Plea deal reached between Macomb County, Detroit Animal Welfare Group

DETROIT – A plea deal has been reached between the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office and the Detroit Animal Welfare Group, commonly known as DAWG.

The nonprofit posted a statement on social media that has been confirmed by Macomb County.

This deal comes amid an ongoing conflict between Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and DAWG. The DNR has expressed concerns that habituated deer could spread infectious diseases or cause collisions in neighborhoods.

Background: Detroit Animal Welfare Group clashes with DNR over habituated deer

The Prosecutor’s Office stated that it filed charges at the request of the DNR.

Kelley LaBonty, who founded the Macomb County nonprofit roughly 15 years ago, said her group is committed to saving wildlife. DAWG initially said the case was politically motivated.

In response, Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido issued a statement that read, in part, that his office, “does not have a longstanding vendetta against Ms. Labonty and is not seeking to shut down DAWG or do anything that would lead to the mass extermination of animals under the care of the organization, as some commentators have claimed.”