[Mackenzie’s Admin]

Updated:4/18/2009 2:37:37 PM – Posted: 4/18/2009 2:33:55 PM
WZZM 13 NEWS

(Ryan Jeltema, Greenville Daily News) – GREENVILLE – More trouble could be on the way for R&R Research.

While the Montcalm County Board of Commissioners is considering an end to the Howard City business’ 30-year relationship with the County Animal Shelter, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has notified R&R owner Jim Woudenberg that it is investigating his firm.

USDA spokeswoman Jessica Miltier said the investigation involves animals R&R Research improperly accepted. She did not comment on how long the investigation has been under way or when it might be complete.

"R&R was cited for an acquisition of animals issue and we are continuing to look at that," Miltier said.

Woudenberg said he disagrees with the USDA over its guidelines for accepting animals from private citizens. He said when people drop off animals he must take their word that they raised the animals from birth as required by USDA guidelines.

Woudenberg believes the USDA’s guidelines don’t properly account for people lying to dealers about where they got animals they are surrendering, only to change their story when contacted by USDA investigators for routine random audits, which he blames for the background to the investigation.

"In this instance we have taken all possible steps to ensure compliance only to have an individual change their story," Woudenberg wrote in a letter to USDA Regional Director for Animal Care Elizabeth Goldentyer on Dec. 3, 2008. "Now we are being cited for someone else’s dishonesty."

Inspections in 2007 and 2008 also showed that R&R Research improperly accepted dogs and cats from local residents that were not born on their property. This isn’t the first time R&R Research has been investigated. (See accompanying box for details of R&R’s past violations.)

Dr. Randy Carpenter of Greenville, a member of the County Animal Shelter Ad Hoc Committee, said commissioners should look carefully at the violations before they decide on whether to extend R&R Research’s contract on April 27.

"As a contractor with the county he should be above that," Carpenter said of Woudenberg.

District 3 Commissioner Ron Retzloff said the violations will weigh heavily on his vote.

"I don’t feel it’s right to continue to do business with a place that has violations," he said. "Basically, it’s saying we condone the violations because we continue to do business with him."

Retzloff is most concerned about the frequency of the violations.

"It’s not just new things and it’s not just old things. It’s a continual thing," he said. "I’ve been fighting against working with a Class B dealer for about 12 years now. Even if I say it’s OK to deal with a Class B dealer I would think that with his history enough is enough."

Chairman and District 7 Commissioner Patrick Q. Carr and District 5 Commissioner Carl Paepke believe the violations aren’t very serious, however. Paepke said they have been blown out of proportion by R&R Research’s opponents.

"Those violations were all checked out by the Agriculture Department," he said. "Those in favor of the animals misconstrue that. His neighbors think the world of him. He’s an honest person. You wouldn’t think so listening to the people who love animals."

Carr admitted he hasn’t delved into each alleged violation in depth but he accepts Woudenberg’s explanations for the violations he has investigated.

"He still has a license with the USDA," Carr said. "He couldn’t be that bad or he wouldn’t have a license."

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