Removing regressive shelter director improves adoptions - Lucas County, OH

Late last year, after months of public pressure over high shelter kill rates, draconian policies, and lawsuits of failed breed idendification, old-school mentality dog warden Tom Skeldon resigned from this position as dog warden.

In his place, the county hired a new dog warden, Julie Lyle, that actually seems to be taking her job seriously -- to not only protect people from dogs, but to protect the animals from people - -including ceasing to kill them in the shelter.  

And the early results seem to be a step in the right direction.

For the month of July, 135 dogs were euthanized at the county shelter -- compared to 219 during the same month last year under Skeldon's rain. This is a 38% decrease in shelter killings. Pit bull type dogs too are getting a new lease on life. This year, 63 'pit bulls' were killed a the shelter compared to 97 only a year ago -- a 35% increase.  Adoptions from the shelter have nearly tripled.

"The numbers don't lie," said Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop. "There are more dogs who we are saving and who are not being put to death by a large margin under Miss Lyle then there were under the previous dog warden, and that's a good thing."

The shelter still has a long way to go -- but seem to be making progress. It is amazing what a huge difference it makes just having a compassionate animal control director compared to someone who is mired in the old catch and kill mentality. Progressive shelter leadership continues to show it is the primary differentiator between animals dying in the shelter and animals getting a second chance at life.

The difference has also shown in the lives that are saved. Last week, the Toledo Blade ran an article about Amos.  Amos was the first 'pit bull' to be transferred from the Lucas County Dog Warden's office to the local humane society and is now enjoying his life playing fetch with his new owner. Prior to Amos, and under Tom Skeldon's watch, all 'pit bulls' were killed at the shelter regardless of temperament.

It's time to move on from the old-school catch-and-kill mentality directors....as Lucas County, OH appears to have done.

Comments

[No Kill Houston]

Another bureacracy that is finally "getting it". Woohoo!