I have often witnessed micromanagement from the Mackinac County Board of Commissioners. No rule, law, or policy gives them the right to subjugate anything or anyone when it comes to county departments.

A paper by Michigan State University Professor Lynn R. Harvey, “Role of County Commissioners: Policy Making v. Administration and Serving on Statutory Boards and Commission,” warns county commissioners to resist falling into the power trap of micromanaging the county departments, but instead allow the department heads, whether elected or appointed, manage them. Once again we see the outcome of a micromismanaged department by the board with Animal Control and the Animal Shelter. It is harmful and a disaster for the four-legged “citizens” of our county. Animals are again being allowed to run, stray, and be harmed by others. It doesn’t do any good to call for help; help won’t come, unless it’s an extreme emergency.

This has far deeper repercussions for others than the dogs, cats, and farm animals who are allowed to suffer. The connection between animal abuse and human abuse is well documented and sanctioned. Laws are constantly being changed and added to protect all of them from their persecutor. Are you aware all serial killers who have been caught and talked about their lives admit to starting their torture on animals? When we neglect the harmed animals, we neglect to help everyone. Is it too expensive to prosecute the cases? Is it too much effort for the Animal Control officer? Is having an animal control county-owned van, in need of constant repair, the problem?

No matter what the problem is or who is to blame, the taxpayers paid for this mess and we are all potential victims because of it: vehicle accidents involving running dogs; being bitten by an at-large dog; or seeing the tortured bodies of neglected or abused family pets. It is not beyond our control or interest to interfere with their misjudgments and mismanagement of their duties and roles as commissioners. Will the human citizens of Mackinac County struggle over this loss of protection for the less fortunate? It will be won or lost by all of us. Everyone wins if we demand change and everyone loses if we keep quiet.

Our Mackinac County Animal Shelter is operating at half capacity for the animals, and has for over three months. That is unheard of in this economic environment.

I continue raising this issue because I care about animals’ rights to live free from harm. It is every human’s responsibility to do the morally right thing for all beings. We are not judged by our financial wealth, but our humane wealth.
Jo Ford
Moran Township