This rescue has been in operation for over 4 years. The owner, Christine Lea Bishop has been responsible for saving over 3000 animals and is the ONLY exotic wild and domestic animal rescue in the North West part of Michigan. CritterCafe is the rescue that is used by Fruitport local 911 dispatchers in case of an emergency so this rescue is very important to the Fruitport community. On December 4, 2011, 911 dispatchers called in to Christine on an animal abuse case where Tom Christmas a director of an outstanding national civic group the Lions Club decided to serverly beat and abuse a raccoon. Tom and other Lion club members were out in the park area where a raccoon came up to stay in a manger and found a sandwich to eat from the night before. Tom decided to take a board with a nail and hit the raccoon repeatedly until she was unable to get away and save herself. The man proceeded to tie a rope around her neck causing the blood vessels in her eyes to to break. Tom was intending in broad daylight to skin her alive. This behavior is not only illegal but very sadistic. Luckily a male jogger caught sight of the animal abuse and stopped the man and called the police. Well of course Christine was called and she had the raccoon rehabilitated from that date till the end of February. A happy ending for the Raccoon she was examined by a vet and was okay to be released. Christine found out that nothing was going to be done about the situation knowing he had done an illegal act she pushed the issue to have Tom arrested. Christine was right by pushing Justice for this Raccoon! Because of this Brian Wersham, another existing member of the Lions club, and supervisor of the township committee is doing everything in his power to destroy the good work that Christine is doing and has her all tied up in court for a hearing which she has to pay a fee for court (which takes away from the animals) The hearing is to make her pay an enormous special zoning permit which she has already had approval from the Fruitport Charter Township, making it almost impossible to keep the CritterCafe's Doors open. You can send letters of recommendation to Christine at ChristineLea1@yahoo.com. Without this rescue 1000s of animals of all kinds will no longer have the help of a rescue and many lives will be lost. Please show your support for this rescue. If you live in or near the Fruitport area please attend the Hearing on Tuesday, March 27th, 2012. The public hearing for special zoning will be at 6543 Airline Road at 7pm. It takes an army to fight for the animals and we are counting on YOU!