Monday, April 4, 2011 – On Monday, April 4, 2011, Monroe SPCA President, Trina Stillwagon submitted a Legal Outline to Monroe County Prosecutor, William Nichols which showed Michigan Law allows for the appointment of Victims' Advocates for animals who are victims of crimes. Another Letter of Request requesting intervention from Prosecutor Nichols on behalf of the dogs/Monroe SPCA was also submitted at this time. In it, Monroe SPCA reiterated its willingness to help provide humane care and treatment to the dogs, including veterinary care (which Monroe SPCA again offered to fund) and to work with Monroe County agencies on behalf of the dogs. The dogs seized on March 6, 2011 had at this time been quarantined at the MCAC facility for more than a month; a sense of urgency for a prompt response and intervention by the Monroe County Prosecutor's Office was indicated in this second letter to Prosecutor Nichols.

Friday, April 8, 2011 – Pit bulls from dog-fighting ring probably can't be adopted: Monroe Evening News, April 8, 2011:

Letters of Response - The following letters were written and submitted to the Editor of the MENS in response to the April 8, 2011 news article. These Letters of Response did not appear in print. MENS Editor, Deb Saul, did however, contact Ms. Stillwagon, requesting that one letter on behalf of Monroe SPCA be submitted for print instead.

Letters to Editor - The following letter was written and submitted to the Editor of the Monroe Evening News, on behalf of Monroe SPCA as a response to the April 8, 2011 news article and as requested by MENS Editor, Ms. Saul. It appeared alongside another Letter to the Editor by Alliance for Spay Neuter Pet Rescue (ASNPR), President Amy Bacarella.

(coming soon)

(coming soon)

Tuesday, April 12, 2011 – On Tuesday, April 12, 2011, at a Regular Meeting of the Monroe County Board of Commissioners, the Board's Finance Committee recommended that the full board authorize transfer of funds totaling $122,891.54 from the General Fund Contingency Account to specific county agencies to address their 2010 year-end deficits. The Monroe County Prosecutors Office was one such agency over-budget, requesting $46, 352.18 to cover its 2010 year-end deficit. A motion was made by Commissioner Bell to transfer the funds as such. The motion was supported by Commissioner Donahue and carried unanimously (by all eight board members who were present). Commissioner Oley was excused. Reference the Meeting Minutes, Agenda Item 12 and Item 13, below.

Click on the Following Link to go to the Monroe County Government Homepage:

Monroe County Government Homepage

Monday, April 18, 2011 – On Monday, April 18, 2011 Monroe SPCA President, Trina Stillwagon sent by registered mail a Letter of Request and an Overview of Problems to Sheriff Tilman Crutchfiled of the Monroe County Sheriff's Office regarding many of the problems Monroe SPCA was experiencing as a result of MCAC Director, Linda Benson's conduct. The problems referenced included being denied access to the dogs at issue and having donations and offers of help repeatedly refused (a copy of the Proposal which was submitted to the MCPO and the HSMC was also included). In both the letter and the overview, Sheriff Crutchfield was asked to respond to, investigate, address, and ultimately resolve the problems and concerns indicated. A sense of urgency was indicated, but Monroe SPCA also again articulated its willingness and intent to work together with Monroe County agencies, including the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011 – On Tuesday, April 26, 2011, Monroe County Prosecutor, William Nichols called Monroe SPCA President, Trina Stillwagon to inform her that the County of Monroe would be filing a Petition for Forfeiture of all of the surviving dogs seized on March 6, 2011, which at this time included Monroe, Reilly, Dusty, Razzle, Morgan, and Little P. He stated that the Forfeiture Hearing would be in District Court next day, Wednesday, April 27, 2011 before visiting Washtenaw County Judge, the Honorable John Collins. Prosecutor Nichols also told Stillwagon during the conversation that MCAC Director, Linda Benson would be the Monroe County Prosecutor's Office's only witness at the Forfeiture Hearing. At no time during this conversation did Prosecutor Nichols mention that a Petition to Euthanize four of the dogs had already been filed.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011 – On Wednesday, April 27, 2011, the District Court held a hearing on the Complaint and Petition to Euthanize the dogs known as Monroe, Reilly, Dusty, and Razzle. At this hearing, Monroe County Assistant Prosecutor, Michael Brown, an attorney for the County of Monroe (Petitioner), provided the Court with sworn testimony by one of Petitioner's employees that he was qualified to evaluate the dogs (April 27, Transcript, p.p. 4-5). In addition, Petitioner asked this witness, MCAC Officer David Grow, under oath, to evaluate whether the dogs pose a threat to public safety and have any useful purpose. At the conclusion of this testimony, the County of Monroe represented to the Court that it "rests" with regard to this matter (Id., p. 13). When Petitioner had closed its testimony and rested its case in this matter, Monroe SPCA then immediately brought to the District Court's attention that they believed the dogs should undergo a more thorough evaluation. As such, the District Court granted the Intervening Parties' oral motion to intervene and continued the proceedings.

After hearing from both parties, the court delayed the Complaint and Petition to Euthanize the four Pit Bulls (two other dogs, Little P and Morgan, were not part of this Petition to Euthanize, these two dogs, also seized in the raid March 6, 2011, were being held in quarantine at the MCAC facility and would continue to be held there for months to come; reasons for this are, as yet, still unknown). On record and noting objections by Monroe County Assistant Prosecutor, Michael Brown, the court stated that it would use its discretion to name Monroe SPCA as an Intervening Party in this case, County of Monroe v Pamela Cole. The court then directed Monroe SPCA to evaluate the four dogs at issue for dangerousness and adoptability and report findings of such to the court at the next hearing. In addition, the court ordered that Monroe SPCA would be permitted to have access to the dogs at the MCAC facility beginning on Monday, May 2, 2011 (so as to carry out the order of the court), additionally, directing Monroe SPCA to prepare a Financial Care Plan for the dogs and provide it to the court with evaluation findings at the next hearing, scheduled for Wednesday, May 4, 2011.

If this Court Order had been complied with by employees of the Petitioner (County of Monroe) and allowed to be carried out by the Interveners (Monroe SPCA) as directed on May 2, 2011, this case would, most likely, have been decided on Wednesday, May 4, 2011.

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