Concerned Citizens Coalition-Montcalm

"Never, never be afraid to do what's right especially if the well being of a person or animal is at stake.  Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way."   -Martin Luther King Jr.   Leave Your Comments!  View Comments We won the battle in Montcalm County, but we have NOT won the war!!  Click the link below;     HELP MICHIGAN SHELTER ANIMALS Coming to Greenville starting May 26th, 2009   SPAY AND NEUTER EXPRESS!   Low cost spay and neuter for those who can't afford the regular cost at the vet.  We also need volunteers to work at the clinics signing people in and taking money.  If you can help, email us at   postmaster@cccmontcalm.org VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Members of CCC Montcalm and MCCAW will be attending the Law and Courts Committee meetings.  As we expect a volunteer program to soon be in effect, it would be helpful if we have a list of people who are willing to volunteer at the shelter and also those willing to donate funds for some of the projects that will need to be completed.  If you are willing to be a volunteer, or willing to donate money in any amount, please contact us at postmaster@cccmontcalm.org  We're compiling a list to prove to the committee that we're putting our money (and time) where our mouth is.  Thank you so much for your support! WE ARE ALSO IN NEED SHORT DISTANCE TRANSPORTERS!  If you or anyone you know can take animals from the shelter in Stanton Michigan and transport them between 5 and 100 miles to their destination,, your help would be greatly appreciated!  Please contact us through the website;  postmaster@cccmontcalm.org  CATS AND DOGS MAGAZINE- May 2009 Issue WE WON!!!!!!!! In a 6-3 vote on Monday, April 27th, Montcalm County commissioners voted to end the contract with R&R Research!!  We had over 80 people at our rally and well over 150 at the commissioners meeting!  Because of all of you, our pets will no longer be sold by a Class B Dealer to be used for research!! THE VOTE THAT KILLED R&R'S CONTRACT WITH MONTCALM COUNTY Thank you ALL for your support!!  We could not have done this without each and every one of you! Links To The Story... The Daily News-  About 75 Rally Before Animal Shelter Decision   The Daily News- 'Black Cloud' is Lifted. County Ends Its Contract With R&R   WZZM13- Montcalm Votes To End Animal Research Contract   The Daily News- Animal Shelter Volunteers Are Primed To Get Busy   Poocini.com- Montcalm County Citizens Win; Animals No Longer To Be Sold For Research! Please remember to call or write the commissioners who voted in our favor and give them a big "THANK YOU" for their support!   Ron Blanding 403 W High Street Greenville, MI 48838 (616) 225-7972   Tom Lindeman 8060 S. Backus Road Greenville, MI 48838 (616) 754-4918     Steven Crouse 8701 Session Rd Carson City, MI 48811 (989) 235-4696 Ron Retzloff 786 S. Senator Rd. Crystal, MI 48818 (989) 235-6827 John Johansen 3503 S. Monroe Rd. Greenville, MI 48838 (616) 754-5375     Roger Caris 8984 E. Deaner Rd. Vestaburg, MI 48891 (989) 268-5875   More Pictures.....             Dying To Learn- Exposing The Use of Dogs and Cats In Higher Education Investigation Reveals Supply Line of Dogs and Cats in Higher Education More Information on Pound Seizure from AAVS    NEWS ARTICLES ABOUT OUR CAUSE... USDA INVESTIGATING R&R RESEARCH COMMISSIONERS CONSIDER SHELTER PLAN APRIL 27th PANEL RECOMMENDS TO END R&R RESEARCH DEAL PANEL DISCUSSES ENDING ANIMAL RESEARCH CONTRACT COMMITTEE: NO NEW DEAL FOR R&R RESEARCH MONTCALM'S ANIMAL RESEARCH CONTRACT: CITIZENS CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC-POOCINI MAGAZINE Public Opposes Animal Research Contract  Critics Assail R&R Over Lack of Transparency   Animal Committee Preparing Final Package For Commissioners Animal Shelter Panel Spars Over Members- Again R&R Research Owner Faces "Interrogation" Shelter Gets Failing Marks From Kent County Official   Animal Shelter Foes: "Here We Are" Media Mouse.org- Montcalm County Renews Contract Grant Pulled Due To Research Contract Shelter Critics Aren't Excited About Panel The Greenville Daily News- Animal Shelter Foes: "Here we are". Channel 17 (WXMI)- Panel Created to Research Contract Channel 8 (WOOD)- Animal Shelter Operations Investigated Channel 13 (WZZM)- Montcalm Board Extends Contract for Animal Testing Pictures from the Meeting MAKE A DIFFERENCE! ADOPT A NEW FAMILY MEMBER!   Montcalm County Animal Shelter Grand River Rover Rescue Lake Haven  Where Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone? After August 1st, 2009, Montcalm County Pets will no longer be sold by a Class B Dealer! Before the commissioner's meeting on Monday, April 27th, If you're in Montcalm County and your dog went missing or endsed up at the county's animal shelter, there was a good chance he could end up in a research facility.  The shelter gave animals to a Class B Dealer.  NO MORE.  On April 27th, 6 of the Montcalm County commissioners voted to end the county's contract with a Class B Dealer.  Our pets will no longer be given to the dealer for him to sell for a profit to research facilities!  HOWEVER, our work is NOT over.  There are two more counties who still practice pound seizure.  We need your support for HB4663 which will end pound seizure in the whole state of Michigan!        Cage 20- Montcalm County Animal Shelter Victim of Pound Seizure:  Meet Cruella (E6993) Every year, millions of animals in need of sanctuary enter animal shelters across the country. While many are lucky enough to find new homes, hundreds become victims of pound seizure, as they are purchased by class B dealers who then sell the animals at an enormous profit to research and education facilities, where they are used in invasive and oftentimes painful experimental procedures. Such was the case with Cruella, a shepherd cross who was found in Carson City (Montcalm County), Michigan, wearing a purple collar and chain, indicating that she was once someone’s companion animal. Read the rest of the story...  Now if you're up to it, read the following stories and maybe, if you're on the fence about this issue, it'll change your mind. (these PDF files load quite fast) Conan- a loving family pet sold with his identifying tags still attached. Chance never had a "chance" at adoption.