Lucas County (OH) Dog Warden Tom Skeldon continues to be under fire. Last year, a group of concerned Toledo-area residents put together a petition with 3,000+ signatures requesting the removal of Mr. Skeldo from his position as the Lucas County Dog Warden -- a position he has held since 1987.
This event, along with the shooting of a 10 lbs dog with a tranquilizer dart while it was on its front porch -- killing the dog -- led the Lucas County commissioners to appoint a committee to provide feedback on Skeldon's performance.
Yesterday, the comittee came back with their findings -- and it's not pretty.
The committee reported that Lucas County Animal Control lacks standard procedures for its daily operations -- including protocols for euthanasia and the use of tranquilizer darts to subdue dogs. The committee also very harshly criticized Skeldon's callous attitude toward animal welfare-- citing the shelter's 80% euthanasia rate, 7% adoption rate and and 18% reclaimed. The committee also pointed out that Skeldon is not working with local all-breed rescue groups, not vaccinating animals when they come into the shelters which is causing the spred of disease and that he is promoting discrimination against pit bulls.
The newspaper of record, the Toledo Blade, has also jumped on Skeldon, with this morning's editorial entitled "Skeldon's got to go". Here's part:
"Some animals have to be put down because of illness or because past abuse has left irreparable psychological scars, but Mr. Skeldon's operation illustrates a more fundamental problem. The picture that emerged from the committee's recommendations was of a dog pound that is a killing machine, run by an official who has ruled his little fiefdom so long he has become both dictatorial and callous.
The people of Lucas County want a dog warden who is sensitive to life, one who remembers that the animals in his care often are the innocent victims of abusive or neglectful owners. Mr. Skeldon, who got his job mainly because of old family ties, loves the law better than animals, and has a prejudice against pit bull breeds so entrenched he even kills puppies far too young to be considered vicious."
Indeed. Most residents in most cities want animals to be treated with compassion. While part of the dog warden's job is to protect the people from aggressive animals, the other part of their job is to protect animals from people -- by enforcing cruelty and neglect laws. And then, when the dogs make it to the shelter, knowing that that is their last hope for a good life -- not an almost certain end to that life.
The pot that Lucas County Dog Warden Tom Skeldon is sitting in is beginning to boil...and it's not a moment to soon for the animals in Lucas County.
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