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| Sandra Carlton, left, and Sue Maguire celebrate the Board of Commissioners’ vote not to renew its contract with R&R Research on Monday. |
| | How they voted | Yes (not to renew the contract): District 1 Commissioner Ron Blanding, District 2 Commissoner Tom Lindeman, District 3 Commissioner Ron Retzloff, District 4 Commissioner John Johansen, District 8 Commissioner Roger Caris and District 9 Commissoner Steve Crouse.
No (to renew the contract): District 5 Commissioner Carl Paepke, District 6 Commissioner Ron Baker and District 7 Commissioner Patrick Q. Carr.
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4/27/2009 2:52:00 PM
'Black cloud' is lifted
UPDATE: County ends its
contract with R&R
Ryan Jeltema
News Editor
STANTON - Animal rights supporters see better days are ahead for the Montcalm County Animal Shelter.
R&R Research owner Jim Woudenberg sees dark days ahead for his business.
That was the mixed response on Monday to the Montcalm County Board of Commissioners' 6-3 vote not to extend its 30-year relationship with the Howard City business. Moments after the vote Woudenberg and his supporters hastily left the County Administrative Building with little comment while R&R Research opponents erupted into jubilation.
"I'm excited, happy," Jeanne Urbanski of Coral said with tears in her eyes while many of the nearly 175 people in the audience filed out. "We're ready to start the healing and have things go forward."
Greenville veterinarian Dr. Randy Carpenter, a member of the Animal Shelter Ad Hoc Committee, felt "a black cloud lifted from the room" when commissioners voted.
"This is a great day for Montcalm County," he said. "People can join together and feel good for themselves and their Board of Commissioners. This will heal a lot of animosity. I hope six months from now we will see the situation totally turned around from where it is now."
Carpenter expects to see "positive changes" visible at the shelter within 30 days thanks to the commissioners' decision.
"I think we have a good program in place," he said. "That will put us in good shape to get things going. "
Woudenberg was visibly unhappy after the meeting and declined comment.
During the meeting he pointed out his business has contributed to the county's economy for 40 years but warned that could end without the contract.
"By taking this action you're closing a business that has been in operation for 40 years," Woudenberg said. "You are closing a family farm for no economic reason."
His wife, Beth, defended R&R Research's business of taking "neglected" animals and making sure they are "put to good use in life-saving research." She said the animals at R&R Research are treated well in a "clean and inviting atmosphere," nice enough that her nieces and nephews often come to play with them.
"When these animals are used for research they are given the same level of care you or I receive in the hospital," Beth Woudenberg said. "Very often (researchers) become so attached that they take them home. You cannot work with animals and not become attached. There will always be unwanted animals. You cannot save them all. Please let them go to life-saving research."
Chairman and District 7 Commissioner Patrick Q. Carr said he still supports the county's relationship with R&R Research but he accepts the board's decision.
"Clearly, I'm in the minority and in this system the majority rules," he said. "I'll take it for what it is and move on. It was a long process. I don't think anyone on either side enjoyed all the bantering back and forth."
While the ad hoc committee recommended ending the contract on Wednesday, it will remain in place until Aug. 1 since commissioners extended it for six months on Jan. 26.
With the most controversial issue settled, the Board of Commissioners' Law Enforcement and Courts Committee, which oversees the shelter, will debate a host of other proposals from the ad hoc committee sometime later this spring.
District 3 Commissioner Ron Retzloff, chairman of the committee, said he plans to read the mountain of proposals and discuss them with Animal Control Director Patty Lentz before bringing it before the committee. He expects the improvements at the shelter will be an ongoing discussion for at least several months.
"We're not going to deal with it all at one time," Retzloff said. "We're going to rely heavily on (Lentz). It's her department. We're not going to manage it for her. We have faith in her."
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Posted: Saturday, August 08, 2009
Article comment by:
Marci Hoag
GREAT big KUDOS to all of the people who's hard work and tenacity helped make it possible to open people's eyes to animal research. This case has given the Anti-cruelty movement huge exposure. More and more people will take it upon themselves to look into research facilities, breeders and animal dealers. Ignorance is bliss, but the endless work, donations and pure hearts of those with compassion, has made a point to further deny ignorance to the masses. I cannot begin to tell you how this lifts my soul. Being a voice for those that have none, is a very noble and selfless deed. Bless you all!!! Even one person can make a difference! I may not live in Montcalm county, and they may not feel it's my business, but that is only arguing semantics. Ethics and morals don't have boundaries dictated by a map! I am so proud to be working in an industry where I get to meet the most amazing, caring and wonderful people...those that give from their hearts to help those innocent souls who would otherwise be tortured, euthanized or thorwn out like garbage. I am blessed just to know these people and so are the animals!
Posted: Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Article comment by:
Mr Bobo, Blues Chimp
Now this isn't over people! remember these names when it comes time for re-election! we need to send these clown packing...and a suitable replacement chimp could easily take their place...Commisioner Bobo??? I LIKE IT!
Posted: Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Article comment by:
dian
i said it before this is a new beginning for the animals but can someone please explain why it will be august1 to cancel the contract.in january r&r was given a 6 month extension on the contract that would be in june usually when contracts expire that means they are done so why cannot mr. jim just leave at the end of the 6 month extension that sounds fair to me but then was he fair to these poor animals who suffered in vain. these animals are here to love us anyway what is dog spelled backwards it is god and he is love
Posted: Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Article comment by:
Arlene L. Silva
BRAVO to everyone responsible for enabling Montcalm County to hold its head high with respect and to embrace its brave new world. From the faithful, tireless warriors who have been battling for 30 years to the courageous new folks comprising the committee, our respect and admiration for you knows no bounds - the six visionary commissioners who voted to end the seige serve their constituents and their county with pride, wisdom and dignity - those commissioners and commentors who feel 'their' county should be immune from outside inspection and intervention forget that as a people we are entwined at every level - for as long as civilization endures, good people will continue striving to eradicate evil. So it was with the Holocaust. So it will be with Darfur. So it was yesterday in Montcalm County...
Posted: Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Article comment by:
andy
Finished uploading pictures of the Rally, Meeting and Victory party.
http://tinyurl.com/montcalm
Posted: Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Article comment by:
Sandra L. Carlton
I thank all of the commissioners who voted to end pound release in our county, but cannot help but wonder why it took so long for our county to do the right thing. Although we feel strongly about this issue, our campaign was not based purely on emotion. We took great pains to research this subject and based our position on facts we obtained from research laboratories, county records, the Michigan Department of Agriculture, the United States Department of Agriculture, several investigative reports, etc., etc. We could find NOTHING that supported the dealers claim that the exploitation of these animals served any purpose other than to line his pockets at the expense of pet owners. All of our arguments were based on hard facts not soft emotions.
While the dealer made large profits from the animals our county gave him, we spent hundreds of our own dollars fighting this practice and gained nothing but peace of mind by ending it.
Puppy Love is right, we do not have to have a shelter, but if the county chooses to provide animal control then it must be willing to provide humane animal control. I take offense at Puppy Love's suggestion that this was a "witch hunt".
Our efforts were never directed at a person, but at a practice.
As for Puppy Love's concern about what the commissioners may have endured during this process,the job of elected officials is to represent the people who put them in office. If they find it too difficult to put aside their own opinions, too painful to withstand criticism, too tiring to debate an issue, too tedious to gather facts, too time-consuming to listen to their constituents, too inconvenient to effect change, then they do not belong in public service. It is up to the people to keep an eye on their representives and if they are not doing their job, then it is the people's duty to remove or replace them.
Posted: Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Article comment by:
Kristi Taylor
I was at several of these meetings and I just have to say to those who say this was a witch hunt (incidentally also the same people who failed to attend the meetings until yesterday), are overlooking one very important fact.
Even with all of our efforts to end this contract, I think the biggest factor was Jim Woudenberg himself. He proved to be his own worst enemy when it all boiled down to it--he had the perfect setup, the chairman in his corner, putting him on the exact committee which was reviewing renewal of his own contract (how many "businesses" get that opportunity in the face of blatant conflict of interest?) and he blew it with his enormous arrogance, believing he was untouchable and that he was above having to disclose any details about his operation. He thought he was entitled to this contract and that the county somehow owed him!
And FINALLY, for once, people stood up to him and refused to take it anymore. Only yesterday did he finally realize he was in trouble and decided to call in reinforcements to cry wolf for him, but just like in the story, no one was listening to poor Jimmy this time around.
I shudder to think what might have been had he just been somewhat open and willing to discuss things with the committee. Thank God we didn't have to find out.
In the end, really the only person he has to blame for this is himself.
Operating under a cloak of darkness, taking animals not even up for adoption yet and pretending they were "unwanted", then profiting from selling them to who knows what, and playing power games with people's lives and emotions by taunting those who were trying to find their missing pets (1993 WoodTV investigation video), well, there's something called Karma, and you better believe, it visited Montcalm County yesterday!
Posted: Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Article comment by:
Jeanne Urbanski
Heartfelt thanks to the six commissioners who listened to their constituents and did the right thing. Thanks to the Ad Hoc Committee for their time, work and well thought out plans. Pound seizure is gone. Now it is time to move on, a time to heal, a time to re-build. The committee will soon be making suggestions and will be ready to begin implementing new programs. It took 30 years of neglect for animal control and the shelter to reach the low spot it is in today. Those committed to change will be working towards the creation of something that the entire county can be proud of. Concerned Citizens Coalition (www.cccmontcalm.org) stands ready to help. Please continue to go to our website for updates, news and ideas about what YOU can do to help to Montcalm County Animal Shelter as it begins its metamorphosis into a place of pride for the county and a safe haven for the animals.
Posted: Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Article comment by:
Beth Kieffer
Oh Happy Day!!!!!! Thank you to everyone who worked hard to get a light shone on this very ugly and antiquated policy that Montcalm County participated in. And thank you for those who had the compassion and empathy in their hearts to end the contract. The contract not only hurt the animals that were taken by R&R directly, but the ability to raise private funds by the shelter and the potential assistance rescue groups could offer them. A cloud has been lifted for both residents and the unlucky companion animals that wind up at the shelter. Odds will improve greatly that they will get out of there alive!!
For all those who are putting down those of us who no longer live in Montcalm County who are interested in this, the very fact that “out of towners” are interested in “your business” should be a red flag that things are not right as they have stood. I live in the next state and those in my humane society knew of the goings on in Montcalm County – it is notorious and infamous for the contract. I can now proudly say the county I grew up in has entered the new millennium, recognizes the value of companion animals with at least the same regard as they give livestock.
Those who voted to renew the contract can certainly be judged for their actions here. On this very big issue, they did not vote with the majority of their constituents. And if they did, prove it. This could have been put to a vote by the citizens, but was chosen instead to go to committee. And the committee’s recommendations were not followed by all the commissioners therefore they DOUBLY did not follow the recommendations given to them. Poor judgment on both fronts, and goes to show their lack of connection with the residents. Now is the time for residents to get involved in their local politics, there are three commissioners who should not be re-elected, their seats will open up to someone hopefully more reactive to their constituents.
Posted: Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Article comment by:
The
What I think you all fail to recognize is that from NY I managed to raise well over $3500 for YOUR county to earn a profit by rescuing YOUR countys "unwanted" dogs and cats, so before you say it is none of our business, I will say YOUR WELCOME for the continued help and support to keep your local vets, boarding kennels, and Animal Control in business. I have done you a great service and will continue to help those who are appreciative of our help. Almost 90% of that money came from out of state donations!
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