While carrying signs featuring images of dogs and cats, about 50 community members waited to speak at a forum on animal research Wednesday night.

The special forum was held by the Ingham County Board of Commissioners Law Enforcement Committee after animal activists recently called attention to the practices of the county's animal shelter.

"This is an opportunity to get input so we can move on in dealing with the issue," Commissioner Deb Deleon said.

The intent of the meeting was to provide all citizens an opportunity to voice their concerns, she said.

The shelter sells animals for $10 to Class B dealers such as Jim Woudenberg, who in turn sells them to research facilities for more than $200.

"Each day they stay longer cuts into profit," he said. "These animals save lives."

Animal research has benefited Greg Moss, an Ingham County resident and 16-year cancer survivor.

"My survival is directly attributed to animal research," he said, adding treatments such as laser surgery was developed using shelter animals.

Ingham County Animal Control Director Roger Fleming said the shelter takes on a step-by-step process to find animals a proper home.

Returning the animals to their owner, giving them up for adoption, matching them up to be service animals and placing them with rescue organizations come before being sold to Class B dealers or before they are euthanized, he said.

Commissioners are proposing an animal care advisory board be set up to monitor shelter practices.

Lansing resident Monica Terrell said the quality of animal care in Ingham County is lacking.

"We need to have a watchdog for this program," she said. "I'm known as the dog lady in my neighborhood and proud of it."

Capital Area Humane Society president Stephen Heaven said the group's primary mission is to protect the animals. Heaven said dealers take animals that could be adopted, not the animals that will be put to sleep.

"Dealers don't want dogs that are sick," he said. "We keep hearing about animals that are deemed to be destroyed - that is not the case."

Commissioner Mark Grebner said it's not a matter of taking pets from people, but that these animals are going to be destroyed anyway.

The county has a seven-day waiting period for owners to claim their lost pets, and owners of animals sent off to Class B dealers then have 30 extra days to contact the county, Grebner said.

"The county is not perfect," he said. "In the end we're not going to make these people happy."

Stephanie Korneffel can be reached at korneff2@msu.edu. Sarah McEvilly can be reached at mcevilly@msu.edu.