Traverse City Dog Returns Home Months Later After 73 Days Missing

Jennifer Janiga was starting to lose hope that she’d ever see her dog again when she got the call. 

Hazel, Janiga’s Bernese Mountain dog, had been missing for 73 days, presumably wandering the woods of northern Michigan after she slipped away from caretakers in March. Her owners had tried everything to find her.

“I went down every road, I walked through woods, I walked everywhere — I was frantic,” Janiga said.

But last week, when Janiga answered a call from her vet, she got the news she and her family had hoped for over two months: Hazel was safe. Click here for the rest of the story.

Know the Law – Michigan Leash and Dog Bite Laws

Michigan has a 100-year-old statute stating you must leash your dog when it’s in public. Some cities have even more specific laws, like how long the leash must be, for example. Different locales have different rules, so always be sure to know what the ordinances are where you live. Michigan leash law is very clear about dogs being under the physical control of their owner. Click here for the rest of the story.

128 Animals Rescued in St. Clair County Community’s Worst-Ever Hoarding, Animal Abuse Case

More than 100 animals were rescued from a home in the worst hoarding and animal abuse case ever seen in one St. Clair County community, officials said.

Authorities got a search warrant based on the smell and noise coming from the home.

The woman inside the home on Bauman Road near Gratiot Avenue in Columbus Township had no comment about the case. Click here for more on the story.

Know Your Michigan Fireworks Laws for the Sake of Your Anxious Pets

Fireworks are always unsettling to our pets but there is not much we can do about the laws that allow them. In December of 2018, changes to the fireworks law were made by House Bill 5940 which defined new specific dates and times consumer-grade fireworks are legal. Most townships and cities changed their ordinances to match the state law but others have more lenient dates and times. Townships and other localities can be more lenient than state laws are but not more restrictive.

If you are hearing or seeing fireworks that fall outside of the legal dates and times, please report this to your local police department. Local police MUST enforce the laws even if there is no noise ordinance where you live. If the police refuse to enforce the law, please inform them of the dates and times the fireworks are allowed and go up the chain of command in that police department if needed – including showing up at the next township or county commissioners meeting to make them aware that your complaints aren’t being taken seriously. With the 4th of July coming up, everyone needs to be aware of when fireworks are allowed in the state of Michigan under the new law.

No Charges Filed Against Roscommon County Couple who Tried to Drown Kittens

THE FOLLOWING IS A STATEMENT FROM THE ROSCOMMON COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE:

The Sheriff’s Office investigated a complaint of alleged animal cruelty last weekend. The Prosecutor’s Office released this statement today after reviewing the incident, and requested that we post this publicly.

“Our office has received calls from local media as well as others regarding the recent report of an attempted drowning of kittens by a couple in our county on June 7, 2019. This occurred in the Higgins Lake area where there has been an issue with feral cats and more recently with feral kittens. The couple, ages 90 and 78, recently noticed a strong odor in their garage and that feral cats were destroying their property by urinating/defecating on personal items. Two different sets of feral kittens were born in their garage over the last couple weeks.

Dog-Friendly Vacation Ideas in Northern Michigan

What’s a trip Up North without your canine companion wagging its tail by your side? After searching for the best dog-friendly vacation spots in Northern Michigan, we have a fun guide for you and your furry best friend. Click here for the rest of the story.