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Grand Traverse County forms ad hoc animal‑control committee after public outcry over Mighty Mac case
Summary
After public testimony about a 2024 case that left a dog emaciated and later euthanized, county health staff outlined limits of the local animal‑control ordinance and the board approved an ad hoc committee including the sheriff's office, prosecutor and humane‑society partners to review policy and enforcement.
The Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners voted to form an ad hoc committee to review animal‑control policy and enforcement after several residents detailed what they described as failures in the handling of an emaciated dog known locally as "Mighty Mac."
At the board's request, Mike Lahey, deputy director of the county public health department, explained the current local ordinance and the limits of county enforcement. "We enforce dog‑related complaints and submit reports and cases to the prosecuting attorney's office," Lahey said, and noted that "we cannot investigate animal cruelty and neglect independently; we require assistance from law enforcement." He told the board the county's animal‑control team is three people who respond to about 3,000 calls a…
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