Eaton County Courthouse, 1045 Independence Blvd, on the north side of Charlotte.  The Commissioners' meeting is on Wednesday, March 18, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.

Board of Commissioners Agendas and Minutes

Board of Commissioners' Rules of Procedure for Meetings
(The Public Comment rules are on page 11, section 4.6)

The Eaton County Public Safety Committee meets in the Eaton County Sheriff's Department training room. This is open to the public. People can speak during the public comment time, which is where we discuss ECAC concerns.   The Public Safety Committee's next 2010 meeting is on Thursday, April 1, 2010 at 4:00 p.m.

 Eaton County Public Safety Committee
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If you are not sure who your Commissioner is, please see the map on the next link.

Eaton County Board of Commissioners

Commissioners' Contact Information
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HEART is now on Facebook! Please feel free to sign up and be one of our fans.
 http://www.facebook.com/home.php  (To do this, you do have to be a Facebook member.)
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Many thanks to all who have participated in or supported  H.E.A.R.T  activities !!!
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Please see the AVAILABLE PETS on the Eaton County Animal Control website.

SAVE A LIFE -- ADOPT !!!

Please SPAY or NEUTER your pets !