Left To Die

In a dilapidated old barn in Wyandot County, Ohio, innocent dogs are suffering and dying. They have little chance of finding new homes because few people know they are there. This is the %u201CWyandot County Dog Pound%u201D, where dogs that go in don%u2019t usually come out alive. Most of them are left to die.


 Once inside, the stench is nauseating and the floor is cold and drafty. The area is small, amplifying the cries of the dogs. Approximately two dozen cages, most of which are stacked on top each other, line the walls. These are supposed to be adequate to serve all of the homeless dogs in the county. 


Many perfectly adoptable dogs never have a chance of finding a home once they are dropped off at the Wyandot County Dog Pound, 7790 State Route 199, Upper Sandusky. The main reason is because so few people even realize that the facility exists. And those that are aware of it have no idea what dogs are available because there is no website, no advertising, and no public awareness.  Volunteers have offered to create a website or a link to another active pet adoption site, but their assistance was declined by the dog warden.  Every dog pound in the surrounding counties either has their own website displaying the animals in their care, or is linked to another high traffic adoption site such as petfinder.com.  Wyandot County is the only county in the area that does not have a website.


It was also mentioned that many people think the Wyandot County Dog Pound and the Wyandot County Humane Society, (9640 County Hwy. Upper Sandusky, Ohio) are the same entity. It is a fact that lost dogs have been euthanized and/or relinquished to other parties because the owners did not know enough to call the pound. They simply didn%u2019t know it existed.  In addition to their lack of exposure all dogs are permitted to leave the pound for $6.00, unaltered, un-vetted, and few questions asked. Allowing dogs to leave the facility without being spayed and/or neutered (or making definitive and binding arrangements for alteration) is inconceivable!  This is one of the main reasons we have so many unwanted dogs in the system to begin with. The Wyandot County dog pound is adding to the problem they are paid to prevent!  And because the dogs are not quarantined and vaccinated upon entry, or treated for illness, they may leave the kennel infected with parvovirus and other contagious diseases, thus spreading and infecting other dogs (and in some cases the people) that they come in contact with. Too often this leads to deadly consequences.


These dogs need our help and we are their voice. I am not asking for money just a few minutes of your time to read and sign this petition.  The focus of this petition is that all dogs leave the pound spayed and/or neutered and require Wyandot County Dog Pound to either design their own website displaying the animals in their care, or be linked to another high traffic adoption site such as petfinder.com. In addition, have someone in the facility Monday thru Friday to mind the kennel. Please help these defenseless animals by simply signing this petition. For more information, please continue reading.

 One person, the dog warden, (currently Andy Neiderkohr), is responsible for feeding, cleaning, taking dogs in, and adopting them out. That is in addition to his responsibilities as a dog warden.


Under the Ohio Revised Code, 955.12 dog wardens are also paid to perform the following duties:


    Make records of all dogs owned, kept, and harbored in their respective counties. They shall patrol their respective counties and seize and impound on sight all dogs found running at large and all dogs more than three months of age found not wearing a valid registration tag. Investigate cases where dogs are allegedly being treated inhumanely, investigate all claims for damages to animals reported to them under section 955.29 of the Revised Code and assist claimants to fill out the claim form therefore. They shall make weekly reports, in writing, to the board in their respective counties of all dogs seized, impounded, redeemed, and destroyed and of all claims for damage to animals inflicted by dogs.


It is impossible for one person to perform these duties effectively and still have the time and energy necessary to help the dogs find good homes. To make matters worse, this shelter is rarely staffed and only open for adoptions two hours a day or by appointment. Visiting hours are in the morning, 8 am %u2013 10 am when most people are at work. And the warden isn%u2019t always available during the two hours that the kennel is open due to his other obligations. In fact, the warden is often unavailable to answer a phone call and it is picked up by his voicemail.


It is imperative for the Wyandot County Dog Pound to have someone in the facility at least Monday thru Friday, 8 hours a day. This will relieve the dog warden so he is able to take care of other business and not simply minding the kennel.  This will insure that people visiting the kennel are not turned away because no one is available.

Folks, we have turned and looked away from this situation for too long. It is up to us to stand up for the dogs and demand that changes be made so no dog is left to die without being given every chance to find a good home. I urge you to visit the Wyandot County Dog Pound and see these conditions for yourself. We will appeal to the Wyandot County Commissioners to become actively involved to make the changes necessary to correct these issues.


Thank you for supporting this petition.

Pat Mitchell,


(Pat is the founder of Left to Die, an animal rights group striving to make all shelters live up to their potential .)

We the undersigned ask that all dogs leave the pound spayed and/or neutered and for the Wyandot County Dog Pound to either design their own website displaying the animals in their care, or be linked to another high traffic adoption site such as petfinder.com. In addition, have someone in the facility Monday thru Friday to mind the kennel.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.
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