Investigation by www.michanimalnews.com Uncovers Illegal Activity by Gratiot County Animal Control Shelter
Written by: Justine DePalma
Published on June 18, 2008
Justine DePalma, editor of www.michanimalnews.com filed complaints with federal and state of
Shelter Violates Federal and State Law
The Gratiot County website states that the animal shelter holds stray dogs and cats, without identification for only 4 days and for 7 days if they are wearing a collar or other identification. Dawn Little, the director of the Gratiot County Animal Shelter explained that employees would put a note on the door of a person who’s dog or cat is in the shelter with an identification tag. Pets not claimed within 7 days of intake are available for the research dealer or death.
Since Gratiot County Animal Control gives animals to a research dealer it must comply with federal law and special provisions in
When questioned Dawn Little admitted that Gratiot County Animal Control does not send letters to the owners of identified animals, nor does the shelter hold strays for 5 days as required by federal law.
Illegal CO2 Barrel Used to Kill Shelter Animals
Most people would think that government shelters use humane methods of euthanasia. In fact, they probably believe that the animals are put to sleep just like at their vet offices. The average citizen would be hard pressed to imagine the horrors of the killing that takes place in Gratiot County Animal Control. The shelter uses the carbon dioxide barrel to kill homeless pets. As explained by Dawn Little, the killing is performed either by herself, one of the guys or Class B Dealer Woudenberg.
In 2007, 845 dogs and cats, puppies and kittens suffered horribly as they were slowly gassed. Animals subjected to carbon dioxide “euthanasia” die painfully. Studies conducted on lab rats indicated the distress and pain that CO2 caused. The American Veterinary Medical Association bans CO2 euthanasia on most animals. Carbon Dioxide is not to be used on pregnant animals, puppies, kittens, medium sized dogs, large dogs or most wildlife.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture recently admitted that it enforces the AVMA Euthanasia protocols as law. However, even though its own records indicate that carbon dioxide is the euthanasia method at Gratiot County Animal Control Shelter, recently reviewed records show that the Michigan Department of Agriculture has not inspected, investigated or even stepped foot in Gratiot County Animal Control Shelter since 2001. Obviously, the Michigan Department of Agriculture is not enforcing the law.
Class B Dealer Gasses the Animals He Does Not Take
According to Dawn Little, USDA Class B dog and cat research dealer James Woudenberg gasses many of the shelter animals. Woudenberg takes dead animals from the shelter in exchange for live animals that he resells to research institutions. Little writes a list for Woudenberg who comes to the shelter at least weekly. Little’s list is of animals that are available for Woudenberg to take. If he decides not to take a dog or cat, puppy or kitten Woudenberg gasses that animal at the shelter. Little said she sometimes calls Woudenberg more than once a week depending upon how full the shelter is.
Although statutorily required, Woudenberg does not have a dead animal transporter or dealer license from the state of
Gratiot
The 2007 shelter report filed by Gratiot County Animal Control indicates that only 8% of the animals that came into the shelter went to new adoptive homes. This makes sense since the shelter does not advertise available animals on the internet or anywhere, other than the lists for the B Dealer. Gratiot County Animal Control kills sixty percent of incoming animals and the research dealer takes more than twenty percent. Gratitot County Animal Control Shelter Profile
What You Can Do to Help
We cannot rely upon state and federal regulators to enforce the law. They have not enforced applicable statutes for years, why would they start now. We must act to change the sheltering system in Michigan.
First, contact the Gratiot County Board of Commissioners and let them know what you think of their animal shelter.
Write or call your State of Michigan Representative and State Senator and ask that they commit to passing House Bill 5263 which will stop shelter from selling pets to research.
Send this link to your friends, co-workers and relatives. Knowledge is power and an informed public is our best hope to make life better for animals.
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UPDATE Article in Morning Sun 6/20/2008
UPDATE Rebuttal - Wouldn't Want to Confuse Them With the Facts
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