We here at Critter Cafe have rehabbed, adopted out after fully vetting and helped more than 4,300 all species animals to date.

Thanks to some "KIND" person with no answers - A cage **FULL** of domestic rats was left outside the building - long story short - by the time they were found, they had colonized and greatly multiplied.

As any animal lover would do - I began trying to care for them **AND LIVE TRAP THEM**.

I also put them on BIRTH CONTROL as I reached out USA wide for help.

The BC was available only part time - but I continued wking w/rescues inc. out of state - and placed more than 1,500 rats on my own.

It was decided that without outside help, I'd put a cap on the date and have a professional come in to help me, one that uses ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE ways only and that is familiar with full restoration of the premises as well.

A professional cleaning company and licenced electrician were also incoming until a complaint call came into Fruitport Police.

What came from that is a licensed DVM looking over the animals to insure there is no neglect or abuse occurring here (there is not), and Fruitport's Building Inspector condemning the house and THEM ALL deciding removal of all animals within a WEEK - even though it is a 4 day holiday weekend - which makes it impossible for us to get an attorney - or even much outside help.

Look we are an all species rescue - ALL ANIMALS potty IN THE HOME within potty boxes(like a cat with a litter box) - ah, it gets to smell the day before potty boxes are done - THAT CAN'T BE HELPED. We also get "HAY FLIES" from time to time b/c we get our hay from area farmers - (I go through a bale of hay every 3 days)...Once in a while a bale will contain tiny hay fly eggs that hatch once the bale is opened - THEY COME AND GO AS potty boxes and hay is switched out....THAT IS NO INDICATION OF ABUSE and is certainly NO REASON to arrest someone for animal abuse....PPL UNFAMILIAR WITH RABBITS do not "get this"....They also do not get why hay is all over within a bunnies ex pen - it appears MESSY TO THEM...b/c they are not familiar with this species and THIS IS BEING HELD AGAINST ME, unfairly.....INCLUDING JILL FRITZ - at Michigan Humane Society - Jill Fritz <jfritz@humanesociety.org> who helped BY deceit getting a search warrant **THAT WAS NEVER NEEDED** since I ALLOWED these ppl in here **IN HOPES OF WELCOMED HELP**.

PLEASE call or email and make it known you think this harassment is UNFAIR and UNNECESSARY at best. http://www.fruitporttownship-mi.gov/contacts/12-contacts/1-fruitport-charter-township.html

 

A "search warrant" was obtained though not needed since I co-operated fully allowing them to come in and look at the animals while explaining the plan and exactly what happened thinking I have this under control but some help would be extremely great too....They had NO INTENTION of helping me....they were here TO ARREST ME FOR ABUSE and it was already decided BY BRIAN WERSCHEM TO SHUT ME DOWN.Fruitport Supervisor, BrianWerschem also took it upon himself to REVOKE our variance granted 3 years ago by the zoning committee......For several YEARS now, we have dealt with Brian Werschem's antics which include writing slanderous attacks against Critter Cafe on Fruitport's public blog, and full out lying to the news media "He had no idea CCCR even existed" yet we are directly across the street from his office and there is a sign out front -  AND upon his being revoted bk into his position - his picture is directly across from CCCR's ad in our local newspaper...and so much more.

PLEASE call or email and make it known you think this harassment is UNFAIR and UNNECESSARY at best. http://www.fruitporttownship-mi.gov/contacts/12-contacts/1-fruitport-charter-township.html

The house is in need of repairs **THAT WERE ALREADY PLANNED AND UNDER WAY** - there was simply NO REASON for Fruitport authorities to step in at all.

This being pestered by Brian Werschem has been ONGOING (see below why)...Brian has sent letters over here complaining on such pettiness as the dumpster we use ( that's been out there for a decade) - - to the pallets of cat litter (also been there over a decade).

PLEASE call or email and make it known you think this harassment is UNFAIR and UNNECESSARY at best. http://www.fruitporttownship-mi.gov/contacts/12-contacts/1-fruitport-charter-township.html

 

Brian never wanted the variance to go through but the board decided "This would be a good thing for the community" after much media and public outcry.

WE NEED THAT PUSH AGAIN, folks.

IT TAKES VOICES TO HELP THE INNOCENT - a bunch of them!

PLEASE - LOOK AT THE PICTURES at our community page and scroll through a few months of just how much work I do to help animals here -https://www.facebook.com/CRITTER.CAFE.RESCUE...

THIS is ALL I DO - HELP ANIMALS....I make no noise here - have no over-night guests, have no neighbor problems ongoing and basically just want to be left alone to take care of these babies in need but I seemingly just cant do that....thanks to BRIAN WERSCHEM'S obvious problem with me from my demanding the raccoon's abuser BE CHARGED with abuse .

THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS.PLEASE call or email and make it known you think this harassment is UNFAIR and UNNECESSARY at best. http://www.fruitporttownship-mi.gov/contacts/12-contacts/1-fruitport-charter-township.html

 From little "LOVE" bunny and "Berri" (my beloved Pekin duck) and all of us here at Critter Cafe Rescue.

 

Here is the old petition that is now closed (I am trying to get it reopened now)....

(https://www.change.org/p/save-and-support-the-critter-cafe)

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 severely 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!