News
By Cyndi Lieske
Livingston County will euthanize unclaimed Bully breeds
Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, American Bulldogs, and American Pit Bull Terriers found running loose in Livingston County will now be euthanized if they are not claimed by their guardians. The county will hold a canine for four days if the dog has no collar, license, or other evidence of guardianship or for seven days with evidence of guardianship.
In May, the Livingston County board of commissioners approved a proposal prohibiting adoption or placement of the canines or any animal considered aggressive. The Livingston County Animal Shelter staff has sole discretion about deciding if a dog is aggressive. A caretaker who claims a pet captured by the Animal Control Department will face fines and possible criminal charges.
The measure was introduced in response to the deaths of two residents who were killed by American Bulldogs who were running loose in rural Iosco Township. Animal rights groups have spoken against the measure and say it unfairly targets canines sometimes known as “Bully breeds.”
Volunteer helps educate others about chained dogs
Since she was a little girl, Barbara May has had a strong connection with animals in need.
When she was 10, she cared for a Collie who was chained to a doghouse in her neighbor’s backyard. She fed him, gave him water, and put salve on his skin where flies had bitten him.
“I was always taking care of him,” May recalls. “It is a very sad thing that this dog had to suffer on a chain.”
She believes this early caretaking led her to become a volunteer with Dogs Deserve Better (DDB), a national organization devoted to helping dogs who are chained or tethered 24 hours a day. May, 44, of Garden City, is a volunteer representative for DDB in Wayne County. She works to inform caretakers of the dangers of leaving canines chained in backyards for long periods of time.
Dogs Deserve Better, based in Pennsylvania, is entering its sixth year and has representatives across the United States. May has walked in parades in Michigan, held garage sales, and created a brochure about the group to get DDB’s message out. Her husband, Jim, and sons, Eric, 15, and Steve, 16, also help her with her work. She finds that many people are receptive to the work she is doing.
“A lot of people are very emotional about this because they have seen animals [who] have had to suffer,” she says.
May is the caretaker of three rescued dogs and is trained as a veterinary technician.
Often she works with information provided to her by neighbors of a person with a dog chained in a yard. She will approach the caretaker with information about fences, obedience training, and any solutions she can offer.
“You have to be a good communicator,” she says. “You have to be positive and upbeat. To improve the lives of the animals, you have to make it better for people.”
Proposed license plate would benefit Michigan Humane Society
Rep. Kim Meltzer (R-Clinton Township) recently introduced legislation to create a charitable fundraising license plate to benefit spay and neuter programs through the Michigan Humane Society.
HB 6087 would authorize a license plate honoring the Michigan Humane Society. Meltzer decided to sponsor the bill after reading of the high rate of euthanasia at the Macomb County Animal Shelter. It has been reported that 80 percent of cats and nearly four in 10 dogs at the shelter are euthanized, Meltzer says. Meltzer says she knows that the shelter has limited space and that county officials are trying to make improvements to help animals, but would like help with the “root cause” of so many unwanted pets.
“A root cause of many unwanted pets is [guardians] not getting pets sterilized,” she says. “As the proud [guardian] of a dog and a rescue cat, this issue is of great concern to me. We must step up efforts to educate the public about the need to spay or neuter their pets.”
The bill is currently awaiting a public hearing in the House Transportation Committee, according to Rep. Meltzer’s staff.
Michigan Humane Society begins microchipping campaign
With a goal of helping lost pets reunite with their caretakers, the Michigan Humane Society is partnering with Camp Bow Wow in Clarkston to offer several microchipping clinics. The next clinic will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 26, at Camp Bow Wow, 4373 Plant Drive, Commerce Township [(248) 242-8000].
“Microchipping is a safe and effective procedure that provides permanent identification for the lifetime of the pet, and is a wise investment for all animal guardians––considering the emotional pain to both family and animal when a beloved companion is lost,” says Michael Robbins, director of marketing and communications for the Michigan Humane Society. “One of the biggest benefits of a microchip is the national network of veterinarians and humane organizations that can properly scan and identify lost pets.”
The clinics will offer microchipping for dogs and cats at the discounted rate of $11––a significant discount from the already modest price of $50, the normal cost of the service at each of the organization’s three veterinary care centers in Detroit, Rochester Hills, and Westland.
Additional Camp Bow Wow clinics will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates:
• Sept. 6: Camp Bow Wow St. Clair Shores, 79795 East Nine Mile Road
• Oct. 18: Camp Bow Wow Brighton, 3829 Old U.S. 23
• Oct. 25: Camp Bow Wow Troy, 1300 Souter Drive
Each year, the Michigan Humane Society's three metro Detroit centers for animal care take in approximately 15,000 stray animals, most of whom have no form of identification. Less than 10 percent of these animals are reunited with their original guardians.
Driving directions can be found at MichiganHumane.org. The events will operate on a first-come, first-served basis, and participants are encouraged to arrive early and be prepared for a moderate wait. Microchipping is open to dogs and cats, with all animals needing to be well socialized and under the supervision of their guardian at all times.
For more information or to donate to the welfare of homeless animals, call the Michigan Humane Society at 1-866-MHUMANE, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or visit MichiganHumane.org.
Backyard chickens allowed in Ann Arbor
On June 2, the Ann Arbor City Council approved a measure to allow property owners to care for up to four hens.
Under the measure, roosters are prohibited under the proposal. Property owners have to apply for a permit to keep chickens, agree to house them in a fenced, covered enclosure, and abide by noise laws that prohibit any sounds that disturb neighbors between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Property owners also must seek permission from adjoining neighbors before obtaining a permit for the chickens.
Rescue groups find homes for dogs and cats seized from Lornich Kennels
Members of All About Animals, Warren, have worked with other rescue organizations to find homes for 61 dogs and nine cats rescued from Lornich Kennels in April. “We have found homes for about 80 to 85 percent of them,” says Pam Laird, vice president of All About Animals. “We expect everyone will be adopted in the next month or so.”
Lornich Kennels owner, Lorri Nichiow-Brubaker, pleaded guilty in June to three counts of animal cruelty following the raid at her kennel in Sterling Heights. She has been ordered to surrender her kennel license, pay $17,500 in restitution, and agree to never again work in the kennel business. She will be sentenced on July 24.
All About Animals offers reduced-cost spay/neuter program
All About Animals is now offering extended hours for reduced-cost spaying and neutering at its clinic at 32863 Hayes St., Warren. The cost of the program is $40 for cats and $80 for dogs. Vaccines are $16 each. Call (586) 879-1745 to schedule an appointment.
