Sandusky County dog warden recycles to save

4/5/2013
BY TANYA IRWIN
BLADE STAFF WRITER
  • Sandusky-County-kennel

    Gilbert Gutierrez, left, and Chris Swain work to secure two refurbished signs outside the Sandusky County Dog Warden’s Office in Fremont. Chief Dog Warden John Glass used recycled signs to save $900 on the project.

    THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCH
    Buy This Image

    • Gilbert Gutierrez, left, and Chris Swain work to secure two refurbished signs outside the Sandusky County Dog Warden’s Office in Fremont. Chief Dog Warden John Glass used recycled signs to save $900 on the project.
    Gilbert Gutierrez, left, and Chris Swain work to secure two refurbished signs outside the Sandusky County Dog Warden’s Office in Fremont. Chief Dog Warden John Glass used recycled signs to save $900 on the project.

    FREMONT — Dogs at the Sandusky County Dog Kennel might get a few more treats because of the budgeting finesse of Chief Dog Warden John Glass.

    Instead of spending $1,800 to buy new signs to advertise dogs up for adoption, Mr. Glass saved $900 by purchasing an old sign made of recyclable materials and having it refurbished.

    “It was just sitting in storage,” Mr. Glass said. “I thought, ‘Why not reuse it?’”

    In addition, a grant from the Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca Joint Solid Waste Management District paid 80 percent of the cost.

    In the end, the two signs, made out of the one old sign, cost the office $180, leaving more money in the dog warden’s coffers for other expenses.

    Glass
    Glass

    Mr. Glass’ operating budget consists of fines and fees from the annual sale of $18 dog licenses; his office gets no tax money.

    About 1,500 fewer dog licenses were sold this year compared to 11,600 in 2012, meaning the office is is getting less money — so every dollar counts, he said. The office has made about $181,700 from license sales this year.

    The signs were put up Thursday at the rear of the dog warden’s property near U.S. 20 and are visible in both directions.

    Each sign reads, “Adopt a Forever Friend,” and includes the Sandusky County Dog Warden’s Web site address.

    The signs were created by the Wood, Seneca, Ottawa and Sandusky counties’ (WSOS) Community Action Agency’s sign shop in Green Springs.

    Mr. Glass and his wife donated an 8-foot-tall inflatable dog to be placed by the signs later this spring to catch drivers’ attention.

    “We need to market ourselves in any way we can to find homes for these dogs,” he said.

    The kennel, at 1950 Countryside Place, has 18 dogs on average in its care. Currently, 10 dogs are up for adoption. One, Roxy, a red and white boxer mix, has been there since November.

    “She’s just waiting for the right home,” said Jim Everett, kennel master.