[Mackenzie’s Admin]

2005, Accepting other animals improperly: R&R Research was fined $3,780 in 2005 for accepting animals from the Howard City Department of Public Works.

Village workers picked up 18 stray animals and forwarded them to R&R Research on 13 occasions. Federal regulations allow the business to accept animals from their owners or a registered municipal animal shelter.

Woudenberg said he no longer accepts animals from the village of Howard City.

"We assisted our local government for 20 years," he said. "When we found out it was not in compliance with USDA guidelines we ceased that practice and paid the fine."

1997, Phone book advertisement: The Michigan Attorney General’s Office issued an opinion in 1997 directing Woudenberg to "cease and desist" from advertising R&R Research as an animal shelter in local telephone books.

Cheryl McCloud of Newaygo, operator of Lake Haven Animal Rescue, complained to the attorney general about the practice, claiming it was misleading.

Woudenberg said the advertisement was meant to assist people looking for lost animals and provide contact information for pet owners hoping to surrender their animals for research.

"It was only in the phone book for free and it clearly stated ‘research,’" he said. "There is no false premise of trying to mislead people."

1997, Inspections: The USDA found several violations during a May 1997 annual inspection of R&R Research. The eight violations included in the report involved expired medications and chemicals found at the business.

Woudenberg said he typically keeps $2,000 to $5,000 in medications in stock. If he finds any expired he discards it.

A follow-up inspection in July 1997 found those violations had been corrected but found another dog had a tight collar and required treatment.

Woudenberg said these types of violations are common for any business.

"If you look at any business that has been in business for 40 years and inspect it every year you’re going to find some violations," he said. "Anytime we are cited we make every effort to correct it and come into compliance."

1993, Ionia County: In 1993, Woudenberg was implicated in an alleged fraud that led to the ouster of Ionia County’s former animal control director, David Seidelman.

Two dogs – a 7-year-old yellow Labrador and a 4-month-old beagle – belonging to Kim Snyder escaped from their home south of Palo. Neither dog was wearing a collar or identification tag.

Seidelman improperly allowed Woudenberg to pick up both dogs before telling Snyder that Seidelman had shot them. Woudenberg originally told then-Det. Dwain Dennis he had no record of picking up a live golden Lab around that time, but later located it at his facility and returned it to Snyder.

Seidelman admitted to Ionia County sheriff’s investigators he altered the shelter’s records to indicate the Lab was shot when he had actually taken it back to the shelter alive and allowed Woudenberg to take it.

Seidelman was charged with willful neglect of duty and failure to uphold the law as a public officer. Woudenberg was not charged criminally in connection to the incident.

Snyder sued Woudenberg and R&R Research along with Ionia County, former Animal Control Officer Stanley Hoskins and Seidelman in July 1994 for wrongdoing in the case. The case was settled in mediation in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan in Grand Rapids, with Woudenberg and Seidelman paying a $13,500 award to Snyder and her children.

Woudenberg doesn’t believe he did anything wrong in the case.

"I’m sorry Mr. Seidelman lied," Woudenberg said. "We were in full compliance with the law and cooperated with law enforcement completely."

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