Clark County strays, lost dogs won’t go to Dayton shelter

Clark County commissioners still looking for a place to house animals picked up by dog warden.

Clark County won’t send strays and runaway dogs to a shelter in Dayton, according to Clark County commissioners.

The commissioners said in a news release that they’re seeking a new place for dogs picked up by the Clark County dog wardens.

“The county is in the process of obtaining a facility suitable to house the county dogs,” the release says. “Impounded dogs will not go to Montgomery County.”

RELATED: Humane Society won’t house dogs for Clark County anymore

The search for a shelter to take the dogs started because the Humane Society Serving Clark County sent a letter to county commissioners informing them they can no longer take dogs from the dog wardens starting Sept. 1.

A Facebook post on the Humane Society’s page indicated that the shelter planned to close. The Humane Society isn’t closing, board member Michael DeCourcy said, but the agency can no longer serve the county dog wardens.

“We don’t have enough ability to stay open enough hours basically to continue that service,” he said.

The county commissioners’ news release says the county did have discussions with places in Montgomery County and those shelters will help in finding a place for the dogs in Clark County.

The wardens drop off about 20 dogs a week at the shelter.

PREVIOUS REPORTING: Clark County, humane society reach deal to keep strays local

In previous years, the county paid the Humane Society more than $200,000 annually to serve as both the dog wardens and to shelter and care for stray and lost animals. Now the county employs the dog wardens directly and pays the shelter about $80,000 a year to house the dogs they pick up.

Since then the shelter has reduced its hours and is now only open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

State law mandates the county pick up stray dogs.

The Clark County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is an option the county could use, County Commissioner Rick Lohnes said, however its space would become an issue.

“The SPCA is very small and can’t take very many animals at all,” he said.

About the Author