Montcalm County Animal Shelter in Stanton, Michigan: Class B Dealers

Michigan: Deal Out the Class B Dealer in Montcalm County
Many of the pets at the Montcalm County Animal Shelter in Stanton, Michigan, aren't destined for loving adoptive homes—they're headed for a company that sells dogs and cats to research facilities.

The Montcalm County Board of Commissioners, which oversees the animal shelter, currently provides pets free of charge to Howard City, Mich.-based R & R Research, a Class B dealer. The for-profit business is one of eleven U.S.-based Class B dealer facilities licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to round up live "random source" dogs and cats—from shelters, auctions, flea markets, private individuals and other sources—to sell to animal research facilities for experimentation.

At a public meeting held in January, the County Commissioners, under pressure from outraged community members, voted to form a Blue Ribbon Committee to investigate the issue and make recommendations to the board on whether or not the County should continue this relationship with R & R Research.
The Blue Ribbon Committee recently filed its decision recommending that Montcalm County not renew its contract with R & R Research. You can help ensure that pets are not sold for experimentation.

TAKE ACTION
If you live in Montcalm County, please make a brief, polite phone call to your Montcalm County Board of Commissioners member and urge opposition to renewing the contract between the Montcalm County Animal Shelter and R & R Research. Click here to look up your commissioner and the phone number, or call the Board office at (989) 831-7300.

All Michigan residents can fill out and submit the form on the right to automatically send a message to all nine commissioners. Be sure to personalize your message so that it stands out, and will have a greater impact.

About Class B Dealers