“It’s not politics, personalities, or public outcry, but the right thing to do every day.” This is a quote from a man who was talking about saving animals. As two people who believe in this philosophy, we formed a nonprofit in 2004 to help the homeless animals coming into our Mackinac County Animal Shelter. We knew they all deserved a second chance and hopefully a better one than they had before they came into the shelter. Our goal was to make this shelter one of the best in the country. We pulled together a wonderful team of like-minded individuals and there was never a better team to accomplish this task. We all shared the same belief: If one cat or dog was unnecessarily euthanized, a soft word for “kill,” then we would have failed that pet. We are waiting for the day and it will be soon – they will become beings rather than property and then it will become murder. In the past six years since we have been the driving force for change and success, there has not been an adoptable or treatable cat or dog euthanized. This is the definition of a “no kill” facility as defined by the Asilomar Accords and sanctioned by the national animal advocate groups. And it only requires a 90% adoption rate; we have always had a 100% adoption rate.

Many other cities, towns, and counties have also managed to accomplish this, but they had one thing we never did – the backing of their governments. Their governments pulled together in a partnership or tightened the laws, subsidized free or low-cost spay and neuter clinics, and they supported the efforts of their animal advocate groups. Our Mackinac County Board of Commissioners did none of this and yet we survived and succeeded. We rewrote the ordinances, we got a PETCO grant to have a low-cost spay and neuter program, and helped more than 100 people get their pets done, we remodeled and improved the shelter to ease stress, provide safety, and an enriched environment for all the pets.

The question now is will it continue and will they stop being a brick wall? Other communities that tried following this recommendation have failed due to a lack of support. You are being asked to fight them. George and I have quit this fight to take up another worthwhile fight, one that will also have an impact on the treatment of animals in the county. We have decided to move on and leave the Mackinac Animal Aid Association in good hands. We know the community is behind this effort and your continued support will be needed if all the adoptable homeless pets’ lives will be saved.

Is a “no kill” nation possible? It is if like-minded people continue their belief and hard work; however, the slightest crack can bring it crumbling down. Our last request is: Please insist your board of commissioners throw their support behind these dedicated animal lovers or be ready to throw this board out.

JoAnn Ford Brevort Township