MHS Board Members Resign Over High Kill Rate

DETROIT (WWJ) - Turmoil at the top of the Michigan Humane Society (MHS) ranks.  As WWJ's City Beat reporter Vickie Thomas discovered, some board members say too many animals are being put down.

Cheryl Phillips is one of the members calling it quits over a kill rate controversy at the MHS. She has worked on the animal welfare organization's Board of Directors for five years.

"I resigned in protest to an unacceptable, 73 percent kill rate, meaning 7.3 out of 10 animals that come into MHS never leave alive," Phillips said.

Phillips submitted a recommendation to improve the outcomes for animals but it was rejected at a board meeting Monday night. She submitted her resignation afterwards, along with three-year board member Lee Lein, who resigned by email.

In a written statement, the Humane Society said 60 percent of animals they receive are non-adoptable, although 100 percent of healthy animals have been adopted so far this year.

In 2009, the organization's kill rate ranked 125th highest out of 170 Michigan shelters. In 2010, the kill rate was roughly 70 percent.

In 2010, MHS' three centers for animal care took in a total of 29,278 animals. Of these, 7,046 animals were adopted out.