New online feature shows videos of adoptable Lucas County dogs

4/26/2010

Lucas County Dog Warden Julie Lyle and her cutest pooches will begin making weekly appearances on a new online video segment at The Blade's Web site to help find homes for adoptable dogs at the pound.

The first Monday segment, highlights Banjo, an energetic cattle dog mix who is 6 to 7 months old and sports a black-and-white, cookies-and-cream coat.

The dog warden's staff found Banjo March 19 as a stray. Squirming and wagging his tail, the young pooch appeared giddy as Ms. Lyle described him.

"You are a busy little bee - a busy little bee," Ms. Lyle said, as Banjo fidgeted and twisted around in her lap. "He needs an active family and somebody who's willing to do some training with him, but he will make somebody a really loving companion," she said.

Banjo is ready for adoption

Ms. Lyle, who arrived from Michigan's Upper Peninsula to start the warden job April 12, said she hopes to increase the number of adoptions from the county pound so that no good dogs are put down for lack of space. Banjo was one of 12 dogs in the adoption area.

Last year, former Dog Warden Tom Skeldon adopted or transferred out 682 dogs - 25 percent of those that entered the pound and weren't reclaimed by owners. The pound euthanized 72 percent of the unclaimed dogs, according to a department report.

The Blade in November started publishing a daily log with photos of all dogs at the pound available for adoption. The log also includes a list of dogs euthanized.

Each weekly video will include a brief update about the dog warden department.

In today's segment, Ms. Lyle talks about last week's transfer of Amos, an adult "pit bull," to the Toledo Area Humane Society. The dog was spared from near-certain death.

Contact JC Reindl at:

jreindl@theblade.com

or 419-724-6065.