This week brings a couple of positive stories from opposite sides of the state. Both demonstrate that animal advocates who are organized, strategic and persistent have the power to influence government and business to adopt more animal-friendly policies.
Berrien County Commissioners voted earlier this week to end euthanasia of animals by carbon dioxide gas chambers in that county. Citizen opposition has steadily grown in Berrien County. Virginia Holden told Michigan Radio cited the length of time it takes for an animal to die and its cost: “’It’s a big steel box that the door closes and then this hissing sound starts from the gas coming in. It doesn’t take much to understand that that would be rather stressful for an animal,’ Holden said.”
“Being humane is first and foremost…”
Berrien County Commissioner Mac Elliot
Only one county, Cass, still uses gas chamber euthanasia. Learn more about the issue, why the American Veterinary Medical Society opposes it and a bill pending in the Michigan Legislature to ban the practice state-wide at Michiganders for Shelter Pets.
Meanwhile in Macomb County, activists celebrated a victory on August 29, 2015, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of a pet adoption facility the Gibraltar Trade Center. The Center had rented space for 20 years to Little Dogz (formerly Pollywood Pets), a pet store selling dogs from puppy mills. Puppy Mill Awareness of SE Michigan held weekly protests at the Center for a year. Now the Macomb County Animal Control/Shelter and other rescue organizations will hold adoption events on Saturdays.
Not to rest on its laurels, the Puppy Mill Protection group is pursuing a lawsuit to close down Little Dogz at its new facility in a Mount Clemens storefront. The group also recently spearheaded adoption of a Humane Pet Acquisition Ordinance in Macomb County to ban retail sales of pets. But that’s a topic for another post!
