10 hours Ago By Susan Smiley
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources seeks to revoke the wildlife rehabilitation permit for Romeo-based Detroit Animal Welfare Group (DAWG) Director Kelley Labonty.A jury trial, scheduled for May 16 in 42-1 District Court, will determine if Labonty will be allowed to continue to rehabilitate wild animals on the 25-acre DAWG farm on McKay Road in Romeo.Assistant Macomb County Prosecutor Lisa Lozen said during an April 29 pretrial hearing Labonty willfully violated the MDNR’s wildlife conservation order by keeping deer in rehabilitation longer than allowed and by allowing deer to become inhabited through improper food conditioning.
Defense attorney Celeste Dunn and her client, Detroit Animal Welfare Group Director Kelley Labonty during an April 29 pretrial hearing in 42-1 Romeo District Court.(PHOTO BY SUSAN SMILEY)Labonty’s attorney Celeste Dunn counters the MDNR has had a vendetta against her client since 2018 and that this lawsuit is another attempt on their part to revoke her license and shut down the rescue. Dunn said the move is retaliation stemming from a 2018 situation in Oakland County where Labonty was working with county officials to solve an issue regarding starving deer.
Dunn said her client has not violated the WCOs.Labonty is charged with four misdemeanor counts of violating the state WCO.She is licensed through the United States Department of Agriculture, the Michigan Department of Agriculture, and the MDNR.
She has never had any violations or issues from the USDA or MDOA.Judge Jennifer Andary called the case “complex” and said her main concern was making sure the jury was not confused by the information brought forth during trial.“This is not black and white,” said Andary.
“The court’s biggest concern is confusing the jurors that are hearing these facts and that is what this court is trying to do today; set forth very specific guidelines.”The DNR alleges that in September 2024, whitetail deer were impeding traffic on the road in front of the DAWG facility. When the MDNR received the complaint about deer in the roadway, officers went to investigate and found deer in the field across from the DAWG facility but not on the rescue group’s property.
“A DNR officer was investigating and got out of his truck and walked up to the deer and the deer were not skittish and were not demonstrating natural deer behavior,” said Lozen. “As the DNR officer approached he put his hand out and a deer approached his hand and sniffed it.“The deer were all exhibiting signs of habituation which is prohibited by the WCOs.
”Louzon said she offered a plea agreement prior to Tuesday’s pretrial hearing which Labonty refused.Celeste Dunn, defense attorney for Kelley Labonty, speaks to Judge Jennifer Andary during an April 29 pretrial hearing in 42-1 Romeo District Court.(PHOTO BY SUSAN SMILEY)Dunn said it was rejected in part because it would result in her wildlife rehabilitation permit being revoked and there is concern about harm coming to the animals currently housed on the DAWG property should that occur.
Documents including copies of emails between MDNR personnel show officers were discussing how they could revoke Labonty’s wildlife rehabilitation permits as far back as 2018. One email refers to the longtime rescue director as a “radical animal activist.”Both sides are expected to bring expert witnesses to the stand to testify about proper wildlife rehabilitation techniques.
Several of Labonty’s supporters demonstrated in front of the Romeo District Court building on 33 Mile Road and about a dozen of them came into the courtroom to show support during the hearing..
