04/15/2026
If you live or work in St Clair County, Michigan, you're going to want to read this!
ST CLAIR COUNTY, MICHIGAN, the animals need you now! Please attend the St Clair County Board of Commissioners meeting tomorrow, Thursday, April 16 at 6 p.m. in the Board of Commissioners Room, County Administrative Office Building, 2nd Floor, 200 Grand River Ave, Port Huron, MI 48060
HERE'S WHY:
You worked for decades to improve animal care and control services for the animals and the people in your county. You took your animal shelter from one of the worst in the state to one of the best. Your dedication resulted in massive life-saving for pets and livestock.
Now we are watching an uncaring, overreaching, uneducated board of commissioners undo all of it. And they've been doing it in secrecy, violating the Open Meetings Act and the rights of St Clair County residents.
The misbehavior by the board of commissioners, led by Chairman Steve Simasko, began coming to light after St Clair County sheriff's deputies illegally and inhumanely killed a lost dog December 13, 2025, which has since resulted in a federal lawsuit.
The public outcry and disturbing video footage SHOULD HAVE led the county to mandate additional officer training. Instead, they went the other direction and doubled down on a cover up. And whistleblowers began blowing the whistle on the backdoor, secret meetings and private decisions being made. We've heard from dispatchers, sheriff's deputies, township supervisors from within the county and hundreds of concerned citizens, shedding light on the misbehavior and illegal actions of the Board of Commissioners.
Following a massive animal cruelty case involving severely neglected, dead and dying animals, for which the defendants, known as the Tuckers, later plead guilty, St Clair County Commissioner David Rushing made comments August 21, 2025, during a public board meeting.
Commissioner Rushing wanted the county's elected officials, the board of commissioners, to send a letter to the prosecutor in support of the animal abusers, pressuring the prosecutors to drop the charges. This is an abhorrent abuse of power, government overreach and obstruction of justice. Commissioner Rushing is clearly unfit to govern and to represent his constituents. Commissioner Rushing needs to be recalled.
You can watch and listen to the disturbing conversation at the 2:17 mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDr8_bUoTH4
The commissioners' brazen attempt to interfere with the prosecutors and the investigation didn't stop there.
Following the Tuckers' guilty plea, the commissioners, who are not supposed to involve themselves in department policy decisions, decided to put a stop to animal cruelty investigations of farm animals. They dictated that animal control is no longer allowed to handle livestock calls for help for any reason. Those responsibilities were transferred to the sheriff's department - the ones who just illegally, inhumanely killed a lost dog. The commissioners denied their constituents and community members the opportunity for public input and comment.
As an example, in late March, 200+ chickens and other animals were abandoned and had moved into the road. Animal control was prevented from responding. The sheriff's deputies were dispatched instead. Radio traffic and dispatch scanners revealed the deputies had no training nor interest in helping the animals. So one deputy blocked traffic and sat in his car. That's the extent of the sheriff's response to animals in need.
The animals deserve better. The community deserves better.
St Clair County is known for a high number of backyard breeders, hobby farms and animal cruelty cases - specifically farm animals.
The county has one of the highest rates for animal abuse claims. One of the next large scale cruelty investigations happened in Clyde Twp. and resulted in uncovering hundreds of dead and neglected animals. Details: https://www.thetimesherald.com/.../clyde.../89549586007/?
Once again, the board of commissioners interferes, demanding that the prosecutor drop the forfeiture charges and demanding that animal control return the surviving animals to the defendant. Not only is this, again, obstruction of justice and government overreach, but it's complicity in the crime of animal neglect and abandonment.
For a short period of time, the surviving animals received vet care, proper food, clean water and TLC. But now elected officials and the county administrator Tom Hull have decided to participate in animal cruelty by forcing the animals to be returned to their abuser. This information was verified by an employee from within the county prosecutor's office.
Animal welfare advocates have seen this all before. This is not a new playbook. It's old and we can predict their next move. These commissioners with the help of administrator/comptroller Tom Hull will strip the county of its animal protection ordinances and revert to the 1900s model of catch and kill, turning the county shelter into a dog pound with a dogcatcher.
The commissioners will mandate that animal control (or whatever is left of animal control when their done) does nothing more than enforce the stray hold law and kill the animals who are not reclaimed. They will end rescue partnerships. They will end robust adoptions programs. They will end shelter transfers. They will end community outreach programs. They will end all cruelty and neglect investigations. They will end volunteer opportunities. They will end all of the incredible life-saving work that's been accomplished by the staff, volunteers, partners, advocates and community members of St. Clair County.
SPEAK FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
Attend the St Clair County Board of Commissioners meeting Thursday, April 16 at 6 p.m.
Board of Commissioners Room
County Administrative Office Building, 2nd Floor
200 Grand River Ave, Port Huron, MI 48060
The animals are counting on you.
