Grand Traverse Officials, Humane Society Discuss Animal Control Changes

Some groups continue to raise concerns after the elimination of the Grand Traverse County Animal Control officers.

The department change happened just after the first of the year.

On Thursday the Cherryland Humane Society and county administration met to discuss how different departments are taking over Animal Control.

“Our main concern is the welfare of the animals and housing them.”

Since county budget cuts laid off two Animal Control officers, the Cherryland Humane Society has been questioning who is going to help stray dogs in Grand Traverse County.

“We get calls on a consistent basis of strays that are out there and there really is no one out there to pick them up,” says Heidi Yates, executive director of Cherryland Humane Society.

Right now the humane society has zero stray dogs on their Animal Control side. Something they say is not good.

“It’s very difficult for us, especially with the weather. It’s absolutely freezing out and it’s something the staff and volunteers and obviously anyone in the community that cares about animals in concerned about,” Yates says.

They’re hoping to resolve some of their concerns soon.

“Cherryland is still housing any stray animals. There will be duties that the sheriff’s department has. There will be duties that the city police will cover. City police will cover picking up strays according to the result of the meeting from yesterday. The health department always has and always will handle health issues such as rabies, threat of rabies and bites. So everybody is playing their own part in this,” says Kristine Erickson, media contact for county administration.

“Try to make sure that once we figure out what entity that will be to pick up animals that they are properly trained, that we can all kind of work in collaboration, and have great communication, and as always we’re be here to take care of them once they’re here,” says Yates.

“The services are still there, they’re just different. They’re going to be delivered a little bit differently than they were before,” Erickson says.