Tuesday, September 1, 2015

The Oakland Mall, Twelve Oaks Mall and Genesee Valley Shopping Center should have a pet shopping policy too! Selling puppy mill dogs is a thing of the past!

The Oakland Mall, Twelve Oaks Mall and Genesee Valley Shopping Center should have a pet shopping policy too! Selling puppy mill dogs is a thing of the past!

Pet-adoption facility opens at Gibraltar Trade Center

Taylir Elletson pets a new furry friend Saturday at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new pet-adoption facility open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays at the Gibraltar Trade Center in Mount Clemens, operated by Macomb County Animal Control/Shelter. (David Angell/The Macomb Daily) 
Jenifer Measel’s newly adopted pet, a Pomeranian named “Percy,” is the center of attention Saturday at the opening ceremony for a pet-adoption facility operating Saturdays at the Gibraltar Trade Center in Mount Clemens. (David Angell/The Macomb Daily) 
When Jenifer Measel attended the official opening of a pet adoption program at the Gibraltar Trade Center, she didn’t plan to adopt a furry friend.
But she couldn’t resist the six-year old Pomeranian puppy looking back at her with its sad eyes and beautiful fur.
“I saw him, and his has my hair color,” she said.
“Percy” will join Measel and her husband, Paul Daniels, and their three other dogs at their home and “hobby farm” on four acres in Leonard.
Measel joined several dozen pet lovers Saturday in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the certified U.S. Humane Society, low-cost pet adoption facility that will operate 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays at the trade center. 
The program, operated by the Macomb County Animal Control/Shelter, replaces a pet store that for 1-1/2 years was the subject of protestors who complained it sold dogs from “puppy mills” that are often sick or genetically defective. The store, first known as Puppywood and then Little Dogz, was forced out after 20 years there early this year when Gibraltar did not renew its lease.
Little Dogz is the subject of a shut-down attempt by puppy-mills foes through Measel, who is the lawyer for the plaintiffs.
Officials praised Gibraltar for supporting local shelter adoptions over commercially raises puppies.
“The Gibraltar Trade Center is a shining example of a system that exemplifies the right things to do,” said Jill Fritz, Michigan senior state director of The Humane Society of the United States. “This should be a blueprint for every community in the United States to become part of a humane economy.”
Trade center president Robert Koester said he decided to remove the operation after realizing that what appeared to be isolated complaints about the store were substantiated as more than that. He declined to discuss Little Dogz, which has moved to a Mount Clemens commercial building.
“Everything is positive about this going forward,” he said.
He stated nonprofit rescue groups are also welcome to join the animal shelter in offering low-cost adoptions at Gibraltar.
The animal-control facility will be staffed by volunteers. Dogs, cats and perhaps other domesticated animals that come to the shelter will be available. The fee on a sliding scale ranges from about $50 to $200, depending on the animal. They are spayed or neutered and vaccinated.
Animal shelter Director Jeff Randazzo commended County Executive Mark Hackel, the county Board of Commissioners, animal lovers and shelter volunteers for their support and efforts in focusing on low-cost adoptions over commercial sales.
“It’s exciting for me and I’m sure everybody else to see all of these components to come together to increase animal welfare in this county and animals that are in our care,” Randazzo said.
Puppy-mills opponents say they would like to see communities pass ordinances that require the humane treatment of pet animals, typically meaning no retail sales from puppy mills. Breeders and animal rescue groups and shelters should provide most pets, they say.
“We don’t want pet stores to be selling animals that come from puppy mills,” Randazzo said.
Foes of retail puppy sales say legitimate breeders produce a limited number of animals based on demand rather than puppy mills that produce thousands per year that are flooded on the market and contribute to overpopulation and the euthanization of 3 million dog and cats per year.
The county board has passed a resolution urging communities to pass such an ordinance, and Eastpointe City Councilman Cardi Demonaco Jr. said at the ceremony he plans to introduce an legislation at the next meeting Tuesday.
Mount Clemens Mayor Barb Dempsey, who spoke at the event, told The Macomb Daily she has had difficulty supporting an outright ban of pet sales because a legitimate operation should be allowed to exist.
“Puppy mills should be a thing of the past,” she said. “But I also know there are legitimate people setting up a shop and doing it right. If it is a legitimate business, why should they be punished for the ones that don’t run a legitimate business?”
She said Mount Clemens for some reason seems to have more stray animals than other communities.
“We have a lot of people who complain about sick animals,” she said.
In addition to Saturdays at Gibraltar, the animals are available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the shelter at 21417 Dunham Road in Clinton Township, at the Mount Clemens border.

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