Washtenaw County shifts Humane Society funds to sheriff's office under revised budget
Cuts in funding for the Humane Society of Huron Valley dominated talks Wednesday as Washtenaw County commissioners took the first step in approving a new budget, including shifting funds previously earmarked for the agency into the sheriff's office budget.
County officials reported that negotiations with the Humane Society have been slow to progress, as agency leaders still consider the level of funding being offered by the county insufficient to meet state mandates for animal control services.
Commissioners voted 9-1 to give initial approval to the county budget for 2012 and 2013. The vote came during a committee meeting that lasted more than three and a half hours, with most of the discussion revolving around the Humane Society.
Final approval of the budget is expected on Nov. 16, and it's still possible that changes can be made. For now, most of the cuts previously discussed remain.
The county's budget originally proposed reducing the line item for the Humane Society from $500,000 to $250,000. At Wednesday's meeting, a revised budget document showed the Humane Society's name crossed off with "mandated animal control" written in its place.
Conan Smith
Smith said his intention is to combine that money with $180,000 that's already in the sheriff’s budget for two animal control officers, creating a $430,000 pool of funds the county can now use to negotiate with the Humane Society on providing animal control services.
"We're at the beginning of this process still in a lot of ways, and I'm still hopeful that we'll be able to work out some arrangement with the Humane Society," he said. "We've had a 20-year partnership with that institution that has been very beneficial for the community."
But the county's contract with the Humane Society expires at the end of the year, and some commissioners have expressed interest in issuing a request for proposals to see if there's another private organization that can provide animal control services at a lower cost.
Commissioner Wesley Prater, D-York Township, said the county might have saved several hundred thousand dollars if it had put out an RFP years ago.
In addition to the cuts to the Humane Society, the county's two-year budget includes a reduction in human services funding from $1.46 million to $1.03 million that will impact several nonprofit agencies in the community.
Rolland Sizemore Jr., D-Ypsilanti Township, voted no on the budget while Commissioner Felicia Brabec, D-Pittsfield Township, who is newly appointed to the board, abstained.
Commissioner Ronnie Peterson, D-Ypsilanti, voted in favor of the budget, but indicated he objected to cuts to the Humane Society, as well as canceling membership in the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments in 2012 and eliminating support for Head Start in 2013.
Sizemore said he wasn't supporting the budget because he hasn't been able to get answers to questions about part-time county employment.
"I have a real problem with people retiring from the county and then coming back and working six months at a time," Sizemore said. "I have a problem with telling people we don't have money for their kids and for animals, but we have money to give four or five high-paid employees an 8 percent increase to do special job duties."
The budget includes elimination of the $125,000 membership fee for SEMCOG, a regional planning body covering seven counties in Southeast Michigan, as well as another $10,000 the county pays to have SEMCOG act as the region's water quality management agency.
The board also approved the elimination of more than $20,000 in dues for membership in the Michigan Association of Counties, sending that money instead to the Delonis Center homeless shelter. That proposal came from Commissioner Yousef Rabhi, D-Ann Arbor.
The funding for the Delonis Center still is being cut from $160,000 to $51,230, according to the latest budget documents.
General fund revenues and expenditures are shown balanced at $97.7 million in 2012, dropping off to $96.9 million in 2013 as property tax revenues continue to decline.
Commissioner Alicia Ping, R-Saline, was able to win support for a budget amendment that shifted $30,000 away from Ann Arbor SPARK to be evenly split between the Michigan State University Extension and the Food Systems Economic Partnership.
SPARK’s allocation was increasing from $200,000 to $230,000 in the originally proposed budget, while MSU Extension and FSEP both were getting $15,000.
Verna McDaniel
County Administrator Verna McDaniel said she and other county officials met with the Humane Society representatives on Tuesday, and they don't seem interested in taking the $180,000 from the sheriff's budget — money that would come with increased responsibilities.
"Although a decision has not been made yet by the full board of the Humane Society, the indication from the leadership of the board was that it is unlikely that that would be acceptable — primarily because they felt that the responsibility would be too large to take over or consider the animal control portion," McDaniel told commissioners, noting the sheriff's animal control officers pick up a little less than 200 animals per year.
"I made sure they understand that we'll keep an open dialogue," she said of discussions with the Humane Society. "But we left with the indication that it's not going to work — that the $250,000 is not enough, and the $180,000, they don't want it."
Smith said he's hoping the $430,000 now in the sheriff's budget gives the county some flexibility to help negotiate a contract with either the Humane Society or another agency.
"It's my opinion this function best belongs in the sheriff's department," Smith said, noting there's a deputization function involved in animal control. "We have two county-employed animal control officers, and through our outside agency allocation we contract currently for two additional deputized animal control officers. Combining those lines and setting them in the sheriff's department seems to be the right place for that work to happen."
Sheriff Jerry Clayton addressed the board at the end of the meeting, expressing concerns that he hadn’t been consulted on the issue. He said he was taken aback, and if the $180,000 from his budget does go to another agency, two of his employees are impacted.
Kelly Schwartz, the Humane Society's director of operations, relayed information at Wednesday's meeting suggesting Washtenaw County, with 346,000 residents, is getting the best deal per capita on animal control services compared to any surrounding county.
According to her figures, Livingston County with 180,000 residents pays $485,000 a year for animal control, Monroe County with 152,000 residents pays $404,000, Oakland County with more than 1 million residents pays $3.1 million, Macomb County with 840,000 residents pays $1.8 million, and Jackson County with 160,000 residents pays $310,000.
"And I encourage you to take a look at the other counties in the state of Michigan and you'll see that they all kill 50 percent of the animals that come into their shelter," she said. "And they get paid the highest amount of money. We get paid the lowest amount of money and we save 80 percent of the animals, and almost all of those are strays."
Smith agreed he thinks the county needs to continue to provide a level of funding for animal control services that goes beyond just the state mandates, which he called inhumane.
"The mandate is the harshest punishment out there, and we have never said we were simply going to abide by the mandate," he said.
Yousef Rabhi
But multiple commissioners expressed concerns that the Humane Society hasn't been forthcoming with financial information to show the exact cost of services provided per animal. The agency has provided some data, they said, but not the detail they want.
"I've been asking for weeks to see the numbers. They don't want to give them to us. That's an issue in my mind," Rabhi said.
Commissioner Leah Gunn, D-Ann Arbor, expressed disappointment that the Humane Society appears unwilling to accept any cut in funding.
"I don't understand why the Humane Society cannot take a cut of $70,000 when all of the other nonprofits are taking huge cuts," she said. "If they don't want to do business with us, then we can put out an RFP and find somebody who will."
Commissioner Dan Smith, R-Northfield Township, pointed out the county increased its annual commitment to the Humane Society from $200,000 in 2007 to $300,000 in 2008 and now it's up to $500,000. He said many organizations would be happy in today's economy to be getting the same amount of funding they were getting a few years ago.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's e-mail newsletters.
Comments
Kathy Moore
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 4:13 p.m.
As the rich get richer, not only do we get poorer, we lose our humanity too? NO, NO, NO! I do not accept this piece of the "trickle down" effect. I support a HUMANE SOCIETY, including the animals! Keep our contract and economic contribution towards the important work of our humane society.
CRAZYMAD711
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 3:10 p.m.
Commissioner Sizemore said. "I have a problem with telling people we don't have money for their kids and for animals, but we have money to give four or five high-paid employees an 8 percent increase to do special job duties." Did any of you people read this part of the article? The county wants to give NON UNION employees who already make over $100,000, another 8% raise or as proposed earlier; an extra $15,000 more a year because they have been doing the extra work assigned to the Deputy Administrator who quit last year with a nice big severance check. This after cutting UNION employees pay between 25% - 35%, stating that it was the only way jobs could be kept. Union employees with families will be taking a cut at the minimum of $5500 in increase insurance rates, increase retirement rates and 2 additional non-paid days on top of the eight days they have taken in the past. Most union employees take home pay is LESS THAN what they took home in 2002. SO why is anybody approving raises? To Anyone, Let Alone a Group of RICH Overpaid staff for doing extra work? Union staff members have always taken on extra work without EXTRA PAY. It was that or be fired!!!! Union staff have been cut in half over the past several years, and most of them or doing the work of 2 or 3 or more people. Give that money back to the shelter for the warming center or to the United WAY. How dare you even think of getting extra money while people are going to die this winter due to lack of a warm place. Every person even thinking of taking this money or any Commissioner who approves it, I hope that you are haunted by the visions the likes that Scrooge saw. Merry Christmas to the Wealthy, the poor will be to cold or to hungry to enjoy it.
Dog Lover
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 10:25 p.m.
"I don't understand why the Humane Society cannot take a cut of $70,000 when all of the other nonprofits are taking huge cuts," she said. "If they don't want to do business with us, then we can put out an RFP and find somebody who will." Leah Gunn Oh Leah, it's so said that you don't understand basic principles of contract negotiations. I'm sure if you said the same thing to Waste Management, they would say "thank you Leah, may I have another." The contract for services with the humane society is not the same as the funds provided the other non-profits. It's a shame that we have such uneducated and manipulative people in office. Have fun finding someone to provide the same service as the humane society does. I'm sure you won't mind killing more animals to save money.
justaposter
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 4:26 p.m.
Not to worry, I'm sure when something like this happens there will be ALL KINDS of rescue groups willing and able to step up and take care of animals for just mere pennies. <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/ypsilanti/township-considers-vacant-home-ordinance-as-a-second-home-in-two-weeks-is-cleared-of-30-cats/">http://www.annarbor.com/news/ypsilanti/township-considers-vacant-home-ordinance-as-a-second-home-in-two-weeks-is-cleared-of-30-cats/</a>
rsa221
Sat, Nov 5, 2011 : 2:54 a.m.
Unfortunately, rescues are over capacity and funding scarce more often than not as well. Sorry, not sure if you already know this and were being sarcastic.
rsa221
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 4:08 p.m.
Regarding Nov 8 Voting: Are there any challenger candidates with a platform that encourages restoring this funding to the HSHV? I would like to research these candidates for my visit to the polls on that day. Why punish an organization that was responsibly and usefully utilizing every ounce of their funding? The results seem to show this, especially if one is aware of how awful the statistics are for places like Port Huron. It's hard to know if there really is non-transparency by HSHV, or the commissioners are trying to bend the truth to justify their redistribution of funds. I didn't quite understand what the county is "offering" HSHV in terms of additional animal control responsibilities. Doesn't HSHV already have an animal abuse investigator? Do we really need the redundancy of two additional dog catchers hired by the county? Regardless, I see how our community benefits from HSHV, and I don't see any wild dogs running around that warrant hiring additional dog catchers. I would like my tax dollars to go where they were going. Yet another issue that should be voted on by us, the citizens. But of course we, who are financing all of this, are the last ones consulted.
rsa221
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 11:33 p.m.
Thank you for the information, Mr. Dearing.
Tony Dearing
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 4:26 p.m.
FYI, this is not an election year for the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, so there are no county races on the Nov. 8 ballot.
jns131
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 2:41 p.m.
As it is going so far, the HS is having an overcrowding and an under funding issue. There are volunteers but the boon doggle to get these animals into foster or forever homes is at a crossroads because of the amount of apps they have. Good luck to HS, they are going to need it. In this day and age of the economy? It is our fur babies that end up with the short end of the stick.
pbehjatnia
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 1:49 p.m.
cut hshv funding? forget my vote next round. and last time i needed animal control in ann arbor i was told we have none. the sheriff can give up two deputies who are never available.
jns131
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 2:42 p.m.
Ypsi Township has 10. So don't complain. And we may end up loosing more. Detroit has no animal control I am aware of.
Taylor Hulyk
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 1:42 p.m.
I am writhing reading this article. Are the county commissioners unaware that this $180,000 supposed deal that they're proposing duplicates the trained "animal control officers" that HSHV already has? This is ridiculous - put the money back to HSHV, where it belongs. My question is: have these commissioners actually taken the time to walk through the HSHV facility? To see the devotion of the staff and volunteers? Maybe if they took a time-out to consider the word "humane" they would actually begin to understand that this isn't just a line-item decision; this is a matter of life and death for these animals. And we're not just talking about strays; we're talking about surrenders, cases of neglect and abuse, wildlife rehabilitation, the Trap Neuter Return program for feral cat colonies...and the list could go on. Open up your eyes, commissioners! You can't forget about the level of care, compassion and devotion HSHV and its volunteers have for each and every animal that comes through its doors. Their $180K "Animal control officers" just sound like a warm and cozy hug, don't they? One more thing, I'd like to see them put out an RFP for a comparable "agency" in terms of save rate and services. Good luck.
Murphy's dad
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 1:07 p.m.
it seems like our commissioners aren't thinking about the possible consequences of their actions. In neighboring counties that don't have an open shelter like HSHV their animal control facillties take in thousands of animals every year. If HSHV follows through on becoming a private facility it seems to me they would be under no obligation to accept the responsibility of housing and caring for all animals brought in by the public. Just assuming HSHV will continue picking up the cost of caring for these animals is frankly, pretty reckless and naive. That number of a couple hundred dogs the county keeps putting out just may end up being closer to a couple thousand.
aawolve
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 1:02 p.m.
My disdain is evolving into outright hatred. I know that hate's a strong word.
Erik Epps
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 10:36 a.m.
How 'bout we put the Humane Society in the bum shelter on Huron?
Goofus
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 1:12 a.m.
I think the Board of Commissioners feels threatened by the Huron Valley Humane Society's strong stane and support locally... because it's easily the most popular non-profit locally...but this ploy will backfire, as the Humane Society's supporters and volunteers are also very politcally aware...this gamesmanship by the Board is not something that supporters of the HVHS will not forget come election time.
rsa221
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 4:20 p.m.
Goofus, do you know of any challenger candidates with a platform that includes encouraging restoration of this funding to the HSHV? (D) or (R) or (I), party is a non-issue
Murphy's dad
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 1:36 p.m.
Doubtful.......Washtenaw County voters just keep pulling that "D" lever. The county commissioners, at least the Dems, don't have anything to worry about...and they know it.
Susan Karp
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 10:23 p.m.
If the County Commissioners choose to use a provider other than HSHV for animal care/control in Washtenaw County, they will not only be spending much more taxpayers' money, they will be condoning a huge increase in killing adoptable animals. Thousands of dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens will be killed, as they have no plan for an adoption program. After the mandatory 4-7 day holding period for strays, they would be murdered. This is not an exaggerated number--HSHV takes in over 4,500 stray animals per year. Please let your County Commissioner know that this is unacceptable.
Bob
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 9:39 p.m.
Well, I suppose the extra sheriffs could help round up the extra dogs running wild . . .
Bob Martel
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 9:21 p.m.
I think that the County Commission should sub-contact the Humane Society of Huron Valley to run the entire County government including the Road Commission. We could cut taxes in half, get all our roads and bridges fixed and all human services would be funded at 110%!
Dog Lover
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 7:54 p.m.
Want to see a circus? Just click here: <a href="http://video.ewashtenaw.org/boc/showtime.pl?2011-11-02-WM=video" rel='nofollow'>http://video.ewashtenaw.org/boc/showtime.pl?2011-11-02-WM=video</a>
KeepingItReal
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 7:05 p.m.
The discussion regarding the Washtenaw County proposed budget is very interesting, especially the amount of conversation that has been devoted to the Humane Society. In following this development, the Humane Society has been one of the non-profit organizations that have provided a cogent argument as to how taxpayer dollars benefit the citizens of Washtenaw County. When ask, the non-profits usually respond by saying how many jobs they create or how much money they generate in the county, both worthy outcomes but they never provide any specific proof of how they impact the problem(s) they are funded to address which is what the mission of their organization is based on and for which they are funded. I noticed that Commissioner Peterson voted in "favor of the budget but indicated he objected to cuts to the Humane Society"..."and eliminating support for Head Start in 2013." Other than the emotional heart string argument offered by Head Start, have that organization presented any proof that its works? Personally, I think it would be better served if placed with Eastern Michigan University a world class teacher Training facility. Commissioner Roland Sizemore commented.." I have a real problem with people retiring from the county and then coming back and working six months at a time." Commissioner Sizemore, where in the h... you've been all these years on the board? You and Peterson represents districts that have the highest proportion of crime, health problems, unemployment, low educational achievement, poor housing, yet neither of you have offered any kind of consistent leadership to address these problems in all the years you have been on the board. Commissioner Brabec, Kristin Judge always tied her decisions on the board to the welfare and interest of her district. I hope that you are not waiting to see where to line up politically before you vote. Conan. Sometimes its best to just say nothing.
Dog Lover
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 6:32 p.m.
Isn't it strange that they voted to move the humane society funding to the sheriff's department, but didn't bother asking him?? Sheriff Clayton made them all look like fools. Just the kind of people we want running our county. "I have a real problem with people retiring from the county and then coming back and working six months at a time," Sizemore said. "I have a problem with telling people we don't have money for their kids and for animals, but we have money to give four or five high-paid employees an 8 percent increase to do special job duties." I think Commis Sizemore might be on to something here. Why are they giving increases to high paid staff while the unions agreed to take cuts and the non-profits have no choice but to take severe cuts. Something really stinks here! Maybe it's time to 'Occupy the County Building.'
Roadman
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 6:07 p.m.
Let's cut funding to the Sheriff's Department instead. There were payouts of $4 million and $1.375 milion to the Lee family in the West Willow cases. The exonerated deputies in the West Willow incident have their own reverse discrimination suits in federal court against the county. The county is footing the bill to fund the libel suit against Dwayne Dye, the homeless veteran, who criticized the conduct of the Sheriff's Dept. Dye has recently filed his own civil rights suit in federal court against county interests. Why should we reduce funding that helps innocent animals when all this nonsense occurs at the Sheriff's Dept.?
rsa221
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 4:25 p.m.
Wow, that's terrible. Thanks Roadman, I personally did not know about this nonsense. Definitely would love to vote on this funding issue. :(
Patty Bradley
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 5:52 p.m.
The HSHV, with it's fairly new state-of-the-art facility staffed largely by volunteers, does a tremendous service for this county by providing an huge number of programs designed to help animals in all kinds of situations. They must be given the same level of funding as in previous years - if not more. These services are top notch and simply could not be provided by another group. Do the *real* math, and you will see that the county is getting its money's worth from HSHV.
omniskeptic
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 5:34 p.m.
There is no viable third party, and the county knows it. If someone saw an RFP and decided to start a private animal care facility up in order to take advantage of the opportunity, they would be a) so far behind the curve in comparison to HSHV that the county would have huge trouble justifying the move, and b) in order to do what HSHV has been doing, they would have to essentially be a slaughterhouse. They know full well the RFP approach isn't viable. All of the posturing is just that; game playing. If you object to this kind of silliness, email the folks mentioned above and say so.
Gramma
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 5:19 p.m.
The HSHV is far more cost effective than it would be to add new personnel to the Sheriff's Dept or to continue with 2 employees and buy land to build a temporary shelter for stray animals, who would likely be shot as the cheapest way to dispose of them. Since the HSHV is currently the only NGO providing services to animals in this county, who would post bids? Maybe some out-of-county or out-of state company which is out to make a profit.
gofigure
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 5:06 p.m.
I thought they couldn't take from one "bucket" and put it into another one. Isn't that what they've been telling us for the past year?
kmgeb2000
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 5:25 p.m.
Besided that, was not the point of cutting funding to NOT spend the money. Moving it from one (very efficient group) to another kind of defeats the point of reducing funding, because then there is NO SAVINGS. Especially to a group who will not be providing the same level of service. I would also suspect the term animal control will return to animal disposal without as much HSHV involement.
guyfroma2mi
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 5:03 p.m.
I'd be shocked if the County can get anywhere near the same level of service from some "mystery agency" that they do from the Humane Society, and animal care is sure to suffer. Just a glance at the per-resident figures tells me this. Even if they find someone that will take the animals for less (or should I say "dispose of", since that will be the result), when you add in bidding and administrative costs, added transport costs for 200+ animals a year, and added transportation costs for residents that have to travel further to retrieve lost pets, the County as a whole will save nothing. And, the Sheriff will lose the use of two deputies while driving animals across town to who-knows-where, because it'd be ridiculous to think someone is going to build and staff a facility inside the county (let alone provide care that meets the state's basic standards) for the $250K the County wants to pay. Commissioners- ever hear the phrase "Penny wise, pound foolish"? And were you unaware that the Humane Society has experienced the same drop in private donations that other nonprofits have, as you feign shock that they're not eager to take another blow? This is not an area where we should be pinching pennies, in a county with as great a sense of compassion as we do here, nor should we be cutting funding for the shelter or any other social services program at a time when the need is this great.
Buster W.
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 4:44 p.m.
Hey Conan, Wipe that smirk off your face and write the check, already!
Basic Bob
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 4:44 p.m.
I'm pleasantly surprised Dr. Brabec abstained. This was not a critical vote (with the margin of passage 9-1), and approval of the budget is probably the biggest action the board takes all year. I'm sure it takes more than two weeks to figure out the inner workings of county government, not to mention the interactions between strong-willed commissioners. Mostly I'm surprised that she didn't have a handler telling her how to vote. (you know, the person who secretly introduced her to all the commissioners before she was appointed)
Goofus
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 4:44 p.m.
I sincerely hope the voters of Ann Arbor remember Leah Gunn's consistent obstructionist viewpoints and general lack of compassion on most issues and vote her out of office at election time.
Goofus
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 1:09 a.m.
Me too...I haven't enjoyed his style...he's rolled into the County board like he owned the place and everyone else was just renting...I guess we can expect no less from the scion of a family that has made "local politics the family business"...
Roadman
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 6:08 p.m.
It'll never happen, Goofus. She may be retiring though. I would like to see Conan get the boot.
Martin Church
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 4:43 p.m.
Where in the county charter is the county responsible for Human social services. This has historically always been the role for the CHURCH and other social organizations. it's time for the county to kill these services and get out of the way of the citizens who have said it's there responsiblity. As for the human society. They have done a great job, but it is time we restructure the county government. let's fund it by restructoring the fines for animal abuse. let's look at the laws we have on the books and restructure these laws so non governmental bodies may bring charges instead of having to have an officer specialize in animal control. Also lets cut the pay of the elected officals by 50%. these are drastic times and it's time we change government roles.
guyfroma2mi
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 5:25 p.m.
When churches are prepared to step up to the plate and provide basic social services- to everyone, without moral judgement, regardless of religion or sexual orientation, and without massive government subsidies- perhaps we can have this discussion. Catholic Social Services and the Salvation Army get the bulk of their funding from taxpayers- yet they demand the right to discriminate in hiring and distribution of that money based on religious beliefs in who gets help. The Salvation Army in New York City, which gets over $200M a year, threatened to shut down their entire operation if forced to abide by local non-discrimination ordinances. And Catholic Social Services has repeatedly threatened to get out of the adoption business if forced to put the best interests of the children ahead of their refusal to grant adoptions to gay couples. While you may have no problem with making a private donation to agencies with a religious litmus test for employees and recipients of services, I have a major problem with seeing my tax money go to agencies that wouldn't hire me or provide services to me. And as a compassionate person, I can think of nothing that should be a higher priority in a civilized society than caring for those that cannot take care of themselves- without exceptions.
julieswhimsies
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 5:19 p.m.
HaHaHAAA. Sorry. I had to laugh. It's HUMANE society, not HUMAN society.
Gramma
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 5:02 p.m.
Without funding, NGO's will not be bringing charges against anyone. I believe the HSHV currently handles cases of animal cruelty and neglect, housing the animals, providing them with medical care, and filing charges. If the money goes to the Sheriff's Dept, they would have to handle this or just shoot all those abused and neglected animals.
NerdyDave
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 4:22 p.m.
The Humane Society has been outperforming the local government as far as doing more with less for years -- County don't get many volunteers. Do some reporting & find out how many animals are euthanized here vs elsewhere and get back to us, please.
Jimmy McNulty
Fri, Nov 4, 2011 : 2:07 p.m.
"And I encourage you to take a look at the other counties in the state of Michigan and you'll see that they all kill 50 percent of the animals that come into their shelter," she said. "And they get paid the highest amount of money. We get paid the lowest amount of money and we save 80 percent of the animals, and almost all of those are strays." From Kelly Schwartz of the HSHV.