GRACE

Genesee Residents for Animal Control Evolution

www.GraceTheEvolution.com

PO Box 329 info@gracetheevolution.com
Grand Blanc, MI 48480


People who have not been involved with GCAC keep asking why we are unhappy, and why we are working so hard
getting people to vote for animal friendly Commissioners on November 4th. Some suggest we have something to gain.
Well, I guess we do. If we are successful we will finally be able to sleep at night, and we will have far less heartbreak
and stress in our lives. For anyone who is not familiar with the problems at GCAC, here is a quick list of horrible truth.
There is such opportunity right now. The right leaders will turn this around immediately. Please vote on November 4
th
.
In 2013, the GCAC took in 2,831 dogs and puppies. 1,554 (55%) were killed. They took in 2,337 cats and kittens.
1,692 (72%) were killed. In the recent report provided by the Michigan Pet Fund Alliance, out of 53 open admission
shelters in Michigan, GCAC was ranked 49th. There were only 4 shelters in the entire state worse than GCAC.
There is outright abuse of the animals. Most of the dogs at GCAC are held in "locked wards". Dogs in the locked
wards are never allowed out of their small cages. They are not allowed to be walked. The hold time for a stray dog is at
least a week, and we have documented many cases where dogs have been confined to their cage for multiple weeks.
Cages are sprayed out with high pressure hoses while the dogs and food dishes are still in there. Not only does it terrify
the dogs, but the spray process peppers them and their food / water dishes with feces. The evaluation then happens in
that same cage. How would your dog behave at that point? Would he or she have a chance at life?
Our current Director is comfortable with killing thousands of animals each year. She describes herself as old school.
She does not believe anything can be done better, yet she is unwilling to go to conferences or talk with other directors
that are best practice facilities.
The majority of the dogs are housed behind locked doors. People visiting the shelter only see a small % of the animals
there. People looking for a lost dog may not even realize that there are other places their dog may be in the building.
When they ask to look in the locked rooms, they are not allowed unless they happened to bring a picture of their dog
with them, and the staff thinks that the dog may be in one of the rooms. Many people have left the shelter in tears.
The shelter does not allow circulation of pictures of locked ward stray dogs online. Picture sharing is fundamental at
every successful shelter and a key way to help lost dogs get back to their families.
Cats brought to the shelter after being caught in traps are immediately euthanized many of these are family pets that
wandered too far from home and will never be seen again.
The shelter will not allow volunteers to put adoptable pet pictures on Petfinder, the largest online resource for people
looking to adopt a new pet. The shelter says they will do it, but they do not.
The shelter does nothing to assist people who come in to surrender their pets. Successful shelters ask why the animal is
being surrendered and suggest alternatives. For example, a good shelter would recommend a dog trainer or information
about crate training for someone surrendering a dog due to minor behavioral issues. Volunteers are not allowed to try to
help in this capacity.
There is no public outreach from the shelter. Visitors are ignored or treated badly by the staff. It is an upsetting
environment, not a welcoming one.
We have two community members with professional connections to radio and tv media. They have contacted our
Director several times asking to set up media spots to promote the shelter and specific animals. These offers are ignored.
Animals are killed because of minor medical issues that could be treated. Cats are killed if they get an upper
respiratory infection (cold). Dogs with a broken bone or skin infection are killed. They are killed while there are animal
rescue groups in the community willing and able to take the animal and give it the treatment it needs.


PO Box 329 info@gracetheevolution.com
Grand Blanc, MI 48480

The cleaning procedures are far from best practice. We have frequent disease outbreaks and deaths because of this.
Volunteers frequently quit because they are treated badly by the staff and because what they witness in the shelter is so
depressing and upsetting. Those who stay do so because they know they are the only chance the animals have. Instead
of a fun and rewarding experience, it is stress and anxiety filled.
The shelter staff does not work well with community rescue groups. They charge them full price for animals that need
medical attention and animals that would be euthanized if they did not accept them into their program. They turn many
reputable 501(c)(3) organizations away.
This list could go on and on. Please help us make change by voting for the animal friendly candidates on November 4th.
Let's make November 4th a bright new day!
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS (you can only vote for the Commissioner who is running in your District)

District 1 (Mt. Morris, Mt. Morris Twp, North part of Flint) : Please vote for Bryant Nolden - Democrat

District 5 (Grand Blanc, Goodrich, Atlas Twp.): Please vote for Mark Young - Democrat

District 9 (Davison city and township, Richfield twp, parts of Genesee twp Otisville, Forrest Twp ): Please vote for
Jim Slezak - Republican


Note: If you live in district 2, 3, 6, 7 or 8, your County Commissioner is running unopposed and will be automatically
elected on November 4
th
. Unfortunately, there is no animal friendly candidate running in District 4.