Severely hurt ‘pit-bull’ male first in 2013 to exit Lucas County pound

Mr. Jenkins, a ‘pit bull,’ is petted by Jean Keating of the Lucas County Pit Crew. Mr. Jenkins arrived at the Lucas County Dog Warden’s Office on Dec. 17 with severe wounds. He is to undergo surgery to treat his injuries, including a procedure to insert a skin graft into a wound on his head.

Mr. Jenkins, a dog found with severe injuries, will be the first animal transferred out of the Lucas County dog warden in the new year.

The tan-and-brindle “pit bull” will be picked up Wednesday by members of the Lucas County Pit Crew, said Jean Keating, executive director of the nonprofit group.

The dog, estimated to be 1 year old, will go directly to Dr. Gary Thompson’s office in Sylvania Township.

He is scheduled to undergo surgery Thursday to amputate a severely damaged toe on his back right paw and to insert a skin graft into a wound on the back of his head.

The unlicensed dog was discovered on Dec. 17 running at large on Pontiac Street in Toledo. The wound on his head was at least 4 inches wide.

“It was horror-film gross,” Lucas County Dog Warden Julie Lyle said. “You could see way down into his head.”

Dr. Thompson evaluated the dog soon after he came in and suggested to pound officials they should start putting sugar and honey onto the wound to help the skin tissue heal. It has healed considerably using the treatment, Ms. Lyle said.

The foot surgery and skin graft will cost about $1,000. Tax-deductible donations toward Mr. Jenkins’ medical care can be sent to Lucas County Pit Crew, P.O. Box 351222, Toledo 43635.

The group also takes online donations via its Web site at lucascountypitcrew.com. The group supports responsible guardians of “pit bull”-type dogs through education, advocacy, training assistance, spay/neuter promotion, and adoption.

After the Toledo Area Humane Society, the Lucas County Pit Crew took the largest number of transferred dogs from the pound in 2012, including two pregnant dogs and one with puppies, for a total of 36 dogs.

The group recently took a 4-month old “pit bull” named Hercules who was brought in after he was hit by a car. The dog received care courtesy of Cutie’s Fund, a special donation fund set up by the pound to help dogs that need emergency medical care.

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, injured, or mistreated dogs assisted by the dog warden’s office.

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

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