Public donates nearly $7,000 to ‘Cutie’s Fund’

Cutie's fund gets its name from a Chihuahua that was brought in during the middle of the night with a puppy lodged in her birth canal. The emergency-care bill for Cutie was more than $1,400.

The Lucas County dog warden has raised nearly $7,000 in public donations in the six days since kicking off fund-raising efforts for Cutie’s Fund, an effort to help dogs that come into the pound with high-cost medical needs.

It will help dogs like its namesake, a Chihuahua that was brought in during the middle of the night with a puppy lodged in her birth canal. The emergency-care bill for Cutie was more than $1,400.

The first $5,000 in public donations will be matched by Block Communications Inc., parent company of The Blade. The fund was seeded with a $5,000 donation from John Robinson Block, publisher and editor-in-chief of The Blade, and Allan Block, chairman of BCI.

“The overwhelming, heartfelt initial response to Cutie’s Fund proves Lucas County has a heart, and it’s just the beginning. Every contributor, whatever the amount, can know that he or she has individually saved another dog’s life,” John Robinson Block said.

Of the donations received as of noon Tuesday, $4,722 was received by mail, $1,985 was donated online, and $175 was donated in person.

By contributing to Cutie’s Fund, animal lovers can make a tax-deductible gift to help with emergency and life-saving care and for the hospitalization of sick, hurt, or mistreated dogs assisted by the dog warden.

Donations can be made in person or mailed to the Lucas County dog warden, 410 S. Erie St., Toledo, 43604, or online at tinyurl.com/CutiesFund. Checks should be made payable to the Lucas County dog warden with “for Cutie’s Fund” specified on the memo line.

Blade animal welfare reporter Tanya Irwin adopted Cutie from the Lucas County Dog Warden’s Office via the department’s regular adoption process.