Dog warden to add veterinary technician
5/4/2011The Lucas County Dog Warden's Office will soon add a part-time veterinary technician to go along with the planned addition of a full-time veterinarian.
County commissioners in early January voted to create a full-time veterinarian position at the dog pound, for at least $55,105 a year, as part of Dog Warden Julie Lyle's plan to improve the care of animals under her control. Ms. Lyle said Tuesday that person, who has not yet been hired, will need an extra set of trained hands.
"Once we have a veterinarian on board we'll be doing surgeries here and more medical care than we're doing now. The veterinarian will need someone to assist them without taking away from the kennel workers," Ms. Lyle said.
County commissioners voted 3-0 yesterday to create the vet tech position, as well as positions for two clerks there, one of whom has already started.
Ms. Lyle said she planned to begin interviewing candidates for veterinarian next week but said she didn't know yet when the actual hiring date would be.
The new vet tech will be added after a veterinarian is hired. Currently the pound is served by a contracted veterinarian who visits a few times a week.
"If we have a veterinarian here 40 hours a week compared to nine hours tops, that's obviously going to make a big difference in the veterinary care of our dogs," Ms. Lyle said.
One of the primary duties of the veterinarian will be to spay and neuter dogs. Ms. Lyle has previously said the county pays the Toledo Area Humane Society more than $25,000 a year for spaying and neutering that is done off-site.
The new clerks are needed after some staff reorganization. The current office manager will also be leaving soon, Ms. Lyle said.
The part-time vet tech will work 16 hours per week. There is already a full-time vet tech on the dog warden's staff.
-- Tyrel Linkhorn