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Residents urge restoration of county animal control and shelter, citing public-safety risks
Summary
Two public commenters described dangerous incidents they attribute to a lack of functioning county animal control and shelter—one clinic owner warned loose animals create traffic hazards and a Charlotte resident recounted a service dog killed in a backyard mauling—and urged the county to restore animal-control services or a shelter.
Two members of the public urged Eaton County commissioners to restore animal control and shelter capacity during limited public comment at the April 9 meeting.
Patty Lance, who identified herself as the owner of Nana and Paw's Doggy Daycare and Compassion for Paw's Veterinary Urgent Care in Grand Ledge, said the absence of animal control forces private clinics and residents into untenable situations. "If we don't have an owner, we just have a loose dog...it got on the highway. It got hit by a semi and caused a multiple vehicle accident," Lance said, describing a past incident. She added that without shelter capacity she cannot legally or safely hold unvaccinated animals brought to her clinic.
Bailey Case of Charlotte recounted that on March 14 his seizure-alert service dog Piper was mauled to death by a neighboring dog. Case said the attacking dog was quarantined at home, not held by animal control, and expressed concern about public safety and future risk: "Now that it's tasted blood once, there's a good chance it could taste blood again."
Administration later noted interest from townships in exploring a contract model for animal-control services and said staff would prepare cost estimates and participation scenarios for municipalities. Commissioners and sheriff's staff discussed options for funding, facilities and whether a contractual model could restore enforcement capacity countywide.
No formal action was taken at the April 9 meeting beyond the pledge from administration to gather figures and options for future board consideration.
