News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Amanda Rodriguez and her son play with a dog while at the Alpena County Animal Control shelter on Thursday.

ALPENA — The Friends of Alpena County Animal Control have been asked to cease fundraising, promoting, and assisting in operations for the Alpena County Animal Control.

On Jan. 9, Alpena County Administrator Jesse Osmer signed a cease and desist order to the group detailing the County’s separation from the group.

“Being a small community, it came to our attention that the Friends of Alpena County Animal Control were planning on moving in a different direction, and no longer planning on participating with Alpena Animal Control,” Osmer said. “We felt it was unfair that they were fundraising and being affiliated with our organization, that it could be misleading.”

Mike Centalla, President of the Friends of Alpena County Animal Control, now rebranded as Companion Animal Resource and Education Team (CARE Team), said that they were already in the process of changing their name when the cease and desist order came. He said the forms have already been filed to change their corporation name.

The mission of the CARE Team is to educate people about taking care of pets and provide resources like food if pet owners are not able to afford it, Centalla said. The CARE Team does not have any ties to the County or Animal Control.

The cease and desist letter is addressed to Edna Sorenson, who is the registered agent of the Friends of Alpena County Animal Control.

“We understand the group solicits the public for donations,” the order reads. “Your use of the County’s and Animal Control’s names may create confusion because it appears the solicitations are from the county or animal control and not a private group. It further appears that the use of the solicited funds will be subject and limited to the lawful expenditures of local governments.”

“Alpena County does not authorize the private use of its name or animal control’s name

by the group. Likewise, no further fundraising activities on our behalf or under our name or names are approved. Your activities may likely mislead the public and/or create confusion as to your Group’s sponsorship or affiliation, and constitute misuse of the County’s name and goodwill.”

The Friends of Alpena County Animal Control has voted to sever their relationship to Alpena County and Alpena County Animal Control and to disband, according to a Facebook post by Michelle Reid. The group has re-branded as “Companion Animal Resource and Education Team.”

In the order, Osmer asked Sorenson to add a disclaimer to the group’s Facebook page, indicating no connection to the county or animal control, or alternatively, remove or rename the Facebook Group and any other online presence to avoid any suggested affiliation, endorsement, sponsorship, or partnership with the County or the Agency.

The group must immediately cease any and all revenue-generating activities until such disclaimer has been added or the Group name changed.

In all current and/or future fundraising activities, they must refrain from making any statements that suggest the County or Animal Control authorizes, sponsors, or benefits from the Group.

Finally, the group must preserve all documents, communications, posts, messages, emails, donation records, transaction histories, bank or payment processor records, and analytics relating to the Group’s activities, including, but not limited to, fundraising or promotional content.

“We are going to continue to run the shelter until we are told not to,” Sheriff Erik Smith said about future funding for the animal control shelter. “We are trying to do the best for the community. It’s a county function, so the county will be able to fund it.”

Osmer said that funding for the shelter should not be an issue.

“We feel confident right now that funding shouldn’t be an issue for operations as they currently stand,” he said.

He said the county is exploring multiple options for fundraising and operations.

When asked whether the county would contract with other shelters in the area to handle animal control responsibilities, Osmer said that “all options are on the table,” and there is no clear direction that the county has decided on yet.

“I would be glad to see if all three shelters could work together no matter what that looks like in the future,” Alpena County Commissioner John Kozlowski said.

Alpena county contracted animal control responsibilities and operation to the Huron Humane Society for years, until it took over the responsibilities in house.

The county has already been sending dogs to Second Chance Animal Shelter for care and adoption.

Reagan Voetberg can be reached at 989-358-5683 or rvoetberg@TheAlpenaNews.com.