Dan Lalone
Contributing Writer

(Joanne Williams/TCJ: One year later, the defeat of a public safety millage leaves dogs and other animals out in the community for others to care for.)

 

The loss of animal control services in Eaton County is straining local resources and shifting responsibility to law enforcement, municipalities and residents after voters rejected a public safety tax proposal for the second time in six months.

The May 6, 2025 defeat of a 2.0-mill, 10-year public safety millage — which failed with about 57% voting “no” — eliminated the primary funding source for Eaton County Animal Control. The result is a county without animal control officers or a shelter to house stray and surrendered animals.

The gap in services has created immediate challenges. Eaton County Central Dispatch 911 continues to receive multiple calls each day involving stray dogs, aggressive animals, barking complaints and residents seeking to surrender pets. With no dedicated animal control staff, those calls are often routed to local police agencies and the Michigan State Police, which patrols the county, but lacks the ability to take custody of animals.

At the same time, local shelters and rescue organizations are operating at or near capacity, leaving limited options for intake. Without a county-run shelter, there is no centralized location to house animals, increasing reliance on informal solutions and community assistance. 

Residents who find stray animals are often left to temporarily care for them or search for help on their own.

Local municipalities are beginning to explore ways to address the service gap. During a recent meeting of the Eaton County Public Safety Committee, Pam Colestock, mayor of Eaton Rapids, expressed interest in working with the county and neighboring municipalities to develop a shared or regional solution for animal control. 

The approach reflects growing interest in collaboration as communities shoulder the burden of lost services.

The discussions highlight increasing concern among local leaders and residents about the broader impact of the service loss as animal-related calls continue without a dedicated response system or sufficient resources.

In the absence of formal services, agencies are relying on alternative measures. Several local police departments have obtained microchip readers to scan stray animals and identify owners in the field. Dispatch officials have also 

compiled a list of available resources on the county’s 911 website to help residents locate lost pets, rehome animals and connect with assistance.

Community-led efforts are playing an increasingly important role. The Facebook group Eaton County Lost & Found Pets has become a key tool for reconnecting lost animals with their owners and sharing information about found pets across the county, as well as the newly developed non-profit, Friends of Eaton County Animals.

The failed millage was intended to fund public safety services, including law enforcement and prosecution, but its rejection has had particularly visible consequences for animal control. Eaton County Central Dispatch 911 is also connecting residents with available resources – often serving as the first call for help when animal issues arise.

Responsibility for managing stray and surrendered animals continues to be shared among agencies, municipalities and the public, underscoring the ongoing impact of lack of resources on everyday services.

Editor’s Note: Dan LaLone is an employee of Eaton County 911.