March 2009

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Donations Needed for Puppies with Parvo Virus

March 26, 2009  

Lake Haven recently took in seven puppies when they were about seven weeks old. The puppies (Gabby, Gale, Glory, Gillian, Guinness, Gentry and Gunner) were born in a dirt den to a mother who was living feral. Unbeknownst to Lake Haven, all the puppies had contracted the parvo virus, and as soon as the puppies showed symptoms, they were taken to Southkent Veterinary Hospital for treatment.

Two of these puppies, Gentry and Gunner, never got a chance at life.  They fought the disease with everything their little bodies had, but after four days of hospitalization, it was just too much for them, and they passed away.  To lose these babies was extremely emotional for everyone at Lake Haven as well as Gentry's and Gunner's adoptive families.  They will always have a very special place in our hearts.

After spending seven days in the hospital with IV Fluids and antibiotics, the surviving puppies were well enough to go to a foster home and then to their forever homes with their new families, who were absolutely thrilled.  Lake Haven would like to extend a heartfelt thank you and gratitude for the wonderful care and expert treatment Southkent Veterinary Hospital gave our puppies. Without them, we may not have saved any of our puppies during their grave illness. 

Lake Haven is asking for donations to help off-set the costs of the expert care and treatment these puppies received from South Kent Veterinary Hospital that enabled five of our puppies to survive this dreaded and awful disease.

Checks can be mailed to:

Lake Haven

551 Pickerel Lake Dr.

Newaygo, MI 49337

Please write "Parvo Puppies" in the check memo so we know where to designate your funds.  Donations to Lake Haven are tax deductible.

Committee Recommends to End Contract with R&R Research

March 26, 2009

Lake Haven Director: The Truth About R&R Research

March 11, 2009

I am writing in response to the article (Lakeview Daily News) on Commissioner Patrick Carr’s visit to Belvidere Township to address the presence of R & R Research (a Class B Dealer) whose contract with Montcalm County to take animals from the Montcalm County Animal Shelter is under examination.

Commissioner Carr stated people are being helped by life saving medical research when these animals are sold by R & R Research.  In truth, Commissioner Carr does not know where Montcalm County Animal Shelter dogs and cats wind up because Jim Woudenberg of R & R Research refuses to tell anyone to whom he sells them.  Woudenberg has admitted however, he has no idea what happens to them after he sells them.

The Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine has position papers explaining why shelter animals cannot be used in legitimate biomedical research because of their unknown genetic background and/or poor health.  They point out that because these dogs and cats are less expensive than purpose bred animals purchased from Class A Dealers, these animals are used in teaching demonstrations, surgical practices and redundant toxicity and product testing; all uses of which can be replaced with non-animal alternatives. 

R & R Research had been regularly invoiced by an Iowa university which asked for credit for dogs they had purchased.  These dogs arrived vomiting, dehydrated, listless, with pneumonia and upper respiratory infections, some pregnant, and so ill that they could not be used in their experiments.  It is important to note that the Iowa university and recently, the University of Michigan, both have discontinued its use of using live dogs in their surgical training class, becoming part of more than 90 percent of medical schools surveyed that use an alternative training method. It is also important to note that formerly, after the training sessions at U of M, the animals were not adopted out, but killed.

Mr. Woudenberg has had a long history of violations with the USDA (click here for list), which included the illegal procurement of 18 stray cats from Howard City in 2005, in direct violation of USDA rules.  After paying a fine in excess of $3000, he was caught again in violation of that same rule in 2007 and 2008.  He was cited by the attorney general’s office for advertising himself as Animal Control and Animal Shelter in the yellow pages in the telephone book for Montcalm County.  They ordered him to “cease and desist” for being misleading and deceptive.   

Deb Bankus (former Newaygo County Shelter Director in 1995) filed complaints with the MDA and Department of Pharmacy because animals were suffering and screaming in agony while they died from his euthanasia practices.  The list goes on and on. 

Commission Carr mentions Woudenberg keeps animals longer than required, giving owners more time to find their pets.  Yet the USDA has cited him over and over for not holding animals the required number of days and was in fact, fined $2000 for this very offense.  It was stated that Woudenberg wants to help owners find their pets and yet, during an investigation (aired on WOOD TV8), he lied about the whereabouts of a pet.  This very incident culminated in legal action against the County and R & R Research. 

The big question is why would Montcalm County Commissioners expect the public to pay for an animal control/shelter facility for Woudenberg to use as his personal animal warehouse to make his fortune.  Woudenberg’s gross reported income in 2007 alone was $183,099.

The shelter belongs to the public.  Give it back to them!

Sincerely,
Cheryl McCloud
Lake Haven Founder and Director

Help End Pound Seizure Statewide

March 11, 2009

The Michigan Humane Society has specifically asked Lake Haven supporters and those interested in ending pound seizure statewide to sign up for their Legislative E-List at www.michiganhumane.org.  Enter your email address at the top of the page and then click "Join the Legislative Action Network" to learn more about pound seizure and other bill introductions and movements in Michigan.  Lake Haven has vowed to help end pound seizure in Michigan any way possible.

Pound Seizure Facts

What is Pound Seizure?
Pound seizure is the act of purchasing dogs, cats, and other animals from animal shelters for sale to research institutions for research, experimentation, testing or teaching purposes.

Who is involved?

Class B Dealers (like R&R Research in Montcalm County) are licensed by the US Department of Agriculture and purchase animals from animal shelters, auctions and other random sources so that they can resell them to research facilities.

What is the Michigan Humane Society’s position on pound seizure?
The Michigan Humane Society believes that animal shelters should not provide animals for research. The community should be able to trust that if a companion animal is lost or surrendered to a shelter that it will not end up as a research subject. Selling an animal into research is a violation of the communities trust.

What can I do to help?
Write a letter to your local government officials informing them about pound seizure and requesting that they end the practice. Don’t assume that your local officials know what pound seizure is. Being helpful and polite is the best way to help get positive change for animals, so make sure to provide them with information on pound seizure and offer suggestions for change. For more information, see Lake Haven's special page dedicated to the pound seizure practices happening in Montcalm County.

Use Your Tax Return to Change the Lives of Thousands of Animals in Need

March 11, 2009

What YOU can do with “4642” to make a difference in your community

Bingham Farms, Mich. – Are you interested in helping animals in need in your community, but just can’t find the time? This year, there is a solution, and it comes in the form of your tax return. By simply utilizing a new tax form check-off option, Michigan taxpayers can donate to the Companion Animal Welfare Fund, a newly created, interest-bearing fund in the State Treasury. The Fund provides support to local animal shelters and rescue groups throughout Michigan, allowing them to implement innovative adoption and sterilization programs, and continue animal cruelty investigations.

Donating to the fund is simple and convenient by using Schedule 4642, a voluntary contribution form. The form can be obtained from your tax preparer, or downloaded here. On the form, taxpayers can either designate a portion of their tax refund, or make a voluntary contribution to one of the listed charitable funds. By selecting Option 2 on the form, “Animal Welfare Fund,” designating an amount of your discretion to be donated, and attaching the form to your individual tax return, you can make a significant difference in the lives of animals in need.

The collected funds will be distributed through grants to shelters and rescue groups throughout the state. With many areas of Michigan only having small shelters or foster-based animal welfare organizations with limited resources, this funding will allow for critical programs that otherwise could not be afforded. It is programs such as these that are key in achieving the ultimate goal of ending companion animal homelessness.

The Companion Animal Welfare Fund was signed into law by Governor Jennifer Granholm in November 2007, signifying a major victory for animal welfare organizations across the state. This year marks the first time the fund can be utilized and donated to by Michigan taxpayers.

The Michigan Humane Society is proud to have led the development and passage of this bill.  The Michigan Humane Society (MHS) is a private, nonprofit organization which cares for over 100,000 animals each year, while working to end companion animal homelessness, provide the highest quality service and compassion to the animals entrusted to their care, and to be a leader in promoting humane values. For more information, call 1-866-MHUMANE or visit www.michiganhumane.org.

University of Michigan Ends its Live Dog Lab

March 2, 2009

Six weeks ago, Lake Haven reported that the University of Michigan was using live dogs in their trauma training course.  Some of these dogs were delivered from the Montcalm County Animal Shelter via R&R Research.  Thousands of concerned citizens took action, including many friends of Lake Haven—and the school listened!  Last week, the University of Michigan announced that it will use only simulators in the Advanced Trauma Life Support course.

More than 20,000 e-mails were sent to University of Michigan administrators, asking them to use non-animal training methods in their Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) course. The school’s Graduate Medical Education Committee recently met and decided that it agrees.  No dogs or other animals will be killed in the school’s ATLS course.  Your hard work helped end animal suffering and improve medical education in Michigan. Thank you!

Click below to read a statement by the university.

Trauma training course will use simulators only - University of Michigan