08/07/2025
🚨 Community Notice: Urgent Need for Help with Lost & Abandoned Pets in Eaton County 🚨
Due to the recent defeat of the public service funding proposal in Eaton County, several critical departments—Animal Control, Law Enforcement (road patrol), and the Prosecutor’s Office—are now severely under-resourced. This has created a growing crisis, especially for lost, found, and abandoned animals.
Currently, only one Animal Control Officer remains on staff, and there is no routine road patrol, with exceptions made only for extreme emergencies, such as aggressive animal attacks. Additionally, the Animal Control facility is in disrepair and unable to house any additional animals.
What does this mean for our community?
A recent incident involving a pit bull dumped in Grand Ledge illustrates the gravity of the situation. With no Animal Control response available, I personally set up feeding stations and humane traps in an effort to safely contain her. Unfortunately, despite best efforts, multiple well-meaning individuals unknowingly chased her from the area, away from food, water, and safety. She eventually ended up on the highway, where she was tragically struck by a semi-truck, causing a multi-vehicle accident and ultimately losing her life.
Not only did this result in the unnecessary death of an innocent animal, but it also endangered human lives and diverted multiple law enforcement officers from other responsibilities. These officers do not have the proper equipment, training, or resources to safely handle injured or frightened animals—especially when there’s a risk of biting.
In some cases, when citizens call dispatch for help with a stray pet, they are told to “just turn them loose.” That is simply not acceptable. Releasing a contained animal back into harm’s way is dangerous—for both the animal and the public. Imagine if it were your beloved pet—found safe and secure—only to be turned loose, never seen again, or later found dead or severely injured.
With Animal Control resources depleted and most rescue organizations stretched thin, community members are left with limited options when they find a stray or injured animal. The sad reality is that Eaton County is quickly becoming a dumping ground for unwanted pets.
We need immediate funding for Animal Control services, stronger legislation to combat animal abuse and neglect, and proper funding for law enforcement and prosecutors to enforce and uphold these laws.
But until that happens—we, the community—must step up.
🐾 We urgently need:
* Temporary fosters willing to provide safe, loving homes on short notice
* People to help contain or transport found animals
* Volunteers to assist with food, supplies, and trap monitoring
* Support for spay/neuter efforts, especially for stray cats
* Financial donations for emergency medical care
If you’re willing to help, please reach out. All fosters will be vetted to ensure a safe and caring environment for these animals.
When the time comes to vote again, please remember this: Public safety includes protecting the most vulnerable members of our community—including animals. If funding is not supported, then we must each do what we can to fill the gap.
Together, we can prevent tragedies like this from happening again. 💔
