Eskie Rescuer Walks into a Nightmare

Written by:  Justine DePalma
Published on April 5, 2008

Joy Wikoff from Midland Michigan loves American Eskimo dogs, so when she was asked to transport 2 Eskies from the Montcalm County Animal Shelter for an Eskie Rescuers, an American Eskimo rescue group, she gladly volunteered. This was her first official shelter rescue and she wanted to make certain it went smoothly. Luckily her husband decided to come along, so on March 4^th they left their Midland Michigan home very early. They arrived at the Montcalm County Animal Shelter at 8:10 am. There were no other cars in the parking lot and the shelter was closed. Joy wanted to be first in line for the 2 dogs when the shelter opened at 9 am. Around 8:30 one of the animal control officers arrived.

The two dogs that Wikoff was picking up were a pair of purebred American Eskimos, a male and a female. They arrived at the shelter on February 26, 2008. The dogs were owned by an older lady who allowed them to run loose. After 6 dogs running at large complaints, Animal Control Director Kevin Weaver claims he was able to capture the dogs with the assistance of the owner’s son; however, no one signed a relinquishment form so the dogs were checked into the shelter as strays. According to USDA regulations for shelters that sell to research, strays must be held a minimum of 5 days including one Saturday. During the stray hold period the dogs were not available for adoption, gift to research or “euthanasia”. Instead during the stray hold period they only are available to be returned to their owner. According to the shelter the two Eskimos were first available for adoption by the public on Tuesday, March 4. Tuesday March 4^th was also the first day the dogs were available to be given to the research dealer or killed in the CO2 gas barrel. Joy Wikoff knew the Eskies were at the shelter on March 3^rd, she was one of 6 people who called to let the shelter know they were interested in adopting the dogs. Joy didn't know those calls didn't matter.

When the shelter doors opened at 9 am Joy walked in with collars and leashes in hand. She asked for the two Eskies and was shocked when she was told they were not there. The employee acknowledged that the dogs were not available until March 4^th. The employee also acknowledged that there were telephone calls from people interested in adopting the dogs. What the employee wouldn't say is what happened to the dogs. Joy walked through the shelter and noticed many kennel runs without dogs, the Eskies clearly were not there. In shock and worried, Joy went to the Montcalm County Administration Building and asked to speak with County Controller. Joy never spoke to Chris Hyser because his staff claimed he was in meetings all day. Hyser has never returned my phone call requesting an interview. While at the Administration building one of the employees contacted Animal Control Director Kevin Weaver who stated that the Eskies were “euthanized”.

Joy was sick, but it got worse. Joy found out that the shelter doesn't “euthanize” animals; they are gassed in a CO2 barrel. Like most Americans Joy was clueless that shelters gas, she was dumbfounded when she found out that at Montcalm Animal Control Shelter the person doing the gassing is the neighborhood Class B Research Dealer, Jim Woudenberg from R & R Research.

Who Do You Call?

After leaving Montcalm County a shaken and distraught Joy Wickoff filed a complaint with the Michigan Department of Agriculture which is supposed to regulate state animal shelters. A field inspector, Dr. Susan Baer responded quickly, but quite frankly it doesn't appear she has much if any training on how to investigate a complaint. Baer went to the shelter on March 5^th. She wrote a glowing report commending the shelter for its cleanliness and record keeping.  She interviewed employees who stated that Woudenberg “euthanized” the Eskies. Baer never asked to see the bodies and never spoke to Woudenberg. She closed the case.

Dr. Baer did speak to shelter staff about “euthanizing” or getting vet care for an obviously injured dog. The staff told her the dog would be “euthanized” the next morning. I've asked Dr. Baer to confirm which dog she spoke to the staff about, but she has not responded. Based on information and belief the only badly injured and suffering dog in the shelter that day was 6 year old Cocoa. Cocoa had a severe injury to a leg and it was obviously infected. Cocoa did not see a vet the next day and she was not “euthanized”. Even though volunteers called about her daily, the shelter refused to release Cocoa for adoption until her “stray” hold was up, March 11^th. As soon as she became available a rescue group picked up Cocoa and rushed her to the vet. The poor dog who lay suffering, even though a state shelter inspector witnessed her suffering, had gangrene and her leg was immediately amputated. Thankfully Cocoa is doing well in her foster home.

Woudenberg Takes What He Wants and Kills the Rest

According to the “contract” that R & R Research has with Montcalm County, R & R Research can take any animal it wants in exchange for gassing the animals on the “euthanasia” list and disposing of the bodies. Typically, Woudenberg performs his ghoulish business early on Tuesday mornings, before the staff arrives. In fact, employees and citizens claim that Woudenberg had a key to the shelter until very recently, allowing him to come and go as he pleased. About the same time Kevin Weaver left his employment the locks on the shelter were changed. It's unknown whether Woudenberg got a new key and the Controller will not return my phone call requesting this information.

The contract between R & R Research and Montcalm County also requires R & R to haul away dead animals and dispose of the bodies.  A search of state and federal licenses indicates that R & R Research is not licensed as either a disposer or hauler of dead animals.  James Woudenberg from R & R Research is not licensed as animal control officer nor is he a licensed veterinarian so it is unclear how he can legally “euthanize” the animals at the Montcalm County Animal Control Shelter. 

What you  can do

So what can you do about what’s happening at Montcalm Animal Control Shelter?  Write to the Montcalm County Board of Commissioners and demand that they immediately stop giving animals to research and stop gassing animals in the CO2 barrel.  The shelter should start using free internet services such as petfinder.com and pets911.org to showcase their available animals.  The shelter must work with the community to reduce overpopulation and the number of animals killed.  Obviously, the Class B Dealer should not have keys to the shelter, its extraordinary mismanagement of a government facility. 


In case you are wondering whether this is true, I interviewed Joy Wikioff, reviewed the complaint and investigation reports from the Michigan Department of Agriculture, interviewed Dr. Baer and other sources.

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