'Pit bull' owners say thanks to Lucas County Dog Warden

Katy Shepler holds her 6-month-old dog, Scooter, as the Lucas County Pit Crew hosts a reunion Wednesday at the Lucas County Dog Warden office.

The dozen dogs happily playing with each other outside the Lucas County Dog Warden Wednesday morning don’t know it, but they are all lucky to be alive.

Under former Dog Warden Tom Skeldon, they would have been killed because they are judged to be “pit bull”-type dogs. But thanks to a program implemented under current Dog Warden Julie Lyle, the dogs got a new lease on life.

Those dogs along with about 50 others have been transferred to the Toledo Area Humane Society. Some of the dogs go up for adoption directly through TAHS while others go into foster homes with the Lucas County Pit Crew to await new homes.

Mr. Skeldon allowed a few “pit bull” puppies to be transferred near the end of his tenure but never transferred any adult “pit bulls.”

Lucas County Pit Crew Founder Jean Keating presented Ms. Lyle on Wednesday with a bench signed by many of the families that have adopted the “pit bull”-type dogs over the past 21 months. The bench will be placed in the play area outside the facility where volunteers and workers walk the pound dogs.

“I can’t imagine my life without him,” said Rossford resident Laurie Hughes of her dog Lucas, who was one of the first puppies transferred from the shelter. “He’s just such a great dog. He loves everybody and gets along with everybody.”

Contact Tanya Irwin at: tirwin@theblade.com or 419-724-6066.