Lucas County hires new dog warden

Stewart will come to area from Pocatello, Idaho

12/6/2016

The Lucas County Canine Care Center in Toledo.

THE BLADE
Buy This Image

The Lucas County Canine Care & Control will soon have a new director after a five-month national search.

The county commissioners voted this afternoon to hire Richard Stewart, currently the director of animal services for the city of Pocatello, Idaho. He will start Jan. 9 and be paid $39.67 an hour — more than $82,500 a year.

Mr. Stewart, a former Marine, has served as the director in Pocatello since December, 2015. Accomplishments listed in his resume include boosting that shelter’s save-rate to 93 percent during the summer, starting cat licensing requirements, strengthening dangerous animal laws, and increasing transfers to rescues.

From 2011 to 2015, Mr. Stewart held a number of roles with the Richmond Animal Care and Control in Richmond, Va. He began as shelter supervisor, later shifting to field supervisor and then becoming the licensing and special projects coordinator.

Former Lucas County shelter director Julie Lyle resigned in July after six years on the job to become the clinic director at Humane Ohio. Jodi Harding, shelter manager, has been serving as interim director since Ms. Lyle’s departure.

Contact Alexandra Mester: amester@theblade.com, 419-724-6066, or on Twitter @AlexMesterBlade.