Dog-warden panel sniffs out new ideas; county commissioners pleased

11/10/2009

Lucas County commissioners on Tuesday accepted four recommendations for improving the county dog warden's office in hopes of getting more canines adopted and cleaning up what some critics view as an image problem.

The recommendations include the establishment of a manual outlining standard operating procedures; the immediate vaccination of all dogs as they're brought in; a check-off box for spaying/neutering on dog license renewal applications, and the reinstatement of door-to-door license checks.

Stephen Serchuk, chairman of the dog warden advisory committee, said he was pleased by the county board's response and was told a proposed operating manual would be submitted to his committee for review by Nov. 12.

"We want a dog warden department the community embraces and doesn't dread," he told The Blade outside the commission chambers.

The Blade has reported recently that Lucas County has one of Ohio's highest rates for dog euthanasia, with nearly 80 percent of all dogs being put down.

That statistic was neither confirmed nor denied by the committee or the county board. Both cited the need for more research.

But Pete Gerken, the commission president, said that no matter what comes of the figures, there will be a greater emphasis on recruiting volunteers to help place more dogs in good homes.