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Oct 26, 2023

County seeking input on HATS amid flurry of complaints

Isabella County Commission Chairman Tobin Hope has heard complaints about the Humane Animal Treatment Society, and now he wants more information. After several people posted comments on social media

Isabella County Commission Chairman Tobin Hope has heard complaints about the Humane Animal Treatment Society, and now he wants more information.

After several people posted comments on social media about the group that is contracted to run the Isabella County Animal Shelter, Hope and County Administrator Nicole Frost are investigating the complaints, which focus on the management of the shelter.

Complaints about HATS ranged from poor management to rudeness, and Hope posted a comment of his own on the Facebook page Townie Talk 2 on Sunday, asking people to call or email him if they have had issues with HATS.

“Isabella County owns the shelter and we contract with HATS to operate it,” Hope wrote on Townie Talk 2. “If there are issues with HATS you would like to speak with someone about, I am the Chair of the County Board of Commissioners.

“I’d like to hear from you.”

One person commented on Townie Talk 2 that HATS is a wonderful organization and that complaints are coming from disgruntled former employees, but several others countered that there have been too many complaints for that to be the case.

Relatives of some former employees at the shelter spoke of unfair treatment, power trips and a lack of common sense.

Others who didn’t work at the shelter but had experiences adopting or trying to adopt a pet said they were treated rudely, and one woman said her family was denied adoption of a dog because there was an electric fence on the property’s border.

One commenter noted that what’s most important is finding forever homes for the animals at the shelter, and that HATS too quick to deny adoptions.

Amanda Tillotson, executive director of HATS, said she could not comment on the record.

Hope is asking people to come forward with issues via email at [email protected] or by calling him at 989-330-3792.

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